One of the more obvious contributions to a nursery is a place for the newborn baby to sleep. Cribs should be sturdy enough to last until the baby is old enough to move to a child's bed. Some cribs, as noted on the website Wee Baby Stuff, can last even longer by converting into a toddler bed.
A changing table provides a space within the nursery to change the baby's diaper and functions as a makeshift dressing area. Changing tables can come as freestanding furniture or pads that can attach to the top of a dresser. Stock the changing table area with diapers, wipes, cotton swabs, a nostril aspirator bulb and a thermometer. In addition, pick up nail clippers specifically for babies, a comb and brush set and rash ointment. Some parents also opt to include a diaper pail designed to hold dirty diapers and contain the smell.
Baby monitors help parents feel comfortable leaving the baby alone in the nursery. A good monitor works at a wide range, so parents can move around the house and yard but still be able to hear the baby. Many monitors use batteries for added portability. More recently, baby monitors have included cameras so parents can see the baby as well as hear him.
Parenthood notes that a vaporizer comes in handy when a baby has trouble breathing or has a cold. Many people don't think of buying this until after they need it, but having it ready beforehand can make a sick baby much more comfortable.
A rocking chair or glider in the nursery gives new parents a comfortable place to feed the baby. A night light also helps with night feedings to help illuminate the room without turning on the harsh overhead light.
Babies may look cute in expensive clothes and fancy blankets, but these items rarely mesh well with the mess a baby makes. Easy to wash and easy to change, a stock of receiving blankets and one-piece outfits will come in handy.