The nursery may be furnished as simply or as elaborately as you wish. Soft pastel color schemes are ideal.

For your baby's first bed, a bassinet on wheels is very convenient since it can be taken anywhere in the home and wheeled out on a porch for naps. However, a big laundry basket, well padded, does very well. The first bassinet should be at least 30 inches long. There is one shortcoming to a bassinet if this is your second or third child. The older youngster, in his eagerness to look at the new baby, may pull over a bassinet. A watchful eye will avert this kind of accident.

Whatever kind of bed you use, be sure it is long enough and wide enough to let the baby kick and squirm all he likes. When purchasing a full-size crib, choose the type with a side that can be raised and lowered. The latch which unfastens the side should be placed where Baby cannot reach it as he gets older.

Another convenience in a crib is an adjustable mattress base which can be moved up and down. The mattress should be at your hip height during the first months, so that you don't have to stoop low to lift Baby.

If you can't obtain a crib with this adjustable feature, raise the crib to the proper height by screwing wood doorstops into the legs.