Nesting for Baby: Essential Stations for a Smoother Newborn Experience

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It's so tempting to get drawn into the promise that with the "right" baby gear, everything about the newborn stage will fall into place. Whether it’s gadgets that promise to help your baby sleep, soothing items that promise to calm every fuss, or the endless list of “must-haves” from friends, family, and social media, the idea is that once you have all the right things—even “just in case” things—life with a newborn will be easy, and you will love every moment.

But that promise is misleading. Chasing after the perfect products can get expensive fast, clutter up our house at first and a landfill after, and, perhaps most importantly, can fuel stress and anxiety once the baby arrives. After all, these items were supposed to make life easier, and yet, in the end, they’re just things. They can’t offer the support, connection, or reassurance that truly helps you navigate those early days with your baby.

My Minimalist Approach as a Doula and Parent:

As a doula and a parent of two kids, I have embraced a more minimalist approach to baby care. This was almost a necessity since we moved from Seattle to Japan when I was 6 months pregnant, and I wasn’t sure what kind of gear I could get there. (Read more about my approach in my Bare Minimum Baby Gear blog post). 

Anyway, this aspiring minimalist mindset helped me to see that every item I bought, was gifted, or received as a hand-me-down becomes my responsibility to maintain, store, and eventually dispose of. And when nothing seems to be working with your baby, it’s all too easy to say, “Yes, I’ll take anything that might help.” But soon you’re surrounded by things that only worked for a day or two, were too inconvenient to use regularly, or were just too hard to clean.

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This approach doesn’t mean you should live with less because less is better—it’s about choosing to be intentional. Before saying yes to a new baby item, try to look past the glossy advertising promises and think: is this really necessary? Do you need to spend extra on a specially designed, single-purpose diaper pail, or could a regular waste receptacle do the job (and live on even after you’re done with diapers)? Do you need to buy high-contrast image cards for babies, or could you prop up any drawing or photo from a book in your home for the same effect?

Rather than focusing on how many products you are collecting, think about what will help you manage those first few weeks, when life with a newborn feels unpredictable and overwhelming. This is where setting up key baby care stations will bring you real, practical support—far more than the latest product promise.

As exciting as it is to welcome a new baby into your home, it’s easy to end up with an overabundance of things and that can make staying organized a lot harder. You may find yourself spending more time managing and storing these things than actually using them.

That’s why, instead of focusing on acquiring more stuff, it’s important to focus on how to best organize your home to support your daily routines. By setting up just three key stations—one for diapering, one for feeding, and one for sleep—you’ll create a tidy space that reduces overwhelm and helps you feel more in control. These stations don’t require endless products; they just need the essentials, thoughtfully organized in a way that works for you.

1. The Diaper Changing Station:

Organizing a diaper station may seem like a given, but having one well-stocked, go-to place can make all the difference in your early weeks and months with your baby. Whether you have one central spot or one on each floor of your house, what matters is that everything you need is easily accessible and always in the same place.

What to Include:

A soft padded surface for baby, diapers, wipes, diaper cream, extra clothes, and a small bag for soiled diapers. You don’t need fancy organizers or specialized gadgets—just a clean, designated space where everything has a home.

Where to Set It Up:

As a doula, I’ve seen diapering handled in many different ways, but things definitely feel calmer when there’s one main diapering station. Of course, you might change diapers on the floor or bed from time to time, but having one spot where all the supplies are kept helps keep things organized.

Here are a few options for where to set up your main diaper station:

1. Changing Table or Dresser: You can buy a piece of furniture designed for diapering, with rails and built-in storage for supplies. Alternatively, a dresser or even a desk can work perfectly—just strap a diaper mat to the top and use the drawers for storing diapers, wipes, and creams.

2. Laundry Area: One family I worked with used the top of their dryer as a diapering station. It was a great setup because the laundry area had shelves for supplies, a sink for washing hands or soiled clothes, and hampers ready for dirty laundry.

3. A bedroom: This makes sense early on because diaper changes naturally happen around sleep times so setting up a changing station in the main bedroom or the baby’s room helps link those activities.

