When should I start setting up the nursery?
Short answer: Many parents start in the second or early third trimester, leaving time for delivery and assembly. Your baby will sleep in your room for at least the first 6 months, so set up a sleep space there too.
Here is the detail behind that answer, taken from current UK guidance from the NHS and the Lullaby Trust.
Things to check
- Measure the room and plan where each piece goes before ordering.
- Check what is in the set (cot, cot bed, dresser, wardrobe) and the mattress size the cot takes.
- Wall-anchor wardrobes and drawers as the instructions say.
What the guidance says
- The NHS advises placing your baby in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for every sleep, day and night, for at least the first 6 months.
Related questions
What is a nursery furniture set?
Matching furniture, typically a cot or cot bed with a wardrobe and/or chest of drawers.
Shop at Baby Kingdom
- Misha & Hallee 2 Piece Room Set
- Grace 2 Piece Room Set - Warm Grey
- Vox Bosque Baby Cot Bed 3 Piece Nursery Set
- Coleby Classic 2 Piece Furniture Set
Check each product page for its exact dimensions, mattress size, age and weight limits and safety standards.
More advice
What safety standard should a nursery furniture set have?What do I need in the nursery before the baby arrives?Can I buy a second-hand nursery wardrobe?Is a nursery wardrobe right for you? Quick quizGuide to baby gifts: what to look forBuying second-hand nursery items safelyAll nursery furniture and planning advice →
Sources
- NHS: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (accessed 2026-10-21)
General information only, not medical advice. Always follow your product's instructions. If you are worried about your baby, contact your GP, health visitor or 111. In an emergency, call 999.