Baby's First Space: Weeks 21-22

Creating your baby’s first space

Once your 20-week scan is behind you, thoughts naturally turn from early pregnancy to the life you're about to build as a family.

Let’s start by saying that there’s no right way to do this. You might find this stage exciting and creative. Or you might feel a little overwhelmed by the options or just too tired to think about paint colours and moving your house around. Both are completely normal.

If your Pinterest boards are full of aesthetic nursery inspiration and you’ve already spent way too long debating tongue-and-groove panelling versus colour drenching and sage green walls now is when those ideas come together, starting with the room your baby will share with you.

Start with the space you’ll share: your bedroom

NHS guidance recommends that babies sleep in the same room as you for their first six months, making this a great time to look at your bedroom with fresh eyes. You don't need to dedicate your whole room to baby gear; the goal is simply to create a calm, easy zone for those first months of night-time feeds and sleepy cuddles.

Designing a serene sleep space

Start with baby’s sleep setup. A classic, lightweight Moses basket is a good pick as you can move it easily around the house for daytime naps. A bedside crib will keep baby close by your side, making those middle-of-the-night feeds that little bit easier. When choosing a spot for the crib, keep it comfortably clear of direct radiators, draughty windows, or bright morning sun.

Giving the crib its own dedicated corner creates a peaceful little haven for baby without making your bedroom feel like a full-on nursery.

Making night-times easier

It’s worth thinking about how the room will work in the dark, too. Keeping a clear, uncluttered path around the room makes navigation easier when you’re up in the night.

Lighting makes all the difference. A dimmable night light gives off just enough soft glow for feeds and nappy changes without waking everyone up completely. Pair it with a soothing sound machine, placed safely away from baby’s sleep space. A video monitor can be handy for the months ahead too, when baby moves into their own room.

Keeping the essentials close

Newborn essentials have a way of multiplying, especially in those early weeks. A nappy caddy is a simple but brilliant solution something portable you can fill with nappies, wipes, a spare sleepsuit and a muslin or five, then move from room to room as needed.

If your bedside crib has shelving, like the Lua, that’s an ideal spot for keeping nighttime essentials close at hand, so you’re not fumbling in the dark.

For sleep, keep baby’s cot or crib clear a firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet, with no loose blankets, bumpers, or soft toys. In the early days, swap loose blankets for simple swaddles or baby sleeping bags to maintain a safe, comfortable sleeping temperature without worrying about kicked-off covers.

For supervised awake time, a play mat or activity gym gives baby a safe, comfortable spot to stretch, kick and look around.

Woman adjusting a baby bassinet with storage underneath in a cozy room.

And if you’re planning a nursery…

If you have a spare room, setting up a separate nursery gives you a lovely creative project while you still have plenty of second-trimester energy even if baby won’t sleep in there overnight for a while.

Long before baby moves in full-time, the nursery becomes a daytime sanctuary. It’s a peaceful spot for daytime feeds, getting dressed, and keeping all those extra baby bits beautifully organised.

It helps to choose pieces that adapt as your baby grows. A convertible cot bed that turns into a toddler bed means one less big decision down the line, while a changing dresser with a removable top turns back into a regular chest of drawers once nappy days are behind you. Look out for wardrobes with adjustable hanging rails, too – they make it easy to adapt the space as tiny babygros give way to toddler clothes.

Newborn clothing storage is all about fast access. Using drawer dividers or soft canvas baskets on top of a dresser keeps daily staples – sleepsuits, vests, and an endless supply of muslins – right where you need them during a change. Grouping clothes by size and keeping your most-used items close at hand makes those post-poonami outfit changes run much smoother.

There’s no need to have every last detail finished before your baby arrives. Start with the essentials, enjoy choosing the things you love, and let the rest come together over time.