4. The main living area: On the other hand, having a designated diapering space in the main living room where you spend most of your time might suit your family better. This way, you don’t need to go far during the day, and a secondary spot can be set up for overnight changes in a bedroom

Whatever spot you choose, make it the go-to location where everything from unopened wipes to diaper cream lives. This makes it easy to grab what you need when packing your diaper bag, and allows others to change a diaper without needing to ask where things are.

2. The Feeding Station:

Feeding a newborn, whether by breast or bottle, can take more time than you might expect—sometimes 30 minutes or more per session. And many babies fall asleep after a good feed, which means you may end up spending quite a bit of your day in that spot, burping and holding a sleepy baby. So, when setting up a feeding station, think about not just the essentials for the baby, but also how you want to spend your time in that spot.

What to Include:

Essentially, your feeding station should have everything you’ll need for a successful session: burp cloths, feeding pillows, nipple cream, and anything else that brings comfort to both you and your baby. Don’t forget to include a big water bottle for you since staying hydrated is especially important during the postpartum period, and have hearty snacks nearby for when hunger strikes during a feed.

Where to Set It Up:

For most families, it's practical to set up your feeding station in the main living area because, truthfully, you'll likely spend a lot of time there in the first few months. While you might envision retreating to a private space in the bedroom for nursing sessions or setting up for night feeds there, keeping your main station in a social space helps prevent the feeding parent from feeling isolated or disconnected.

1. Living Room or Family Room: This is often the best spot for your main feeding station. Not only will it allow you to engage with visitors, older children, or your partner, but it also gives you access to entertainment—whether that’s watching TV, reading a book, or enjoying the view outside the window during longer feeding sessions.

2. Bedroom: You can also set up a secondary station in the bedroom for nighttime feeds, but be mindful that spending too much time here during the day might feel isolating.

Wherever you choose, make sure the space is comfortable. Consider placing a chair or sofa with good back support, a small ottoman for your feet, and a side table for easy access to everything you’ll need. Don’t forget to set up near an outlet for charging your phone or tablet—you’ll appreciate being able to stay connected or entertained during those longer feeds and the naps that follow.

3. The Sleep Station:

For the first 10 weeks or so, newborn sleep can feel unpredictable, and the location of baby’s sleep—whether in a brightly lit, busy living room or a quiet, darkened nursery—might make very little difference. During these early weeks, babies sleep in short bursts, and they don’t yet have a set day-night pattern. So, don’t stress too much about creating the "perfect" sleep environment right away. Setting up “good habits” is not as important as going with the flow and meeting your baby where they are in the first 12 weeks or so, in a way that feels manageable to you.

However, safety is always the top priority when it comes to where your baby sleeps. While the location might not matter as much, there are a few places where your baby should never sleep for safety reasons:

But First: Unsafe Sleep Spaces:

1. Swings and Bouncy Seats: The incline of these seats can cause babies to tuck their chins when they fall asleep, which may restrict their airway and make it harder to breathe.

2. Soft, Fluffy Surfaces with Blankets: A sofa or soft bed with loose blankets can pose a suffocation risk.

3. In Your Arms or on Your Chest (when you're dozing off): It might feel cozy, but falling asleep with your baby in your arms, especially in an armchair or on the sofa, can lead to accidents.

4. In an Unprepared Adult Bed: If the adult bed isn’t prepared for safe bed sharing (especially if there are soft pillows, blankets, or other people in the bed), it poses a risk. Safer bed sharing can happen, but it requires special precautions, and it’s safest when only the nursing parent is in the bed with baby.

What to Include:

Safe sleep boils down to simplicity: any flat, firm surface that’s free of blankets, bumpers, toys, or strings will do the job.

1. Bassinet or Pack-and-Play: Many families prefer something portable, like a bassinet that can be easily moved from room to room, allowing you to roll it into the living room during the day and into the bedroom at night. A pack-and-play is another great option—it’s versatile, travels well, and can be used as a sleep space until your baby is ready for a bed.

