Writen by Pei Aui - Melbourne Newborn, Maternity, Family and Couples Photographer.
There's a moment in the third trimester where the nesting instinct kicks in hard. Suddenly you're up at 11pm reorganising the linen cupboard or googling "newborn checklist" for the fourth time this week, half convinced you're forgetting something crucial. Here's the truth. You're not going to get it perfect, and you don't need to. But there are a handful of things worth genuinely getting right before bub arrives, and a lot of things the internet will tell you to buy that can wait.
I've photographed a lot of Melbourne families through pregnancy, newborn and that first wild year, and I've heard the same "I wish someone had told me" moments come up again and again. So here's a real, no-fluff guide to setting up your home, written for Melbourne mums by a Melbourne mum, who are trying to figure out what actually matters before the baby comes.
Start with the sleep space, because this is the one that matters most
Before anything else, get the sleep setup right. Red Nose Australia, the national authority on safe infant sleep, is worth reading properly rather than skimming. The short version is that baby sleeps on their back, in their own safe cot with a firm, flat mattress, with nothing loose in there with them, no pillows, no soft toys, no loose blankets. Baby stays in your room, in their own space, for at least the first six months. It sounds simple written down like that, but it's worth actually reading through Red Nose's full guidelines before the baby arrives, not after a sleepless week when you're trying to make sense of it all through exhaustion.
Once the safety basics are sorted, think about the setup practically. Whether you're doing a bassinet in your room first or going straight to the cot, position it somewhere you can get to easily in the middle of the night without stubbing your toe on furniture in the dark.
Set up your changing station properly, because you'll use it constantly
This is one I'll say from real experience because it made such a difference. Put your change table right next to a table, tray or small cabinet, and keep everything within arm's reach. Wipes, nappies, moisturiser, sudocrem, a spare change of clothes, all of it, close enough that you can grab it one-handed while the other hand is on the baby. You will be changing nappies constantly in the early weeks, and the number of times you'll need something two steps away while holding a wriggling, occasionally mid-stream newborn adds up fast. Get this system sorted before bub arrives and you'll thank yourself at 3am. Oh, and a side note on baby clothes, do yourself a favour and can get more zip up onesies (Bonds, Kmart's Anko and Purebaby has a good range) instead of the button up ones.
A baby camera is genuinely worth having
When bub is napping on their own, a baby monitor with video becomes one of those things you didn't know you needed until you had it. Being able to glance at a screen instead of tiptoeing in to check if they're still breathing, or sleeping means you can actually fold the washing, eat a meal, or sit down for five minutes while they nap in another room. It's a small thing that buys back a surprising amount of peace of mind.
Feeding gear, even if you're planning to breastfeed
Everyone goes in hoping breastfeeding will click easily, and for a lot of mums it does, but it's not for everyone, and that is genuinely okay. Having bottles, a breast pump and a steriliser ready to go, just in case, takes the pressure off if things don't go to plan.
A couple of things worth knowing before you buy. PPSU bottles tend to hold up better over time than the cheaper plastic options, they don't discolour or get that cloudy, slightly worn look as quickly. And if you're planning to pump at all, a portable pump without the cord is worth every extra dollar. In the early weeks you might be pumping every two to three hours, and each session can run twenty to thirty minutes. That's a lot of time tethered to a wall outlet. A cordless pump means you can fold washing, scroll your phone, or just walk around the house while you pump instead of being stuck in one spot.
A good play mat earns its keep
A decent quality play mat is one of those purchases that gets used every single day for months (or years). It's the go-to spot for tummy time early on, and later just somewhere for bub to lie, kick and look around while you're nearby. My daughter is turning 5 now and she still love to lie down on the mat or does her rolls and cartwheels on it. If you plan ahead, you can buy a playpen in the same dimensions as your mat, so once bub starts rolling and needs a contained space, the transition is seamless and you're not buying a whole new setup.
Side note: An automatic bouncer, swing or rocker is also worth having on hand. It's not essential from day one, but once bub is a bit more alert, having somewhere safe and gently soothing to pop them down for ten minutes while you have a toilet break or make a coffee is genuinely handy.
Getting the car seat right (and why it matters more than people realise)
If you're in Melbourne and planning to drive anywhere with bub, and let's be honest, you will be, the capsule needs to be rear-facing and fitted correctly before baby's first ride home from hospital. Here's a stat worth knowing: it's estimated that around three in four car seats in Australia are fitted or adjusted incorrectly. That's not a small margin of error when it comes to your baby.
Rather than fitting it yourself and hoping for the best, book in with an authorised restraint fitting station (Baby Bunting for example) or a Kidsafe Victoria accredited fitter. Kidsafe Victoria has a "Find a Fitter" tool on their website that makes this easy, and most fitters will check pram compatibility and car seat positioning at the same time. It's a twenty minute appointment that genuinely gives you peace of mind every time you drive.
Protip: get a mirror that straps on the head rest so bubs who is rear-facing gets to look at themselves. They actually really love looking at themselves :)
What you can absolutely wait on
Nesting brain will tell you to buy everything now, but a lot of the baby aisle can wait until you actually know what you need.
- A high chair isn't needed until you're closer to starting solids, generally around six months.
- A bigger playpen or larger toys can wait until bub is mobile. Newborns won't get much use out of them yet.
- Teething toys and gear have plenty of time. You'll know when it's coming.
- A full wardrobe in every size is unnecessary. Babies grow fast and unevenly, and you'll likely be gifted plenty along the way. Buy a few things in newborn size and the next size up, then fill gaps as you go. However, buy plenty of bibs and burp towels!
Giving yourself permission to wait on these takes a surprising amount of pressure off.
While you're preparing the nursery, don't forget to prepare for the memories too
While you're setting up cots and change tables, it's worth thinking about capturing this season too, because it moves faster than anyone warns you.
Maternity photos are usually best done somewhere between 28 and 34 weeks, once your bump is well and truly showing but before things get too uncomfortable to move around easily for a session. Newborn photos are best done in that first one to three weeks of life, while bub is still sleepy, curly and small enough to fold into those tiny, magic newborn poses. Both of these windows are short, and both of them are moments you genuinely cannot get back later.
As a Melbourne newborn, maternity, family and couples photographer, this is a season I get to be part of again and again with the families I work with, and it's one of my favourite parts of the job. If you're thinking about getting both your maternity and newborn sessions done, reach out. I have parent bundles that give you a bit of savings when you book both together, and I'd genuinely love to be part of this chapter with you.
You're going to be more ready than you think. Get the safe sleep sorted, get the changing station within reach, get the car seat fitted properly, and let the rest come together as you go. That's the job, and I love it.