Outfitting a Nursery in Thailand

Last month I went to Thailand to visit my twin sister and her family. She’s married to Mike and they have two boys. Recently she had a little baby girl, I flew over to meet the new little bundle and spend time with them.

I had a wonderful time just getting to spend every day with my sister. We’ve not lived in the same city since high school. My mom also came on the trip which gave my sister and I extra time with her, a wonderful gift.

We thought it would be fun to list some of Jeani’s essential baby items. Since this is Jeani’s third child and there is an almost 9-year gap between her last two children she didn’t save any of her baby items. Also, Amazon in the U.S. does not deliver in Thailand, so they are limited to items they can buy locally or things that friends or family ship or carry over from the U.S.

Jeani’s Pick for Essential Baby Items

Carter’s brand pajamas that zip – So good because who can button pajama snaps at 3 am? Zippers make life so much easier.

Crib Sheets – Jeani said all you really need in 3 crib sheets. One for the mattress, one in case they have an accident at night, and one extra. As long as you have a washer and dryer that is accessible you can do a load daily to keep up. In Thailand, since it’s a tropical climate they line dry all their clothes. They have a washer, but all the clothes are hung on a line to dry which sometimes takes 2-3 days. She still says only 3 crib sheets are needed.

A comfy chair that rocks – Honestly this makes nursing, snuggles and late-night feeding so much more enjoyable.

Mamypoko diapers (Japanese brand) – They love this brand because it works well and it’s easy to tell the back from the front due to a colored strip. Especially at night, when you’re sleep-deprived it’s so nice to easily determine if you’re putting the diaper on correctly. This is a Japanese brand they can buy locally.

Diaper pail – This is similar to the one she has. It works well and doesn’t require special bags, you can use regular 13-gallon trash bags as liners.

Boppy and cover – Especially when you have a newborn this U-shaped pillow makes it easier to nurse your baby because it elevates them to breastfeeding level. It can also be used to support the baby as it grows and works on sitting up on its own. Jeani says she uses her Boppy at least seven times a day! Also, having a backup Boppy cover is helpful. There are so many cute covers available. Ikea also sells covers that fit the Boppy. I bought this one for Jeani that has sweet little bunnies all over it.

Travel crib – This is lightweight, can be carried on a plane and once set up it’s a secure place for your baby to sleep or play.

Plants – Just like baskets, plants bring a natural element into a nursery. Plus a huge bonus to living in Thailand is all the tropical plants that grow naturally in your yard. The view outside the nursery window is breathtaking with mango trees, banana trees and fanning palms.

Diaper bag backpack – Having the diaper bag as a backpack makes it so much easier to maneuver with your baby whether you are trying to change a diaper, pick up your child or grab something off the floor. It’s so nice to not have a shoulder bag swinging around in front of you getting in the way of your task. If you are going out alone with your children and a stroller is not feasible wearing your baby in a front carrier while wearing the diaper bag as a backpack free your hands for your other children and make it possible to carry everything yourself.

Booklight clipped to crib – Jeani said the booklight is essential for her to check on her baby when the room is dark and for those middle of the night diaper changes. She used this booklight with all three kids.

Baskets for storage – Thailand is the land of baskets. There are so many shapes and sizes to choose from to hold diapers, toys, clothes, the options are endless.

Bows – This is one of the joys of having a little girl.

What to Expect the 1st Year Book – This book is detailed and helpful for all the questions that come up. Such as, what are the milestones at every age, what to expect at doctor check-ups, when to start feeding your baby table food, etc. My mom mentioned using the book Better Homes and Gardens ages 0-14 as the go-to book when she was raising us. Did anyone else use it?

Baby Quilt – It’s always special to have a homemade item in your baby’s nursery. Jeani’s mother-in-law made this beautiful quilt. When I think of Thailand, I can’t help but think of flowers and elephants. This quilt weaves those two things together so artistically.

Baby Journal – With so much of our lives being online these days it’s sometimes nice to have an actual book with printed photos and memorabilia about your baby’s life. Jeani likes Humble Bumbles Journal. It covers birth up to age three. She had one for each of her boys and now has one for her little girl. Her boys still love looking through their journals. You may also like this journal.

Unique Thai Products – If you’re looking for some Thai style of your own Jeani mentioned two sellers, Liv Thai and Nomads Nest. The good news is that they both ship to the U.S. Nomad’s Nest uses Thai elements and fabric in her handmade designs of natural home decor and gifts such as pillows, wall hangings, journals and so much more. Liv Thai works with local artisans to create totes and bags, leather products and wrist wraps. So many cute things y’all!

What practical baby items are/were your favorite?

If you purchase from a link on this blog a small percentage of the sale may come back to me. You are never charged more for the product. It’s a way to keep this site going and I’m very selective about the things I list. It’s mostly things we already own and love or things I think you would enjoy. Thank you for reading!

(All photos by Mike and Jeani)