We had a room that the designated kid room but the only thing we kept in it was a change table (didn't fit in bathroom). We co-slept and breastfed so nothing else was necessary. We were gifted a crib but never set it up for any of our three kids. It's true, you really do need next to nothing.

I am pregnant with my second and one thing that's different than from my first pregnancy is that I don't really care about the nursery anymore. I bought all sorts of stuff for my first one only to realize i didn't need most of them. I co slept and breastfed on my bed so I didn't even need the crip until much later...I certainly didn't need changing table as it was easier for me to just do it on the floor wit a mat on.
I am just going to buy lots of diapers.

The Baby Einstein Lights & Melodies Mirror (use it EVERYDAY in the crib, car, and pack n' play), cool mist humidifier (Crane Frog), rocking chair (vintage), and 3-4 crib sheets on the bed at one time. AND despite all the things I read that said I didn't need them, I've found the following to be invaluable in the middle of the night- video monitor, changing table (Ikea Leksvik), wipes warmer (winter baby).

Three kids later the one item we have used with all of them is the Twilight Turtle. It is a fantastic night light, and a perfect amount of light to see by in the middle of the night for diaper changes or feedings. Plus the stars add some nice ambiance. It goes through batteries quickly if it's used every night. That is my only complaint against it.

Ditto on the co-sleeping, breastfeeding, and needing next to nothing (lack of space played into this as well).

For our most recent nursery room, I really appreciated a rocker. I didn't have that with my first born. I also use a changing table. It was made by a carpenter. Functional and good looking. Had many other uses in between my babies, so dual functionality is key. A hamper. Extra lighting, besides a ceiling light. Chinese prefolds - perfect size and natural looking. I use them on top of the changing pad cover, easy to toss in the hamper (rather then stripping the changing pad), And although I have a nursery set up and use it, my babies sleep in my room; firstly in a mosses basket, and then in the bed.

Definitely a good baby (video) monitor... My daughter, now almost 3 was a preemie and it realy gave us peace of mind when she was a baby. We used it every night after she transitioned from bassinet in our bedroom to her crib in her room. I could get in the shower when she napped and knew she'd wake up or cry. We still use it 3 years later to check on her when she plays in her room - it was definitely a good investment.
The Twilight turtle broke after a few uses, don't recommend it. We skipped the changing table and never missed it, it was way easier to change baby on the bed or, later, on the floor, without fear of her falling. Wipes warmer was great, has a built in night light. Diaper pail, a necessity, I think.. We managed without a rocker or glider but I never nursed, unfortunately.

A glider (I know they're ugly, but I used a Craigslist old school rocker with my first and then got a REAL glider with my second, and there was just no comparison) and a white noise machine. My kids are 3 and 7 and we STILL use the white noise machines with both. We even travel with them (and the TSA folks always freak out--nobody knows what the heck those things are!). I breastfed both kids but could never get the hang of doing it in bed... so for me, the rocker/glider was essential--oh, and a Boppy pillow as well.

I definitely recommend having some sort of diapers.

Otherwise...I like our Pack'n'Play (set up in my room for occasional naps and a place to play when I'm in the shower) and for my 2nd and 3rd babies they slept in a mini-crib on casters. Takes up less space and can be wheeled between rooms! I had a changing pad on a dresser for my first 2 kids, and #3 gets changed on the floor or on a bed.

And I love Nuk silicone binkies. Not really a nursery thing but all of my kids have used and loved them.

with our first child we had enough room to have a futon in the bedroom. i used it so much! i nursed on it, semi-napped while he played on the floor next to me, and even changed diapers on it. if i'd had the money, i would have invested in a stylish daybed! we didn't have it with our second baby and i missed it!

I nurse the baby and cosleep with them and use cloth diapers so nothing really much. We ram the crib against the side of the bed and that acts as a barrier. We use the crib for naps when the baby can roll and levitate or when I am not there. We'll reuse our ergo, reuse our cloth diapers from the second child, and let the double stroller continue to rot outside. The bugaboo from the first will get dusted off so I can use the bassinet for a fancy walk a very few times.

My daughter's nursery was so cute, but because of bedsharing, it was only used for diaper and clothing changes. We have an adorable white Jenny Lind crib that I love, but now that we side-car, I wish we had chosen a crib that matches our dark West Elm bed. Oh well. Our second bedroom is now where we change and dress the baby, but is also back to being my office.

It's true, you don't need much. Our biggest helpers have been waterproof changing pad/lap mats and the Tiny Love Classic Mobile. Pretty wooden mobiles from Etsy are great, but if they don't hold your baby's attention, they're no help. Get a mobile that "does stuff" for the crib and hang the pretty one over the changing table.

