How Far in Advance Should You Set Up a Nursery? Tips for Your Timeline

Setting up a nursery sounds simple, but it almost never goes exactly as planned. Furniture shipments show up late, paint takes forever to dry, and suddenly you’re scrambling for a crib at nine months pregnant. So, how far in advance should you really start?

Most parents start thinking about the nursery around the end of the first trimester, but the sweet spot for real setup usually lands between 18 and 24 weeks. If you start any later, you risk running into backlog on must-have nursery pieces—yes, that happens way more often than you’d think.

Here’s a shocker: crib and dresser deliveries can sometimes take 8 to 12 weeks, especially if you’re eyeing a popular style or buying from a custom shop. That’s why getting your furniture order in by mid-pregnancy gives you breathing room, and you’ll have time to return or fix anything before you’re too tired to care.

Of course, there’s no perfect timeline—things like major renovations, painting, or waiting on hand-me-downs can throw everything off. Planning early is less about being an overachiever and more about keeping it stress-free, so you’re not building a changing table while in early labor.

• When Most Parents Start Setting Up
• Key Steps in the Nursery Setup Timeline
• What Can Slow You Down?
• Must-Have Furniture: When to Buy and Build
• Tips to Save Time and Headaches
• What If the Baby Comes Early?

When Most Parents Start Setting Up

So, when do most parents really start putting together the nursery setup and shopping for nursery furniture? It isn’t right after seeing that positive pregnancy test, but it’s usually not at the last minute either.

Most parents begin planning and buying stuff for the baby room around the second trimester—usually between weeks 14 and 20. That’s when the pregnancy feels a bit more real, ultrasounds start showing who’s coming, and everyone can finally talk about babies without jinxing it.

A survey from BabyCenter in 2022 found about 70% of new parents started their nursery setup between 18 and 24 weeks. That’s smack in the middle of pregnancy, giving you plenty of time for furniture delivery and setting up.

Not everyone has the same deadlines, though. Some folks need extra time because they’re doing big makeovers or ordering custom nursery furniture. Others might be reusing gear from older kids, so their timeline is way shorter. A lot of first-time parents admit to getting a little nervous and jumping in earlier than needed, while experienced parents sometimes leave it way later, knowing what actually matters.

If you’re feeling unsure, you’re not alone. There’s a ton of advice out there, but most parents land in that end-of-first-trimester to mid-second-trimester window. It’s early enough to avoid panic, but not so early that you’re tripping over boxes for months.

Key Steps in the Nursery Setup Timeline

Getting the nursery setup right is less about fancy themes and more about nailing the timing. Here’s how most parents should tackle it, step by step, with a straightforward approach:

1. Make a plan (Weeks 13-16): Around the second trimester, start sketching a rough plan. Figure out your budget, style, and what absolute basics you need. Don’t overthink colors yet—just decide if you’ll be using a spare room, a shared corner, or need to declutter first.
2. Order furniture early (Weeks 16-22): Put nursery furniture at the top of your shopping list, especially the crib and dresser. Right now, delays and backorders are common for popular brands, especially if you want something eco-friendly or customizable. Order sooner to dodge last-minute panic shopping.
3. Prep the space (Weeks 18-26): Time for the messy stuff: painting, assembling big furniture, or putting up blackout curtains. If you’re doing any home projects—flooring, wallpaper, electrical work—get them knocked out early so there’s plenty of time for fumes to fade and furniture to air out.
4. Organize and decorate (Weeks 24-32): Now add storage bins, a rocking chair, shelving, and a changing station. Don’t add too much clutter—babies get more stuff than you think. If friends and family are helping, now’s when they’ll want to join in.
5. Stock it up (Weeks 28-36): Buy or collect baby essentials: diapers, wipes, sheets, clothes, and a baby monitor. Wash everything ahead of time. Set up your diaper bag and keep extra supplies handy in the room.

Here’s a peek at what some parents actually face with ordering baby gear:

The best way to avoid last-minute stress is to start early and check off each step as you go. Don’t be afraid to switch things up if timelines shift—the goal is a safe, welcoming space for your baby.

What Can Slow You Down?

Nobody tells you how many things can stall your nursery setup. What’s supposed to be an easy project sometimes takes weeks longer—and it’s usually for reasons you never saw coming.

First off, delayed shipments are a classic headache. Stores may list furniture as "in stock," but that doesn’t always mean it’ll arrive on time. Custom colors or special order pieces can take up to three months, especially during busy seasons like spring and early summer when everyone’s nesting. Even basic items like cribs and rocking chairs run late if there’s a supply chain hiccup.

• Paint Fumes and Drying Time: Most low-VOC paints are safer for pregnancy, but they still need solid ventilation and a couple of days to dry. If you rush it, your room might smell off for weeks.
• Nesting Overload: Some folks get carried away with ideas—DIY murals, crazy wallpaper, fancy shelves—then realize too late they bit off more than they can chew. Pinterest can be dangerous to the timeline!
• Renovation Surprises: Sometimes you pull up an old carpet or remove shelves and find mold, water damage, or wiring problems. That could mean calling in pros, adding costs, or putting your nursery setup on hold.
• Assembly Woes: Ready-to-assemble nursery furniture is great for your wallet, but flat-pack instructions can stretch a simple crib build into a multi-hour job. Missing screws or unclear diagrams can eat up your whole weekend.

