The Complete Feeding Station Checklist: Everything you Need Set Up
As babies eat and sleep those first months away, when designing your nursery in addition to the crib you must include feeding essentials such as a glider or rocker, nursing support items, bibs, burp cloths, and, of course, bottles.
As a city dweller, your space isn’t infinite so you’ll have to take a smart, less (but better) is more approach when it comes to designing your baby’s feeding station. In this article, we’ll detail exactly what you’ll need and why it’s important. We’ll also point to some great apartment-friendly options.
TLDR
A complete feeding station needs five things: a glider or rocker, a nursing pillow (plus optional cover), bibs, burp cloths, and bottles. In a small apartment, treat the feeding station as its own compact zone - measure the swivel/recline clearance for your chair, give the nursing pillow a fixed home within reach, and keep only a daily rotation of bottles, bibs, and burp clothes as the station with backup stock stored elsewhere.
Table of Contents
- Seating: Glider or Rocker
- Nursing Support
- Cleanup Bibs, Burp Cloths
- Bottle Feeding Basics
- Small Apartment Set Up Tips
Seating: Glider or Rocker
The first thing you need for feeding your baby is a comfortable place to feed your little one, be that a glider or a rocker. We’ve dedicated a whole article about choosing the best glider or rocker for your home, but suffice it to say, you’ll want a seat that can be your go-to when baby is hungry (which is a lot!)
Look to the seat height, arm height, and support as well as features that you think you’ll use. If you choose a glider that reclines, make sure you’ve figured in how far the chair should be from the wall, how close the chair is to a power source (if it’s motorized), and that there’s enough clearing in front of it.
Nursing Support
In addition to the chair, you’ll need a few nursing accoutrements. (Haven't settled on breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, ora mix of both yet? Our guide on breastfeeding vs bottle feeding breaks down what you need for each). This includes the nursing pillow, as well as a privacy cover nearby if you so desire (a swaddle can work too) if you have guests and it would make you more comfortable.
Look for a nursing pillow that fits you, is firm and supportive, and is the right height to lift baby to nipple height so latching is easier and you don’t have to hunch over. We love the U-shaped Inglesina Elysia Nursing Pillow which is ergonomic for breast and bottle feeding and features dual density, with a firmer side for newborns and a cushier side for older children.
The Elysia Nursing Pillow also features a machine washable cover (spit up happens!).
You also may have a breast pump, whether you choose a manual pump or electric, in order to store milk for future feedings. A manual pump can be very simple, but doesn’t leave you hands free. An electric pump is faster and easier, but more cumbersome if on the go.
Cleanup: Bibs, Burp Cloths
Like we just said, you’re going to have to deal with spit up, so no feeding station is complete without some bibs and burp cloths. Place a bib on your baby as you’re feeding them so you don’t have to change them right after because of the drool and spit up. The burp cloth, on the other hand, is more to protect your clothes. After your baby eats, you’re likely to hold them and tap their back to help them expel any trapped air and reduce any discomfort.
Bottle Feeding Basics
If you’re bottle feeding, and even if you’re not but you’ve stored pumped milk so a spouse, family member or caregiver can feed them, you’re going to need a bottle. It’s not always easy to find a bottle that your baby likes, -- see our guide on how to pick a bottle (and what to do if baby doesn't like it) - so don’t invest too heavily in a bottle before you confirm that your baby will take it.
We sell several options that are highly rated and generally well-tolerated by babies, including the Boon, Comotomo, Mimijumi, Elhee, and a.kobee bottles. Be sure to get extra nipples, and use the right size/flow for your baby’s age.
Small Apartment Set Up Tips
For those of you living in a relatively small apartment, setting up the feeding station in the nursery can be tricky as a game of Tetris. Here are some tips that will make it a bit easier:
-
If your glider swivels or reclines, be sure to measure the full swivel or extended size before purchasing — don’t just rely on a floor footprint. You want to be sure you can stretch out or spin as needed! This being said, consider a corner - as it can be easier & skip the ottoman. If you get a motorized version, be sure there’s an outlet.
-
As for your nursing pillow, figure out a “home” for it within arm’s reach. Perhaps a slim basket next to the chair or draped over the chair’s arm?
-
Be sure to keep your daily rotation of bottles (maybe 2-3 clean ones) in a small caddy or basket near the chair. Store the rest of the stock in a cabinet. Also, as counterspace is precious, opt for a slim drying rack, or an over-the-sink version.
-
Add the bibs and burp cloths in a small bin as well, as you’ll need them frequently. A few on hand and the rest in a drawer works perfectly.
Basically, if you treat the feeding station as it’s own zone, it will be simple. Everything remains in arm’s reach as you need it.
Easy Feeding with Babesta
Setting up your feeding station is a snap when you have the right stuff: Your glider or rocker, nursing pillow and cover, bibs, burp cloths and bottles. At Babesta, we offer an edited selection of our top favorites hand selected for city parents.
Shopping at Babesta means you have a team by your side, helping you anticipate what you’ll need, with the experience to compare models across the market. Don’t lose your cool shopping for babies and kids. Shop Babesta.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I actually need for a feeding station?
At minimum: a glider or rocker, a nursing pillow, bottles, bibs, and burp cloths. Everything else - breast pump, nursing cover, bottle rack, feeding pillow accessories add comfort but aren’t essential to get started.
Do I need both a glider and a nursing pillow?
Not necessarily: The glider supports you, the nursing pillow supports baby’s positioning during breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. If you’re bottle feeding exclusively, you can often skip the nursing pillow and rely on the glider alone.
What feeding gear is essential vs optional?
Essential: seating (glider/rocker), bibs, burp cloths, and either a nursing pillow or bottles depending on the method. Optional: Nursing cover, bottle warmer, feeding pillow (if not breastfeeding), and specialty storage like bottle racks - nice to have but not required to start feeding baby.