Another vote for the Twilight Turtle here and a fun mobile. Great distractions for putting down an awake baby and helping her learn to fall asleep on her own. We had a twin bed in the nursery that we used more than the rocker as a place to sit and cuddle and play and read books. It was also our changing surface with a few blankets stacked at the end with a basket for diapers and wipes for quick grabbing. I also like having an open basket for bibs and another for burp cloths—two items we're grabbing all day long. We're believers in cribs and our kids learning to sleeping in their own room and bed from the beginning so a crib was another essential for us.

@ Judiau - Babies poop liquid for the first 6 months (while breastfeeding). There's no separating the poop into one place and the diaper into another.

Our fourth is due in a month, and thing I really want is a dimmer switch in the nursery, mostly for midnight diaper changes or nursing in the rocker. The rocker is probably the most essential piece of furniture, followed by the hamper. Like many, we also breastfed, co-selpt and used cloth diapers with all the others and found the nursery was mostly a nice-looking storage space for baby stuff, at least until the kids were 2 or 3. With our toddler, it has been nice to have a small scale chest of drawers, bookshelf and toy baskets so she can get things out and put them away herself.

I agree that there are very few "necessities," but a few things that I had with my first that I knew I wanted with my second: (1) a LARGE changing pad -- we do not have a changing table, so it's great to have something that protects the floor or bed; (2) Boppy pillow for nursing - with it, I can nurse one-handed, for the most part, and read (to myself or to my toddler); (3) comfortable rocker/glider - for nursing and snuggling - both of my kids just love the rocking motion; (4) a decent nightlight - I love the molded rubber (soft plastic?) LED nightlights from Target - perfect amount of light for nursing and for (I admit it) obsessively checking to make sure baby is ok in her co-sleeper next to the bed; (5) a bassinet or co-sleeper: I would love to be one of those people who co-sleeps snuggily with her baby, but I just sleep better with baby close by but in the bed. LOVE my Arm's-Reach co-sleeper. I can keep my hand on baby's back to help her stay asleep, but she's in her own space.

Oh, I almost forgot - the Ergo baby carrier. Vastly improved the quality of my life (and my productivity).

A small CD player/radio combo. Got an attractive one from Gilt.com. A good selection of calming CDs-- change it up every week or so-- classical, bossa nova, jazz, classical guitar... The CD goes on at the beginning of naptime and bedtime.

Skip the gross diaper pail. We tossed the Diaper Champ about 2 weeks after the kids were born. Get one of the small Simple brand trash cans with lid and foot pedal. Empty the trash 2x a day.

Other than that, no special equipment-- just two cribs (16 month twins here) and a changing pad on top of a low dresser.

After my son transitioned to a crib, I used a sheet saver at night. It is a waterproof pad that goes over the crib sheet. Great for unexpected leaks and it meant that I didn't have to change the sheets in the middle of the night.

Also, both my husband and I are tall, so having an actual changing table (rather than doing it on the floor or bed) was very helpful. I think that even a dresser might have been uncomfortably low. They are easy to find on Craigslist and easy to pass on when you are done.

I love our Room and Board Moda dresser. We got the 40 inch wide 6 drawer dresser.
http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/product/detail.do?productGroup=3160&catalog=room&category=rm_kids&subcategory=fl_kid_dress_bdr
It has 4 regular drawers, and then two taller, but narrow drawers on the side. We got the changing table to go on top of the dresser. It has been used continuously for the last four years through two daughters. We keep the diapers in the top right drawer, and blankets and sleep sacks in the lower one, and then clothes in the four regular drawers. It is very well made, durable, and good looking. I anticipate removing the changing table someday soon, but continuing to use the dresser for a long time!

My nursery must have would be the glider, we still use it a year later to rock my daughter to sleep when she is too tired or sick, or to read a bedtime story (I have a Dutailler Matrix II and love it). Also a night light is nice for these nightime nursing or for finding a pacifier in the midle of the night.
Some other baby items I really appreciated: cloth diapers, nneka nursing pillow (I made my own!) and a baby carrier.

There have already been some amazing suggestions! I agree that baby doesn't need much...but mom and dad need somethings to help them out. We love our little bouncy chair in the early days, it was a safe place to put the baby when I had a chance to sneak into the shower. Totally agree with the comfortable chair and nursing pillow (even if you bottle feed) you spend a lot of time feeding babe. A great night light and a white noise machine (depending where you live). Once you get baby to sleep - you want to keep it that way! Finally, what your baby really needs is for you to get plenty of love and support because if you get totally burnt out then you can't provide them with all that they need.

We used a bassinet until baby was about three months old and then he moved into his room across the hall from us. I love having a glider in there--he's two and we still snuggle and read every day. We bought a video monitor when baby was about 10 months old because my husband found one on sale. That is probably the most fun investment we've had. Love watching him sleep (or not sleep as the case may be). And another vote for the Twilight Turtle or the LED nightlights to use when changing diapers at 3 a.m.

I found our monitor and Diaper Champ indispensible, but we are a bunch of disgusting, unethical, criminals. Our kids both slept in cribs from the beginning and that worked well for our family.

