Expert Pia Lindstrom Picks Nursery Essentials

Bringing home baby means having the essentials when it comes to the nursery. Nursery essentials might be a bit of an investment because you want your child to be as safe and as protected as possible. We’ve turned to nursery and baby gear expert, Pia Lindstrom for some must-haves for the baby’s room.

Pia Lindstrom, owner of Beginnings in Los Angeles, has worked in the baby world for over seven years. She has appeared on many television shows as a nursery designer and expert including Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood, and her design tips have been featured in People Magazine, US Weekly, In Touch, and Star. Pia has worked with a long list of celebrity clients helping them to create the perfect nurseries for their little ones. Some of her clients include Nicole Richie, Halle Berry, Salma Hayek, Penelope Cruz, Christina Aguilera, Mia Hamm and Linda Evangelista.

Crib: Pia notes that “the trend we have seen lately is that people want a great, simple looking, safe crib that is not made in China. They also want a great price.” Her recommendation? The Oeuf Sparrow. “The Oeuf Sparrow looks great and is convertible so it can be used as a toddler bed until 4-6 years old, which means you can still use your crib mattress when you convert it.” The Oeuf Sparrow comes in many great colors such as white, birch, grey and walnut and sells for $730.00 (Pia’s tip: don't forget to buy the conversion kit because it will only go up in price and you will definitely need it!). Another pick is the Argington Sahara Crib.

Mattress: “Many people don’t realize it, but choosing a mattress is as important as the choice of crib, stroller and car seat because it could be used for several years. So, it is very important that this is something that a parent chooses wisely.” Pia’s pick is a firm, organic mattress and recommends the Naturepedic 150 Coil Mattress, an organic, waterproof mattress that is excellent for all your nursery needs a definite nursery essential.

Bedding: There are so many types of bedding out there that it can be overwhelming. Pia says it’s important to “make sure that if you buy a US crib you also buy US bedding. If you buy bedding in different places such as Europe it will not fit a US crib.” Pia also warns that the following brands may not fit a standard US crib: Stokke, Bloom, and Leander. “Coyuchi, Serena and Lily, Dwell and American Baby Company are some great crib bedding companies that we highly recommend,” says Pia, “because of their great selection, prices and customer service.”

Glider: “For first time parents the glider is absolutely essential to have as it makes feeding so much easier.” Pia warns that “by the time you realize that you actually need a glider it is too late as it takes at least 4-8 weeks to get a glider.” Pia’s favorites are Jennifer Delonge Luxe 2.0 Glider, Best Chairs Tryp Glider, Dutailier and Four Seasons, which she feels are fantastic and priced very well. Pia suggests picking a fabric that can be used in your living room as most people end up moving the glider from the nursery to the living room. “As life happens, mother and child seem to want to be part of family life, which normally takes place in the living room. The baby can practically sleep anywhere so falling asleep with mother in the living room with the TV on and dad on the phone is no problem at all.”

Co Sleeper: “A co sleeper is your best helper when the baby first arrives.” Pia recommends the Arm's Reach Mini Convertible Co Sleeper.

It is $189.99 and attaches to the bed and can be adjusted higher or lower to fit the bed height. “It works amazing if you have a c-section because the baby is right there.” The Arm’s Reach Co Sleeper can be used from birth until six months. “After that you can add another piece to make it in to a play yard, a perfect item for your nursery or when you are on the go. It has wheels so it’s easy to move and you can also get it with an organic mattress.”