Most parents-to-be begin by setting up a nursery. Usually, a crib is the first piece of furniture you get your baby. A good crib should meet all voluntary and mandatory safety guidelines. Many parents are so caught up with the blue flowers and the pink bows that they sometimes ignore the need for safety. A cardinal rule of thumb before purchasing any baby gear is: safety first. As your bundle of joy will be spending more than two-thirds of his or her time lying down, a quality crib mattress and soft bedding are also necessary. And while you’re at it, pick up a mattress cover too! A baby-monitor is absolutely necessary in your child’s nursery. You may also want to get a changing table and a baby walker.

Sometimes, baby gear falls drastically short when it comes to baby clothes. Most new parents, (especially Moms) focus inordinately on getting all the ‘cute’ outfits. In the hurry to grab those oh-so-wonderful must-haves, essentials are forgotten. Absorbent baby blankets, cotton baby suits, bibs and soft innerwear are items that you really can’t have enough of. Sometimes baby clothes have to be changed faster than diapers. That’s because for the first year of their lives, babies are essentially messy, slobbering, waste-producing machines. But beware of the buy-it-all syndrome that some mothers suffer from. You should not have so many suits that you end up with a pile of unused baby clothes that Junior has outgrown. Half a dozen clean outfits at any given time should suffice. When you travel, pack extra.

A new baby means a whole new range of toiletries too. You will need baby oil, baby soap and shampoo and of course, baby powder. This last is useful when you need to keep your baby’s bottom dry. Choose a baby powder that has no talcum powder base; a cornstarch base would be ideal for the little tyke. Purchase ONLY mild baby soap and shampoo, as chemicals will be harsh on your baby’s tender skin. Also purchase a high-quality, natural moisturizer. To keep yourself on top of all these easy-to-overlook items, it’s probably a good idea to make a list of items and then go shopping (with the list, of course!).

When all the necessary furniture and supplies have been bought, you may want to get some things for fun and entertainment. While your baby will be busy learning from all the interesting little things going on around him or her, some toys will help soothe frayed nerves. One excellent toy for your baby is a mobile. Fluffy, soft toys that provide some kind of sensory stimulation are also quite handy. As your baby gets a little older, teething toys become absolutely essential. Baby toys are an exciting world in themselves.

With all these items safely tucked away in the nursery, there’s only one thing for you to do – wait for your adorable baby to make his or her entrance into the world!

Night-lights provide you with a way of checking on your sleeping baby without turning on the room light and possibly waking him up. Besides, a baby feels secure with some kind of subdued lighting to illuminate the room. Some toddlers develop a habit of waking up and wandering at night. A night-light in the nursery ensures that young children do not have nasty falls or bumps in the darkness. As a child grows up, dark monsters invariably find their way to his imagination and live beneath his bed or in the dark corners of the room. A night-light can help keep him from feeling afraid.

Night-lights are available in several styles and include decorative lights that are shaped like stars, moons, animals or objects. Some night-lights plug into a socket while others are lit by a nightlight candle. Automatic night-lights have on-off sensors built into them.

Newer night-lights have various additional features. Some project colorful designs, like teddy bears and smiling stars, on the ceiling. Others even help calm and soothe a baby by playing musical tunes. Some of the latest models are voice activated, which means they light up and play tunes as soon as the child starts crying and stay on until the child is calm again. The latest designer night-lights may come beautifully shaped and designed as figurines and toys. Later on, these can double up as a nightlight base that leaves a soft glow at night or even as bright table light that can be used for studying.

Nursery night-lights are beautiful and cute and are a perfect gift for new parents. It adds a finishing touch to any nursery. Nursery-lights should be lead-free and non-toxic. The soft glow cast by these lights does not hurt the baby’s eyes. Some night-lights are beaded while most are made of shatter-resistant glass. Even so, a night-light should never be placed where a baby can reach it.

Recent research has unearthed a rather disturbing finding that has led to much debate on the use of night-lights. Researchers have found that the first two years of life is critical to the development of vision. At this time, the proportions of darkness and light reaching the eye in a 24-hour period may affect the focusing capabilities of the eye. Too much light may lead to myopia, they say. But the study has been criticized as being biased and unscientific. Therefore, there doesn’t seem to be much basis in this finding. Anxious parents can continue using night-lights until further research comes out with more data.

While there is some debate on whether they should be turned on all night or should be activated only when the baby comes awake, there is no doubt whatsoever that night-lights are a must in every household with kids. Stubbed toes, frightened babies, and uneasy sleep – all these can be avoided if you get yourself a decent nightlight.