I think a must have is a comfortable place to nurse. I know lots of people have suggested a glider, but that didn't work so well with my first. He was a long baby, and a squirmer, even while nursing. After the first few months nursing became a pain because we didn't fit so well in the glider, and his feet constantly got tangled in the rungs either in the arm or behind the back pad. For my second we got a loveseat from the ikea scratch and dent. Nothing to get tangled it.

I couldn't figure out about all the crib sheet postings then I remembered that disposables leak. Another good reason to use cloth.

We use our crib and second hand gilder. It seems to help him to have a familiar spot to fall asleep and it's annoying (to me anyway) if that spot is my bed. White noise machine is handy especially when it's baby #2 and the first one starts waking up. I'm pretty minimalist (much prefer ergo to stroller for instance) but we do use and like our changing table. Saves the back.

breastfeeding poop smells like yogurt and any covered can is fine. after that you do need to flush the poops. cotton babies is great online store for cloth diapers.

I love the brest friend pillow way more than the Boppy which I didn't find ergonomic. I use it all day long as baby rests after feeding.

Also love my diaper pail. I have 2 in diapers so no time to empty the trash twice a day. Hides the smell perfectly!

A good glider like a Monte, and a comfortable place to change diapers.

A roomy, accessible basket for storing diapers, wipes & cream. My grandfather made our changing table, and underneath it has 2 open shelves instead of doors. On the middle shelf is my "diaper basket." You do not want to be holding your little one's 2 legs in one hand, poop everywhere, trying to rifle around doors, drawers and whatever else for immediate wipes and a clean diaper. Our 5th child is due in May, and I have long ago discarded fancy nursery decor in this area for function, because diaper changing is a daily, and oftentimes messy, activity. For something that you do multiple times a day for years, make it easy on yourself, get an attractive storage basket, and always have what you need within arm's reach.

I agree with the comfy place to nurse/feed the baby, be it glider, futon, or whatever, PLUS a little table next to it. We got a cheap and small night stand so we could have a place to put the ol' iPhone (nursing timer app!) or kleenex or glass of water so they would be close at hand when I was nursing. If you co-sleep or nurse in bed, you've probably already got your regular nightstand for that purpose, but if not, it is a great addition.

Is a changing table absolutely necessary? No, but especially if you use cloth diapers it sure is nice! We also have one with two open shelves beneath and use baskets to hold diapers. At first the bottom shelf also held toys and a basket of burp cloths and receiving blankets for easy access. When we grew out of needing those we needed the room for the diapers since of course the diapers get bigger as the baby does.
I would say have something of visual interest to the baby above your change table or dresser if you go that route for a changing space. I think my son really enjoyed the nursery rhyme quilt we had hanging up.
We did use the nursery a lot just as a baby-proofed safe play space.

One item I am super glad we have is a change table! It's just one from IKEA but it makes changing so much easier for us and much better on your back. I traveled to the UK for 3 weeks to stay with family and had to use a bed as our change table...my back ached each time I changed her and I had to see a chiropractor!
If you don't want to invest in a change table (because what do you do with them when they are older?) then I would suggest a set of drawers at a good height that you can pop a change mat onto....it makes a world of difference!

@EK76- hilarious!

We had a pack and play, used it as a co-sleeper/bassinet and changing spot at first and then later as a travel crib. We also co-slept later but still needed the crib for naps and our crib converted to a toddler bed, so thats a nice feature if you aren't sure you will use it right away. I never used my rocker to nurse, preferred to be in my bed or somewhere else in the house, so in contrast to other posters I would recommend skipping it unless you have one you could use later as a real piece of furniture. I also loved my changing table but at least partly because it had a ton of storage, I could use it for baby clothes and other things. Once both kids were well beyond changing on it I was still using the storage. I also think starting minimal is a great way to go, then see how you use your house/bedroom/etc and then you can always buy things later! We ended up having a changing station set up in the dining room for months to avoid having to go up and down the stairs every time we had a diaper change and it was near to the back door to make getting diapers out of the house easy (sounds gross but we never eat in there or use it at all and with a baby you do what you need to do!) Having a "set up" nursery fulfills the nesting instinct but usually doesn't meet the real needs of a baby. And a nursing pillow of some kind is used before the nursery, its useful in the hospital! My most critical thing was my Tivo (or Netflix, Hulu, whatever.) Sitting and nursing for long periods didn't seem too bad when I could catch up on shows.

I could not live without a crib. My kids NEVER slept unless they were in their own bed, in their own quiet room. (I had to re-learn this with each baby, for some reason!). As soon as I placed them in their own bed, they all (3) slept through the night. Plus, it is a safe place to put them down if you need to run & take care of something. Even more so with small toddler running around who could unintentionally hurt the baby if it was down low.
That, and a super comfy (ugly) recliner are my two must-haves! :)

This post just re-confirmed that every baby is different and what works for one won't, necessarily, work for another. My son lived in his Fisher Price Rock n' Play for the first three months of his life ... I spent many a night rocking him to sleep with my foot ... but after that he wouldn't sleep unless he was in his crib. The changing table was a lifesaver! We have a one bedroom condo and we weren't going to get one at first because we didn't to lose that much space ... but a year later and we're still using it. And I LOVE the wipe warmer!

