Are you feeling a need to get things ready for your little one? That’ll be your nesting instinct kicking in. If you’re ready to decorate and start shopping, here are some tips to help you get going.

Pinterest is a great place to store color scheme and decorating ideas. Or if you’ve got a pile of interiors and baby magazines start cutting them up to make mood boards.

They may only be little, but babies need a lot of stuff! Piles of diapers, burp cloths, extra blankets, vests and romper suits all need to go somewhere. As well as drawers and cupboards there are also change stations or tables and cribs or cot beds to consider. The choice can be overwhelming. Ask friends and family what they really needed to get an idea of what will work in your baby’s room.

Be sure to read ratings and reviews about the pieces you bring home. Take note of recall information if you’re choosing second hand furniture or getting hand-me downs, as safety standards change over time. For example: drop sides in older cribs can be a strangulation hazard and decorative cot bumpers can pose suffocation risk.  

During pregnancy, joints and ligaments loosen to prepare you for childbirth, which means you’re more prone to injuries — especially in the lower back and knees.  Be sure to let others do the heavy lifting and stretching.

It’s best to avoid sharing your home with harmful fumes from paints and stains, so try to find colors that are non-toxic and chemical free.