2. Soft, Fitted Sheets: Choose fitted sheets that fit snugly over the sleep surface to avoid bunching. Avoid loose blankets or pillows, as these pose a safety risk.

3. Sleep Aids: While sleep tools like white noise machines, dimmable nightlights, or room-darkening shades can’t really make your baby sleep longer in the early weeks, they can help create a calm and familiar sleep environment that might help as your baby grows. The white noise at a moderate setting can also mask household sounds if the baby is sleeping in the living room or near other activity.

Where to Set It Up: 

For the first couple of months, you don’t have to worry too much about creating the perfect sleep environment. In those early weeks, babies are just as likely to nap in a bassinet in the living room as they are in a quiet nursery. The key is finding what’s convenient and meaningful for you, whether it’s rolling a bassinet into your living space during the day or establishing the crib as the one sleep space.

However, having a consistent sleep space where your baby can go for every nap and overnight is important for building a sense of comfort and predictability around sleep. When your baby becomes familiar with a specific place for sleep, it helps create a routine that can help with smoother transitions as they grow, especially when they’re ready for independent sleep. While it’s okay to nap wherever is convenient at times, having a go-to sleep space promotes a comforting sleep environment that can help babies settle into more consistent sleep patterns.

The most important thing is to always ensure that no matter where your baby is sleeping, it’s a safe sleep space. When you create one designated sleep station that’s easy to access and set up for safe sleep, you’ll feel more at ease, even during those unpredictable newborn days.

Creating a Sense of Control in a Changing Environment:

It’s important to remember that, in the early weeks, it will take time for you and your baby to settle into a rhythm. And while the first days may feel chaotic, setting up these key stations—diapering, feeding, and sleep—can make those essential baby care activities feel more manageable.

It all comes down to the home organization principle of giving everything in your house a “home”—a designated spot where it lives when it’s not in use. When anyone can find what they need without searching, the emotional load is lighter, the frustration eases, and it’s easier to feel in control, even in a time of constant change.

Next Steps:

This post draws heavily from one of my lessons in the Prepping for Parenthood course. If you love this content, I encourage you to explore the course for more in-depth information and support.

The Prepping for Parenthood Course:

1. Comprehensive Modules: The course offers detailed modules covering all aspects of the postpartum period, including physical recovery, emotional support, and newborn care. Whether you're preparing for a surgical birth or a vaginal birth, the course provides valuable information to help you manage your recovery and adjust to life with a newborn.

2. Expert Guidance: Learn from me, a certified and experienced postpartum doula, about topics like postpartum preparation, newborn care, lactation, and safe infant sleep. My goal is to provide you with the knowledge and confidence you need to navigate this new phase of life.

3. Flexible Learning: Access the course materials at your own pace, allowing you to revisit important topics as needed. This flexibility ensures that you can fit the course into your busy schedule as a new parent.

By enrolling in Prepping for Parenthood, you'll gain access to a wealth of knowledge and support that can make a significant difference in your postpartum experience.

Share Your Story!

I want to hear from you! Your experiences and insights are valuable, not only to me but also to other new parents who may be reading this post. Here are some ways to engage and connect:

Leave a comment below: Will you be setting up stations to try to stay organized? How will it work in your house?

Or send me a DM on Instagram to share which of these stations feels the easiest and most difficult to set up! Your stories can provide support and comfort to others going through similar experiences ❤️

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Explore More Resources:

Check out my other blog posts on postpartum care, physical recovery, and emotional support. Here are a few you might find helpful:

• Must-Haves and Deal Breakers: Setting Your Birth and Postpartum Priorities

• What is a Postpartum Doula and How Can They Help You?

• 4 Practical Ways a Virtual Postpartum Doula Can Help

Learn More About My Postpartum Doula Services:

Interested in personalized support? Learn more about my Day with a Doula and All Access Doula Pass services, which allow you to reach out for one-on-one doula care when you need it most! These services offer tailored support and guidance to help you navigate the challenges of early parenthood with confidence.

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