My IKEA Paong chair - aka the "baby glider/rocker". I lived in that every night surrounded by pillows and blankets and then you can re-use it in another room after you're done with it. I also re-used an old TOVIK style computer desk from IKEA as the change table.

An ultimate crib sheet. It is waterproof and snaps around the slats of the crib keeping it secure, and it fits on top of your crib sheet. If the baby messes at night, you just remove the ultimate crib sheet and the sheet underneath remains clean so you don't have to change sheets or remove the bumper in the middle of the night.

One thing I thought I could do without was a nursing pillow, but when I received one as a gift a few weeks in, it was a life saver! I tried all sorts of pillows I had at home, thinking they would do just fine, but found I could never get things set up just right. Maybe it was a bigger deal because I was recovering from a c-section, too. I definitely had my challenges with breastfeeding in the beginning, but the nursing pillow made things SO much easier.

Twilight Turtle and the travel sized Sleep Sheep were great for us. Plus, a pack and play that also doubled as a co-sleeper or bassinet depending on how you set it up. We bought that when she was a couple of months old and I really wish I had it from day one. It was so nice to set it up right next to the bed.

I used the travel Sleep Sheep with my second son, too, when he was in his carrier. And both of my boys (3 years and 19 months) still sleep with white noise. We just use old radios and turn the dial to dead air. There's definitely a learning curve with babies, and it's trial and error to see what works and what doesn't for each one. I think a big part of becoming a parent is realizing that you only have to do what's best for your baby and yourself, and not worry about what everyone else is doing. Both of my boys took naps in the swing every day, but some babies hate it. And I have to recommend the "Five S Tips" from _The Happiest Baby on the Block_, since they worked for my boys. I also bought several crib protector pads to have on hand, and I would place one on top of the crib sheet for easy clean up in case of a leak. Bassinet protector pads work great, too, because they are smaller and thinner.

A crib with a waterproof matress pad. I used a bassinette for the first few months in our room for both my kids, and we still play musical beds, but I like having a crib to at least put them down so we can pretend everyone has their own bed. A chair to nurse in; I used a Poang and found it worked quite well and enjoyed that it didn't take up too much space or was too expensive. A breastfeeding pillow...I've used all sorts of pillows and even my purse in a pinch but it was just soooo much easier to have a breastfeeding pillow beside my Poang for the many, many night feeds and now we read bedtime stories there. A diaper genie...I tried a smaller can with the lid and peddle but it just doesn't hide the smell and taking the trash out twice a day sometimes just wasn't in the cards. Oh and a shelf above the changing table where I could put diapers so the kids couldn't reach and throw them on the floor during changes...but after a certain age the floor is just as easy.

Congratulations! The first few months are a very special, bleary-eyed, time.

We use a small dresser with a change pad on top and an IKEA Trofast storage shelf (37x18") next to it. The bins hold our stock of diapers and extra wipes, and we put a basket on top for immediate use - a half dozen diapers, wipes, diaper cream if you use it (My favourite is Magic Stick - all natural, great scent, no dipping your hand in pots of sticky stuff).

Our kids slept in their own cribs from the start, with visits to our bed for nursing - the rocker we bought went pretty much unused. The only other essential item was a small bouncy chair. I could bring it in the bathroom while I showered and baby would fall asleep every time! With our second child we used a baby carrier constantly; our first wasn't a big fan of it. Buy what you need when the need arises.

I can't believe no one has mentioned black-out curtains! They're essential, in my view, for getting a little one to nap properly. Sure, when they're tiny infants, they'll just pass out anywhere, but once they reach four months or so, black-out curtains are a sure way to send the signal that it's time for nap.

right! black-out curtains were essential in our nurseries, great for naps, summer nights and early mornings! I'm sure our babies slept better because of them. Other essentials were the change table, crib, dim light for night feedings/changings, and the beloved rocking chair. When I finally sold the chair, I got a huge lump in my throat, thinking of all the memories attached to it over 7 years and 3 kids - nursing, rocking and cuddling, reading books, and dozing with a baby in my arms in the middle of the night. Yes, the rocking chair was definitely the most essential and most treasured item in the nursery.

Hello everyone!

I think the only essential is a place where the baby can sleep. If you cosleep, then to make sure your bed is OK for when you're in it and when you are not. But otherwise, the rest are conveniences whose value depend on your lifestyle more than anything else.

Not essential but nice is a changing table (we changed diapers for 2 1/2 months on a bed and my lower back yowled in pain), which is a changing pad on a piece of board stuck on top of her bed, so it's high. It's good because baby never tried to land on her head on either side of it, as I'm told other babies attempt - and succeed at. We use old towels and t-shirts to cover the changing pad, for when baby decides to pee in that precise moment in between diapers. Also, it can be warmed for when baby is naked and wet after a bath (winter baby and no central heating).

