Depending on your budget and the amount of space you have in your home, you may wish to purchase furniture especially for your baby's nursery.

Your baby's needs are very simple at first, he needs a safe and comfortable place to sleep, and you will need a suitable surface to change nappies. You can use a changing mat or folded towel on a chest of drawers or table. It is important to remember that babies should NEVER be left unattended on any raised surface. Changing can be done on a towel placed on the bed or floor, but most people find this quite uncomfortable and it can lead to back pain. Changer tops which fit over baby's cot are a useful idea and can be purchased to fit most standard cots and cot-beds. These usually store under the cot when not in use.

For sleeping, a crib or Moses basket can be a good idea if space is limited in your bedroom. Current advice is that it is best for baby to share your room for the first few months. A co-sleeping cot which sits by the side of your bed is also a good solution is space allows. If you have a cot or cot-bed in another room, to make the transition from sleeping in your room to the nursery easier, some parents find that placing the Moses basket inside the cot for a few days or weeks will help baby settle into his new surroundings. A crib or Moses basket is usually used for around four months. If baby can sit up unaided you will need to transfer him to his cot. For further advice on choosing the right cot, see the relevant section of this website and visit some parenting forums online.

You might wish to buy a changing unit or dresser specifically for your baby. These vary from a trolley style with a changing surface over tiered shelves, useful for storing nappies and toiletries, to chest of drawers or cupboards which may have a top with a guard rail around, and storage for clothing and bedding too. The guard rails are not intended to stop your baby from rolling off, but simply help keep the changing mat still when dealing with a wriggly baby. Remember, never leave your baby unattended even for a second, on any changing surface. Most guard rails are removable so that you can use the piece of furniture in your home well beyond the nursery years.

A bath is not strictly necessary, you can simply 'top and tail' your baby with cotton wool and warm water when changing his nappy. Tummy tubs are a good, space saving idea and these bucket-shaped baths can be easily stored in your bathroom, being easily portable they can be used in any room of the house. Look for one which has an easy to use drain, so that you do not need to lift the tub when it has water in it, for instance if you have had a Caesarian, or have back problems. Never lift the tub when baby is in the water.

Your budget and available space will dictate whether you feel that you need storage especially for your baby's clothing, bedding and toys, or whether you can utilise pieces you already have in your home. You might like to purchase a chest of drawers or wardrobe to match your cot. Many ranges have a number of furniture pieces to choose from such as tallboys, toy cupboards, shelves and pegracks, and wardrobes with shelving, rails and drawers so that you can tailor your purchase to your needs. Try to choose well built, adaptable cuboards or drawers which will be useful to store playthings or clothing as your child grows. Take a look at the furniture ranges we sell from Izziwotnot, available in a broad spectrum of finishes. If you are on a tight budget you might consider buying a cheap pine chest of drawers or a second-hand wardrobe, and painting it in bright colours to liven up the nursery. You can get low voc and child-friendly paints quite readily at DIY stores. If using varnishes try to use water based, low voc products.

Your baby will probably receive a good many gifts from wellwishers in his first few weeks. You may feel that you have enough drawer and cupboard space to accommodate these, but if you have the space, a blanket box or toy chest might be a good idea to prevent your home becoming cluttered with numerous brightly coloured objects. A personalised toybox would make a superb new baby gift from Grandparents or work colleagues. Shelving for precious keepsakes can also be a worthwhile idea. Bookshelves are also a good idea to encourage your child to look at pictures books with you, and getting them into the reading habit from an early age