Building a Nursery on a Budget

When shopping for nursery items, it's easy to get overwhelmed trying to figure out what is a necessity and what isn’t — especially if you are a first-time parent trying to navigate the ins and outs of parenthood.

As a starting point, we recommended looking at our Baby Registry Checklist to figure out which items you may want to purchase yourself and which ones you may want to add to your baby registry. While furniture cannot be added to your registry (at the current time), the Nursery & Décor section has a great breakdown of items we recommend for your little one's nursery.

If you are on a tight budget and are looking for only the essentials, you could narrow down your shopping list to these key items:

Bassinet:

The bassinet is where your little one is going to spend the first 3–6 months of their life and will likely be in your bedroom during this time.

• You want to ensure that you choose a bassinet that works best for your space and your needs! For example, if you have had a C-Section, you may want a bassinet with a drop-down side like the Cozy-Up Bedside Sleeper by SkipHop for ease of use. See our top bassinet recommendations for 2023 here.

Crib:

Once your baby outgrows their bassinet, they will need a crib and mattress.

• When shopping for cribs, one of the first things to consider is the convertibility and longevity of the crib — do you want something that can convert into a toddler bed and even a full-sized bed later? Or do you plan on using the crib for more children down the road? Investing in a convertible crib can be beneficial in the long term as it enables your child to use the same furniture for many years. 

• Your crib mattress will be one of the most important purchases you will make for your little one as it is something they will be sleeping on every night for 3–5 years, depending on when you transition them into a bigger bed. 

• For more help selecting the perfect crib, check out this article. If you need advice on choosing a crib mattress, click here. 

Bedding:

In addition to the crib and mattress you will need bedding, including crib sheets, mattress protectors, and swaddles.

• Having enough crib sheets and swaddles for your little one's nursery is crucial to creating a clean sleeping environment (and saves you from having to do laundry every time you change the sheets). 

• While crib sheets are used solely on the mattress, you may be using your swaddles as multi-purpose items for after feeding or during nap time. We recommend having five to seven of each — it's always handy to have those extra ones ready to go if your little one makes a mess! 

• When it comes to mattress protectors, have at least two: one in the crib and one in the laundry, ready to be rotated in and out. 

Changer:

You will also need a place to change your little one — whether that be a separate changing table or a change pad stationed on top of a dresser.

•  The decision to go with either a separate changing table or to use a dresser with a change pad on top of it typically comes down to the amount of space you have available in your nursery. Using a change pad on top of a dresser allows the storage space of the drawers to be used for extra diapers, clothing, lotions, etc., but will take up more space within the nursery. A stand-alone changing table will often have one or two shelves underneath it to store your changing essentials but will have a smaller footprint in the room. 

A Nursing Chair:

The right nursing chair should be both comfortable and functional.

• Choosing your perfect nursing chair is a very personal decision — you want to ensure you are picking something that fits you and your nursery space, while also making sure it has the functionality you need (whether that be the option to lock the glider, recline, or swivel from side to side).

• If possible, we always recommend visiting a Nestled store to try out all the different models of chairs we have on display to discover the best option for you. For more tips on selecting the right nursing chair for your nursery, check out this Learning Centre article. 

A Diaper Pail:

To reduce odours and allow for convenient, easy, and sanitary disposal of dirty diapers after changing you will want to have a diaper pail on hand.

Price-Point Options

Now that we’ve covered the basics, here are some of our top choices for nurseries with budgets ranging up to $2000 or less after taxes — we have selected varying styles to help inspire you to build your nursery at a price point that you’re comfortable with!

Each option below includes a crib, a crib mattress, somewhere to change your little one, and something to change them on.

Under $1000

A) DYLAN FOLDING MINI CRIB -  $239
B.) COLBY CHANGING TABLE - $199
C.) PEANUT CHANGING PAD - $199
D.) COMPLETE SLUMBER MINI MATTRESS - $109

TOTAL: $842.98 AFTER TAXES

Under $1500

A.) JENNY LIND 3-IN-1 CRIB - $399
B.) JENNY LIND 6-DR DRESSER - $599
C.) MEMORY FOAM CHANGING PAD - $49
D.) NOOK PEBBLE AIR MATTRESS - $249

TOTAL: $1465.60 AFTER TAXES

Under $2000

• A.) FLEXX 3-IN-1 CRIB -  $759 
• B.) BAMBOO CHANGE PAD - $69 
• C.) COLBY CHANGING TABLE - $199 
• D.) SEALY BUTTERFLY KNIT ULTRA FIRM MATTRESS - $119
• E.) 61B GLIDER - $560 

TOTAL: $1930.02 AFTER TAXES

Final Thoughts

Smaller parts of your nursery, like a mattress, bedding, and change pads, can be great items to add to your baby registry! This allows friends and family to build a gift basket of smaller items in a theme, or to shop together for larger items like the mattress.

When you build a registry with Snuggle Bugz, you get access to some great perks, including:

• Our buy more, get more incentive
• A 10% off discount at close-out* 

For more information on our registry program, see our registry guide. For support in building the nursery of your dreams, give your local Nestled a call, visit us online, or stop by our location to shop in-store!

Want more inspiration? Check out our Nursery Board on Pinterest, here. 

*Please note that the 10% registry close-out is subject to standard exclusions. For a full list, click here.