We kept a diaper pail in the bedroom during the first 6 months, when she was breastfeed exclusively, and I swear it didn't smell bad. The pail is a regular bin with a lid and lives in the bathroom now.

My husband installed coasters on the crib and it was super convenient to roll it where it was needed. For the first 4 months of her life she slept on a sleeping bag and it was awesome. I'd never believe how much we actually used that thing, and we never managed to put her under sheets or anything warm in her second winter.

We have a bookbag playing hamper hanging from one of her bedposts, and it's really handy to toss the laundry there from daycare and after bath or sleep, and collect it later on laundry day.

I found it was most comfortable to breastfeed sitting (or lounging) on my bed, but normal chairs were OK too. When we transitioned to her room, at age 6 months, we put a stool so I could breastfeed at night, and after weaning we kept it there for reading aloud or staying in the room (like reading email while she took a nap, or that sort of thing).

I really like having a dimmer in the bedrooms, the bad part of it is that they work only with incandescent lights.

We keep a little music system in her bedroom but it doesn't seem to make any difference. She had a music mobile and I think she liked it, but it was so crappy that it broke and we never replaced it.

Well, some things off the top of my head. As I said, the only essential is a place to sleep. The rest... can be arranged.

Buy the bare minimum of stuff prior to the baby being born. The stores will still be there after he or she arrives, and once you meet your little one, you'll have a better sense of his or her (and mom and dad's) unique needs. I had a wipes warmer on my registry, and I'm so glad no one bought it, because my daughter was just fine with cold wipes. Other babies scream bloody murder everytime their bum gets touched with a cold wipe - you'll figure that out ASAP and can respond then. Other parents' advice about "must haves" are the essentials for their baby, not necessarily for yours.

I also used an Ikea Poang chair for nursing - we have one in my daughter's room and one in the living room. Especially nice to have the footstool - when she was tiny I would often nurse her to sleep and then put my feet up and read or watch TV while she napped. I will say I spent a lot of time worrying about our lack of a "proper" nursery when the babe was born, since we lived in a tiny one-bedroom that just didn't have a separate space. Now she is older and we have a bigger place, and it is nice to have a room to decorate and have bins for her animals and shelves for her books etc. We just didn't need it before a year, though.

I completely agree with everyone who says every baby is different and parents' needs are different. Our needs:

Crib (After the first 2 months, we all slept better in our own rooms.)

Changing table (saves my back, organizes the stuff, prevents baby from rolling all over the floor when they get a bit older - I use my body and the wall to keep them somewhat contained!)

Nursing pillow (I use the Boppy. I can't compare because it's the only one I've ever used. It does work better than bed pillows or throw pillows (what I use when I'm at someone else's house. Also, this time around I knew to have two - one in baby's room (2nd floor) and one on the couch (1st floor). But, you'll figure out where you're most comfortable feeding baby. With a two year old and an infant, I want to be in the same room with her so having one on each floor of the house works when I have to feed the baby.)

A place to sit and feed, read, sing silly songs and be together. (Our kids rooms are tiny and I didn't want to give up space for a rocker or glider. A small armchair in baby 1's room and a small sleeper sofa in baby 2's room work well (needed space for toddler to join us). I know: I said no space but we have a sofa?! This one from Ikea has a pretty small footprint: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S49843749/)

Books.

Enjoy your nesting!

My recliner/ rocking chair is amazing. I use it every night to rock him to sleep and before naps too. The bouncy chair was a must have for me for the first 3 months. It allowed me to shower and he loved that thing- until he started rolling out if it. We have a dresser with a changing pad on top and its great. He sleeps in his crib. I had nightmares of rolling on top of him when he was in our room in the bassinet after I nursed him. It was a whole new world when we put him in his own room. I finally slept and he also slept much better. Everyone is different but for us the first 3 months pretty much sucked and that bouncy chair saved all of our lives.

An Arm's Reach Co-sleeper...not to hold the baby but to hold the diapers/wipes/burpcloths/my glasses/my laptop. Chest of drawers, diapers, breastfeeding pillow & baby sling are all must-haves for me though I realize that all of those don't necessarily fit under the category of "NURSERY must-have." I am in the same boat as many of your other readers...with my 1st baby, I purchased a $1000 custom crib & $300+ custom bedding. She slept in that crib for a total of 15 minutes of her life (in 1-2 minutes snippets 'til I finally gave up). She wanted to be next to me at all times. Gratefully, those items sold well on Ebay & I've never had a "nursery" since. One baby invention that I absolutely love & I consider a personal "must-have" is a Snuza.

Oh yeah, and 2 bouncy seats, 1 for upstairs (where I shower) & 1 for downstairs (in the kitchen)

Video monitor when she was a baby. Now we have replaced it with an audio one since we sleep on the different floors.

