A good nursery is calm, practical and safe: a cot with a firm mattress and nothing else inside, soft lighting for night feeds, storage within reach of the changing area, and heavy furniture fixed so it cannot tip over. Choose colours you love; the safety details matter more than the theme.
Many Kenyan families set up the nursery as a corner of the parents’ bedroom for the first months, and move to a separate room later. This guide works for both: what to include, how to keep it safe, and simple decor ideas.
What does a baby nursery need?
A nursery needs a safe place to sleep, somewhere to change your baby, storage, and a comfortable seat for feeds. Plan it in zones:
| Zone | What you need | Safety check |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep | A cot, co-sleeper or bassinet with a firm, flat mattress | Nothing inside but your baby and a fitted sheet |
| Changing | A changing mat on a sturdy surface, with diapers and wipes in reach | Keep one hand on your baby; never step away |
| Storage | A chest of drawers or shelves for clothes and bedding | Fix heavy furniture to the wall |
| Feeding | A comfortable chair, such as a nursing rocking chair, and a small side table | Keep hot drinks away from your baby |
| Light | A soft, dimmable lamp and curtains | Tie blind and curtain cords up out of reach |
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How do you make a nursery safe?
Start with the cot, then check the room from your crawling baby’s height. The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) advises:
- Keep the cot free of bumpers, pillows and soft toys, and lay your baby on their back with their feet at the foot of the cot.
- Tie curtain and blind cords up out of reach, fixed to a hook, so they cannot wrap round a baby’s neck.
- Fit window locks or catches that stop windows opening more than 6.5cm.
- Keep plastic bags, including diaper bags, out of reach and out of sight.
- Keep small objects, such as buttons, coins and small toy parts, out of reach.
- Use a fireguard that fully encloses any heater, fixed to the wall.
Also fix chests of drawers and shelves to the wall so they cannot topple if a toddler climbs them, and keep the cot away from windows, heaters and curtain cords. Our guide to baby cots covers choosing a cot and mattress.
Which colours and decor work in a nursery?
Soft, calm colours such as cream, soft grey, sage green or pale yellow make a restful room, and they suit a boy or a girl. Add colour with a rug, cushions for your chair, framed prints or wall stickers.
- Paint well before your baby arrives, and air the room until the smell has gone.
- Hang pictures and shelves away from the cot, never directly above it.
- Keep mobiles and wall hangings out of your baby’s reach, and take mobiles down once your baby can push up on their hands.
- Keep houseplants out of reach: some common plants are harmful if chewed.
How do you light a nursery for night feeds?
Use a soft, low lamp or a plug-in night light, placed away from the cot, so you can see to feed and change your baby without waking them fully. Curtains that block street lights and early sun help naps and early mornings.
Does a baby need a separate nursery room?
Not at first. Safe-sleep advice is for your baby to sleep in the same room as you for at least the first 6 months, so many parents set up a small nursery corner in their own bedroom, with the cot or co-sleeper beside the bed. Our baby sleep routine guide explains why.
When your baby moves to their own room, the same zones and safety checks apply. A caddy keeps diapers and wipes together wherever you change your baby.
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Where can you buy nursery furniture in Nairobi?
You can see our cots, chests of drawers and nursing chair at Zawadi Baby Shop, Shop F12, IBEA Building, Moi Avenue, Nairobi. We are open Monday to Saturday 8:30am to 7pm, and Sunday 11am to 6pm. Call or WhatsApp 0706 561 855 before you visit.
You can also order online, pay with Lipa na M-Pesa, and we deliver across Kenya. Browse our full nursery range and our cots and cribs.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a nursery safe for a baby?
Keep the cot clear of bumpers, pillows and soft toys, tie blind and curtain cords out of reach, fit window catches, keep plastic bags and small objects away from your baby, guard any heater, and fix heavy furniture to the wall.
What colours are best for a baby nursery?
Soft, calm colours such as cream, soft grey, sage green or pale yellow make a restful room and suit a boy or a girl. Add brighter colour with a rug, prints or wall stickers placed away from the cot.
When should I set up the nursery?
Many parents set it up in the second half of pregnancy, so any paint has time to dry and air out and the cot is ready well before the due date. Put the cot together early so you can check it is sturdy.
Should my baby sleep in the nursery or in my room?
Safe-sleep advice is for your baby to sleep in your room for at least the first 6 months, in their own cot or co-sleeper. Many families set up a nursery corner in their bedroom and move to a separate room later.
Can I hang pictures or shelves above the cot?
No. Hang pictures, shelves and heavy decorations away from the cot, never directly above it, so nothing can fall on your baby. Keep mobiles and wall hangings out of your baby’s reach.
