Nursery Setup Checklist 2026: What You Actually Need
Nursery shopping can feel like the most expensive part of expecting a baby — but the truth is, your baby needs far less than the registries suggest. This guide covers the handful of things that genuinely matter, what's nice but optional, what you can skip entirely, and two important 2025–2026 safety updates that affect almost every Australian nursery.
The 5 True Nursery Essentials
Strip away the marketing, and most newborn nurseries boil down to five things: somewhere safe to sleep, somewhere to change nappies, somewhere comfortable to feed, storage that keeps gear organised, and lighting that supports sleep. Everything else is genuinely optional.
1. A Safe Sleep Space
Your baby will sleep 14–17 hours a day in the early months, so this is the highest-priority purchase. Household cots sold in Australia must meet the mandatory cot safety standard — look for slats no more than 60mm apart, no drop-sides, and a compliance label.
- A certified cot with a mattress base that lowers as baby grows
- A firm, snug-fitting mattress — no gaps larger than 20mm around the edges
- 2–3 fitted sheets in breathable cotton, plus a waterproof mattress protector
Red Nose recommends a completely bare cot for babies under 12 months — no pillows, quilts, bumpers or soft toys, all of which increase the risk of suffocation.
2. A Nappy Changing Station
You'll change 8–12 nappies a day in the early weeks, so make this spot functional. A dresser with a changing pad on top saves space and doubles as storage — you don't need a dedicated changing table.
- Changing pad with raised edges and safety strap, plus 2–3 washable covers
- A caddy or drawer organiser for nappies, wipes and cream, within arm's reach
- A small bin with a lid for nappy disposal
Pro tip: never leave your baby unattended on the changing surface, even for a second — keep one hand on them at all times.
3. A Comfortable Feeding Area
Whether breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, you'll spend hours here — especially at 2am. A comfortable chair with good back support, a side table for water and burp cloths, and soft, dimmable lighting make the biggest difference.
- A supportive chair, glider or armchair — any comfortable seat works
- A nursing pillow, or regular pillows for arm support
- A basket within reach for swaddles, muslins and burp cloths
A soft swaddle or knitted blanket nearby is genuinely useful for settling baby during those long feeds.
4. Smart Storage
Babies come with a surprising amount of gear, and good organisation matters most when you're running on no sleep. A dresser doubling as a changing station, fabric bins for toys and extras, and drawer dividers for tiny socks and mittens go a long way.
- A dresser with 3–4 drawers, sorted by clothing size
- Fabric bins or baskets for toys, books and extras
- Securely mounted wall shelving for books and decorative items
5. Supportive Lighting
Lighting shapes both naps and nighttime care. Blackout curtains help with daytime sleep, while a dim, warm-toned nightlight makes overnight changes and feeds easier without fully waking baby.
- Blackout curtains or blinds for daytime naps and early mornings
- A dimmable nightlight in red or amber tones — less disruptive to sleep than blue or white light
- A main light on a dimmer switch, if your setup allows it
What's New for 2026: Updated Rules for Cots and Sleep Products
From 19 January 2026, new mandatory standards for infant sleep products apply across Australia. Household cots must meet AS/NZS 2172:2013 (or an equivalent international standard), folding and travel cots must meet AS/NZS 2195:2010, and — for the first time — products marketed as inclined loungers or rockers that aren't designed for sleep now require clear warning labels stating they're unsafe for unsupervised sleep.
For parents, the practical takeaway is simple: when buying a cot, travel cot, or any "lounger" or "rocker," check for the compliance label and read the warnings carefully — items that look comfortable for daytime naps aren't always safe for unsupervised sleep.
The 2025 Furniture Anchoring Rule
Since 4 May 2025, a new ACCC mandatory information standard requires furniture suppliers to provide clear warnings and anchoring instructions for tall or unstable items. Since 2000, toppling furniture has contributed to at least 28 deaths in Australia, including 17 children under five — most often dressers, bookshelves and wardrobes that children climb to reach something.
- Anchor dressers, bookshelves and wardrobes to the wall using the supplied or hardware-store anchor kit
- Keep the heaviest items in the bottom drawers — top-heavy furniture tips more easily
- Don't place tempting items (toys, remotes) on top of furniture that encourage climbing
- Fit drawer stops so drawers can't be pulled all the way out and used as steps
Nice to Have vs What You Can Skip Entirely
Beyond the five essentials, some items genuinely make life easier — and others are solutions to problems that don't exist. Here's how to tell the difference before you spend.