Don’t forget about family and friends, either. Hand-me-downs are awesome unless they arrive late or aren’t even assembled. And if you’re counting on gifts from your baby shower to finish the room, remember not everyone hits that shipping window.

Bottom line? Give yourself as much of a buffer as possible, because little things can snowball—especially with nursery furniture that’s on backorder or delayed by just a few parts.

Must-Have Furniture: When to Buy and Build

Nailing down your nursery furniture list ahead of time keeps things so much easier. The big three for almost every nursery? Crib, changing table, and a dresser. If space allows, a comfy chair or glider is a total game-changer for late-night feeds. No need to overcomplicate—start with the basics, then add extras like bookshelves or storage bins as you settle in.

Here’s a solid timeline for buying and building nursery furniture to avoid any last-minute headaches:

• Crib: Order by week 18-20. Shipping delays are common, especially for popular brands or custom colors. Plan to assemble no later than week 32, so you’re not hauling boxes in your third trimester.
• Dresser and changing table: These often arrive faster, but give yourself some cushion—order by week 20-22. Try to have them built around week 30, since some dressers come in shockingly small, complicated pieces.
• Chair/glider: These are a lifesaver after the baby arrives. Some brands have a 6-8 week wait, so get your order in by week 22-24.

Don’t forget, actually building furniture always takes longer than the box says. Set aside at least a couple of hours per piece, or recruit someone handy. And clear a work area—nursery furniture is often heavy, and you’ll want space to spread out parts.

Wondering how your timeline compares? Check out this rough snapshot of what parents typically order and assemble, based on a 2024 parent survey:

Always check return policies too. Some stores have a 30-day window, so it pays to unbox items when they arrive just in case there’s damage or missing parts. And if you’re picking secondhand, try to get things early since you might need to clean or fix them up before use.

Tips to Save Time and Headaches

The secret to a smooth nursery setup isn’t working harder—it’s working smarter. When you think about nursery setup or nursery furniture, a few simple tricks can save you hours, maybe even days, of stress and waiting around.

• Order Essentials Early: Big items like cribs and dressers are the first things you want to shop for. On average, popular baby room furniture takes 4-10 weeks to arrive, so don’t risk it by waiting too long.
• Don’t Skip Assembly: If a store offers assembly, just say yes. Self-assembly usually takes two people and easily three hours per major item (and that’s without re-dos or missing screws).
• Schedule Deliveries Smartly: Book delivery windows when someone can be home. It’s a pain to reorganize missed shipments, and some stores charge for redelivery.
• Outsource Setup When Possible: Community groups and apps like TaskRabbit are easy places to find help—you don’t have to DIY everything and risk a lopsided dresser.
• Batch Your Shopping: Buy as much as you can from one place. You’ll save time on tracking deliveries and probably get better deals on shipping.
• Prep the Space First: Paint the nursery before the furniture shows up. Paint fumes linger, and you really want fresh air when baby arrives.

More than half of new parents in a 2023 BabyCenter poll said they ran into some type of delay—almost always tied to nursery furniture delivery or assembly trouble. Getting the timing right saves you from joining that unlucky crowd.

Plan for hiccups. Always expect something to take longer than promised. That little bit of extra buffer means you’ll actually enjoy putting the room together—without last-minute panic.

What If the Baby Comes Early?

No matter how perfectly you plan your nursery setup, sometimes your baby decides to show up early. Preterm births aren’t as rare as you might hope—about 1 in 10 babies in the US arrive before 37 weeks. That means a fair number of parents end up with a half-finished baby room and unpacked cribs.

If you find yourself in this boat, don’t stress. Your baby’s first weeks won’t require a Pinterest-worthy space. In fact, for the first few months, most babies sleep in a bassinet or portable crib close to the parents’ bed. The American Academy of Pediatrics actually recommends room-sharing (but not bed-sharing) for at least 6 months, so finishing the nursery furniture isn’t an emergency.

Here’s what you really need to have ready if your baby comes early:

• Safe sleep space: A bassinet, portable crib, or even a play yard (like a Pack ‘n Play) with a firm, tight-fitting mattress does the trick.
• Diapering basics: Stock up on diapers, wipes, a changing pad, and some clean onesies. Use a dresser top or portable changing mat if the table isn’t ready.
• Feeding supplies: Bottles and formula, or a breast pump and storage bags if you’re breastfeeding.
• Some swaddles and blankets: No need for cute nursery decor right now.

For everything else, lean on family or friends for help. Most stores offer same-day delivery or curbside pickup for baby gear in a pinch. There’s no shame in setting up nursery furniture after your baby arrives—lots of parents do.

Check out this quick breakdown of what’s urgent versus what can wait if your nursery isn’t done yet:

The pressure to have the whole nursery setup finished before the baby arrives is overhyped. Focus on safe sleep and basic supplies—the rest will fall into place, even if you’re finishing up while your little one naps right beside you.