LOVE the twilight turtle too (we have the ladybug, but same thing). I have the much more expensive J Schatz star egg nightlight and it just isn't as easy to use and loved as our ladybugs!
I use a changing table and wouldn't want to not have all of my stuff set up and ready to go at all times! I also love my glider and did have a rocker first and much prefer the glider. Also like the Crane cool mist humidifier for when kids are sick. I like having an mp3 or CD player, for soothing lullabies. And lots of books.
I have also found that the more gender neutral the nursery, the better...if you are having multiple children. I have kept the room the same and created beautiful toddler rooms when the time comes. My crib bedding is white linen and will be used for all children and then handed down to my babies eventually!
Oh, and video monitor.

When we converted our guest room to a nursery in anticipation of our first baby, we left a twin bed in the room out of necessity (so much underbed storage), daybed style against the wall. The bed became an essential part of our early life with baby: I slept there when we were doing round-the-clock feedings, and now we lean pillows against the wall on one end for a comfy nursing spot. The other end is layered with washable thick blanket, waterproof travel changing pad, and a cheap handtowel on top for easy washing when things get messy (daily! We keep a stack handy). We keep a cloth basket full of diapers and a bin of homemade wipes right on the bed.

Other essentials: white noise machine, lamp with red light bulb for late night feeding, Angelcare monitor, sturdy crib. Our 3 month old sleeps in his own room so we all rest better with these things. A waterproof laundry basket would be helpful, too.

Wow, I haven't been on AT in a long time, but the superior tone of some of the commenters is not very welcoming! No crib, no changing table, no diaper pail? Congratulations! We all need to make the best choices for our families, no one needs to have a contest.

Anyway, here's what worked for us:
--Ikea Hemnes dresses with a changing pad on top--lots of storage and nice and tall
--twin bed in addition to a crib--gave me a place to nurse and co-sleep as desired without disturbing Dada
--Serena & Lily glider and ottoman--a big splurge, but we have spent endless hours nursing, reading, rocking in utter comfort, and just as much at 2.25 years as at birth
--I couldn't find blackout curtains but we kind of made our own out of brown cotton curtains...I love that Pottery Barn has them now.
--A very loud Blueair HEPA filter--clean air and white noise...our house is old and creaky, we definitely need white noise.
--A dimmer switch on the overhead light and a little lamp next to the glider.
--A side table for the glider (which we had to ditch when our guy started crawling) was a great place for my food and phone when I nursed.
--Hooks on the wall near the changing table (but out of reach for little hands) for towels, wet clothes, etc.

What we didn't have that I wish we did:
--A really soft rug for playing on the ground in the first year. Our rug is very thin and not much improvement over the hardwood floor, so we couldn't lay him down and play there. That was frustrating.

And in the not essential but very nice category:
--A few nice fleecy "sherpa" covers for the changing pad
--Organic cotton crib mattress with wool waterproof covers--we only had a few leaks ever with disposable diapers, but I found the wool waterproof covers to be 100% effective and make sooo much more sense than putting plastic over the organic mattress...then your baby is breathing plastic fumes.
--Tub Trugs in all colors and sizes as versatile toy and book storage
--A kid-sized chair (we have that Pottery Barn form one)...our guy really sits and looks at books and toys there
--A small laundry basket (doubles as a toy)
--A ton of those cardboard IKEA clothing storage boxes...I always have one in the closet to throw outgrown clothes into...when it gets full I label it and put it in the garage for baby #2.

Not all of these ended up in the "nursery" but where in the house they got the most use
-A footstool to go with whatever nursing chair/nest you choose
-A comfortable spot for dad to snuggle the baby in the middle of the night. My husband is very picky about our nursery chairs.
-A crib mirror. Both my kids loved theirs from the first month.
-I love my change table and it makes my kids less wiggly so for me it is a must have, but lots of others never use theirs. I have shelves over top.
-music player
-easy spot for outgrown clothes so you don't put them in the drawer because that is easier
-Space out of reach of little hands, but easy for big ones for stuff like diaper cream
-locking medicine cabinet. Ours is from ikea and in the hall by the bedrooms. Easy to get to at 2 am, totally kid proofed
-

A really good motion sensitive night light got us through nightimes with our little one. We also used an IKEA dresser with a curved foam changing pad. It had changeable covers that made it easy. Loved our Arms Reach co-sleeper and used until she got too big for it. I think the most important thing is to do what makes YOU happy. As other posters said YOU are the one who will notice the nursery. If it makes you happy, that is great. And it's important to do what makes you feel ready for that baby. I also echo the Ergo, still use it at year 3. Love it.

Our boy, now almost 6 months, slept in our room in a pack and play until he was about 4 months old and we hardly stepped foot in the nursery. Now, that he's in there, though, here's our essentials:
1. a good crib - when you find your baby gnawing on crib bars, you'll be happy if you go with a quality, organic crib. it's challenging to find one in the budget, but for me, this was of utmost importance. we went with the giggle better basics harper crib.