Nice to Have (Add Later If Needed)
- White noise machine — try a free phone app first to see if it helps
- Baby monitor — most useful for larger homes or a nursery on another floor
- Humidifier — handy for dry winter air or congestion, but not essential from day one
- Dedicated glider or rocking chair — lovely if your budget allows, but any comfortable chair works
What You Can Skip Entirely
- Wipe warmers — room-temperature wipes work fine, and babies adjust within seconds
- Nappy disposal systems — a regular bin with a tight lid does the same job for less
- Crib bedding sets — they look lovely, but the bumpers, quilts and pillows inside can't safely be used. Buy fitted sheets separately
- Too many newborn-size clothes — many babies skip this size entirely. Stock up on 0–3 months instead
- Changing table toys — these tend to make nappy changes harder, not easier
What Red Nose Actually Says About Room Temperature
You'll often see a specific "safe" nursery temperature quoted online — but Red Nose doesn't actually recommend one. Instead, the advice is to dress your baby for the room temperature, the same way you'd dress yourself — not over or under-dressed — and to check by feeling their tummy or back, which should feel comfortably warm.
Babies regulate their temperature mainly through their head and face — keeping these uncovered during sleep matters more than any number on a thermostat.
If you're using a sleeping bag, choosing one with the right TOG rating for the season (lighter for summer, warmer for winter) is more useful than monitoring room temperature overnight.
Complete Nursery Safety Checklist
Before baby arrives, run through this room-by-room checklist. Most items take minutes but make a real difference.
- Anchor dressers, bookshelves and changing tables to the wall (see the 2025 furniture rule above)
- Check the cot's compliance label and confirm slats are no more than 60mm apart
- Position the cot at least 1 metre from windows and away from blind or curtain cords
- Make sure any blind or curtain cords meet the corded window coverings safety standard — secured with cleats or cord guides, out of reach
- Cover power outlets and keep monitor or lamp cords out of baby's reach
- Test smoke alarms and install a carbon monoxide detector if you use gas heating
- Hang any mobile high enough that baby can't reach it, and remove it by 5 months
A Simple Setup Timeline
You don't need to do everything at once. Spacing the work out over pregnancy keeps it manageable and budget-friendly.
Second Trimester
- Choose the nursery space and colour scheme; paint with low-VOC paint and ventilate well
- Order big-ticket furniture (cots, dressers, chairs) — these often have long lead times
Third Trimester
- Assemble and anchor furniture; organise drawers by clothing size
- Set up the changing station and feeding area; wash bedding and clothes in gentle detergent
- Install outlet covers, cord guides, and do a full safety walk-through
Final Weeks
- Stock up on nappies in newborn and 0–3 month sizes
- Test all lighting, fit the cot sheet, and do one last check of the safety checklist
Budget-Friendly Nursery Tips
A beautiful, functional nursery doesn't require spending thousands. A few small choices make the biggest difference to your budget.
- Buy furniture and chairs second-hand — but never a second-hand cot mattress, car seat, or other sleep product
- Accept hand-me-down clothes, books and toys — babies outgrow things so quickly they're often barely used
- Choose multi-purpose furniture, like a dresser that doubles as a changing station
- Wait and see before buying everything at once — your baby's needs will become clearer after they arrive
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the bare minimum I need for a nursery?
A certified cot with a firm, snug-fitting mattress, fitted sheets, a changing setup, somewhere comfortable to feed, and basic storage. Everything else — monitors, gliders, themed decor — can wait.
Do I really need to anchor furniture now?
Yes — since 4 May 2025, an ACCC mandatory information standard requires suppliers to provide anchoring warnings, reflecting decades of toppling furniture injuries and deaths involving young children. It's a simple, one-off job with hardware-store anchor kits.
What temperature should the nursery be?
Red Nose doesn't recommend a specific number. Instead, dress your baby for the room temperature, choose a sleeping bag with an appropriate TOG rating, and check their tummy or back feels comfortably warm.
Can I use a second-hand cot?
Yes, as long as it carries a compliance label confirming it meets the current mandatory cot standard, has no missing or damaged parts, and slats no more than 60mm apart. Always buy a new mattress, even for a second-hand cot.
Are crib bumpers or pillows ever safe?
No — Red Nose recommends a completely bare cot for babies under 12 months. Bumpers, pillows, quilts and soft toys all increase the risk of suffocation, regardless of how they're marketed.
When should I set up the nursery?
Most of the heavy lifting — furniture, painting, ordering big items — fits well in the second trimester. The final assembly, safety checks and stocking up happen in the third trimester, with a last check in the final weeks.
Build Your Nursery Essentials
From soft swaddles to knitted blankets, shop the everyday essentials that make those early weeks a little easier.
This article reflects the Australian mandatory standard for cots and infant sleep products (effective January 2026), the toppling furniture information standard (effective May 2025), and Red Nose Australia's safe sleeping guidelines, current as of June 2026. It's general information, not personalised safety advice — always check product labels and current standards before purchasing.