2. a good crib mattress - again, went organic here. just made mama feel good to know baby was laying his head in a safe, healthy place.

3. A few crib sheets - and that's all we have for bedding.

4. Changing pad - we put ours on top of a craigslist dresser. there is no way i could've survived diapering on the floor only. my back was killing me from the pack and play diaper changes, and that wasn't even that much shorter than me!

5. A nightlight or lamp on a dimmer - sets the bedtime tone. We found a globe light that has 3 settings at a consignment shop. Cute and functional!

6. CD player or Ipod speaker or white noise maker - we had both, Jack seems to prefer the lullabies, so we rotate Rockabye Baby cds (tonight it was lullabies set to the music of Journey!)

7. A comfy chair for book reading and 3am feedings. We have a simple arm chair now, but used a wooden rocker when he was teeny tiny.

8. Blackout curtains - a newer addition to our nursery - what were we waiting for?!

9. Art or decor that makes you happy! When I go in Jack's nursery, I feel relaxed and happy. I love how it looks. Design it for both of you!

10. We also have the constellation turtle - it's part of the bedtime routine and Jack does seem to enjoy checking out the stars on the wall.

11. A soft rug - for your feet in the middle of the night and eventually for baby to play!

12. Humidifier - we have the Crane cool mist. I can really tell the difference when we're not running it, especially in the winter.

13. Good bedtime books to read in your comfy chair.

14. Burp clothes galor - we use the pre-folds, as well.

I didn't comment on other baby gear I love, just stuck to what we're using in our nursery.

What we haven't found we needed: bassinet (he hated it), diaper pail (we just take them to the trash and now cloth diaper 80% of the time), footstool, a monitor (turns out we can hear him anywhere in the house), wipe warmer, or baby gear IN the nursery (we are in the living room most of the day, so he doesn't really need a place to camp out there now. What I realized, most importantly those first few months? Babies don't really need much, but some of the stuff I mentioned will definitely make the nursery more cozy and functional - you'll find your own way though!

LOVE our Luca glider, so glad we spent the money for something so comfortable and durable. My now-two-year old has spent a huge percent of his life being rocked in that chair, through teething and illnesses and thousands of story times. I can't imagine what we would have done without it!

My other favorite baby item was a buckwheat pillow for nursing or even just holding a sick baby. The boppy doesn't conform to the baby's shape in the same way, and a regular pillow squishes down too much. The buckwheat pillow can be arranged into the right position and then it stays that way! It's also fantastic for taking a baby on an airplane. A fairly small investment with a giant payoff.

Best wishes to you!

I've got a curious large breed dog that needs to be in everything, so a changing table that gets baby up and away from the the dog is pretty necessary, along with a diaper pail/ wet bag that keeps diapers away from the dog. Also a laundry basket with a lid that keeps baby things from becoming chew toys, and a lingerie bag to keep baby socks from disappearing in the wash.

Things that were a biggest waste of space for us definitely include the changing table. I used it probably ten times. I eventually gave it away to a friend who wanted one. I was sad to lose the storage, but it tended to get cluttered anyway. We were between homes when he was born and he slept in the bassinet of his pack and play at the foot of the bed for night feeding ease. After a few days he just slept in the bed with me since my husband was on an air mattress anyway. I had no trouble co-sleeping, but I only did it for the first few weeks. He started sleeping through the night early and I transferred him to his crib for naps and night time once we moved in to our new place.

I wish I hadn't wasted money on a fancy crib bedding set. (Even though it was adorable Cat in the Hat theme.) I stopped using it when he switched to a floor bed so meh wasted money.

I LOVED my swing, a gift, and it rotated to swing side to side or front to back. Nap times were a breeze. I also liked my boppy pillow, arm and back saver for nursing, and when I switched to formula it was still great for propping him up. I used for all kinds of activities, tummy time, encouraging him to sit up, etc. We had two pack and plays (I know jeez gifts from non-communicating family), one full size, and one travel size. I used the travel size the most in our little apartment. It was also easy to take to visits with family and friends and on our regular trips to visit family five states away. (It fit right behind the driver seat perfectly!)

I also used my stroller like crazy. Since my son was born right before the spring time, it was easy to take him out and let him get lots of fresh air. We live in a small town and the apartment complex had a great paved walking trail through a slightly wooded area. He loved, loved, loved being outside and it also put him to sleep with minimal amounts of struggle. (When winter came, I regretted using it as an easy out initially.) My stroller was a freebie from a friend of a friend and although it wasn't fancy we still use it today. The best thing was that the seat laid back almost flat for when he was very small. (Wasn't compatible with a car seat, older model.)

Other than that DIAPERS AND WIPES. Oh and I got a nice little contraption to make our baby food at home, which saved money and exposed him to lots of flavors he wouldn't have normally gotten to try that early on. He is now an excellent eater, not picky at all, not sure if it is genes or just letting him try a little of everything, but it's worth a try!

DO NOT LET YOUR FAMILY BUY YOU A HUNDRED AND TWENTY TOYS! My son doesn't even play with 80% of his toys. He finds household objects much, much more interesting. Invest in solid wood toys that can grow with them and keep them engaged. Keeps down clutter and they last basically forever.

So, it's not a nursery item but... a good camera. :)

I am so happy to have a changing table. i didn't have one for #1 but love it for #2. Great place to keep diapers. Its nice to have a place designated for poop accidents. My kids slept in the rock & play and then transition to a crib. A chair. A white noise machine. A night light. A cheap non mechanical mobile. Those are my must haves.

White noise has been indispensable at our house! We have an iPod dock that glows different colors so it's a night light and a white noise machine. Also, I love having a contoured changing pad on top of the dresser for diaper changes. I have one in the nursery (upstairs) & one in the master bedroom (downstairs).

The Bloom Coco bouncer was just brilliant for a safe place to put my son while I showered etc., and it's such a beautiful piece of design. My son no longer needs it and my husband had to force me to put it away into storage to make room in his nursery, I can't wait to get it out again! We were also given a 'My Breast Friend' feeding pillow by friends which before I had my son we laughed at for hours as it was just so ridiculous looking, but I swear when I was was breastfeeding I practically lived with that thing strapped around me, it was fantastic for taking the strain off of my neck and back. My sister gave me one of the best pieces of advice when it came to buying things for our baby, she simply told me that the shops don't all close down when you have a child, just wait and see what you need, she saved me a lot of money!

When we had our son, we were initially in a one bedroom dinky apartment, perfect for the two of us, not so perfect for the three of us! We only had an ensuite shower as well so we bought a flexibath, a sort of plastic, folding bathtub, it was great. Even though we have much more space now, I'd still use it again, just because it so small and manageable, makes that first bath a lot less scary!

The best thing for me was a recliner (that rocked too) so I could fall asleep while nursing. Because you will fall asleep, and you might as well be as comfortable as you can. Also a good baby monitor. And a forehead scan thermometer. So you can quickly take your baby's temp, and stave off any unnecessary the-baby-feels-hot freak outs.

-Rock n Play sleeper. We used this next to our bed rather than a cosleeper in our tiny apartment. We also use it as a place for her to sit in our living room during the day, and as a travel "crib." The incline is helpful for babies who have reflux or otherwise dislike sleeping on a flat surface.

-Boppy. While I actually didn't like this for nursing that much, it's great as a way to prop the baby up so they learn to sit, and also for tummy time.

-Those little cheapie stick-on LED click-on lights. I put one of these above her changing table for just the right amount of light for nighttime changes without waking her up all the way.

-Dimmer switch. Same concept as above...being able to vary the amount of light is super helpful. For $10, it's the best thing we did in the nursery!

We didn't have our nursery set up until a couple of months after our first was born (we had a bassinet, and a stroller, and that was it), and we both really, really hurt our backs changing her diaper on our bed or on the floor. For us, the changing table was a lifesaver and a game-changer. We had our carpenter knock off a custom-sized version of David Netto's Loft changing table (our is longer to accommodate a wipe warner, as we cloth diapered and used cloth wipes). It was great because it was sturdy, the right height, and everything was open and accessible, but organized.

The rocking chair was also a must (colicky baby); we tried many, many different ones, and figured out the measurements and proportions we find comfortable, and ordered one which met the criteria. It has been perfect! We found that a high back is really important when you are rocking, and that the seat be angled back a little. Also, I suffer from ulnar tunnel syndrome, and hard flat arms are torture, so padded ones were a must. We went with a Lepo Moderno rocker, a Finish MCM design which now sits in our living room.

It was really hard to move the kids out of their bright turquoise crib as they both loved it so much. It is a Jenny Lind crib painted and distressed a bright turquoise. I got teh optional toddler rail, and my son stayed in it 4 years; he simply did not want another bed.

I'm really big on soft cotton and flannel sheets, but my kids loved the chamois sheets sold by Pottery Barn Kids. They are really cuddly and soft, and they loved sleeping on them, especially in winter.

We picked an antique dresser off of Craigslist that matched the crib. We placed the Babysmart Cooshee changer on top and that converted the dresser to a changing table. We stored all of babies clothes in the dresser, so it was a fantastic 2-in-1 solution for us.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YQ429S/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details

The great thing about this particular changing pad is that you don't need sheets for it - messes just wipe right up and we would disinfect it once a week.

We use cloth diapers, and hung a Munchkin diaper change organizer on the wall next to the dresser - stored all of our diapers and related items within arms reach, and it is very inexpensive.

http://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-10047-Diaper-Change-Organizer/dp/B000GAYYCE/ref=sr_1_4?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1332706127&sr=1-4