The do’s and don’ts of designing your baby’s nursery
For every expectant parent, decorating the nursery is one of the most exciting, yet stressful, things you need to do.
You want to make sure you have the perfect nursery for your bundle of joy.
But once you start putting together decor ideas, it can become a handful.
There are so many designs and if you’re indecisive or a perfectionist, it’s always hard to choose the best one.
Here are a few do’s and don’ts for your baby’s room.
Do: Choose one theme and colour scheme and stick with it.
In all the craziness that comes with decorating and planning, choosing a theme is an achievement. Once you have chosen a theme you’re one step further in creating your dream nursery. Always try to tackle the small milestones first. This can help you because it will give you peace of mind knowing that you have accomplished something.
Most modern nurseries are gender neutral. Many parents feel that having a gender neutral nursery is cost effective especially if you’re planning on having more children. Gender neutral nurseries allow you to use the same furniture and baby clothes for your next baby regardless of which gender it could be. However, if you would like to have a pink or blue theme for your baby’s bedroom, then there is nothing wrong with that.
There are many colours which go well together. Colours like pink and white, navy and coral or different shades of light grey. When choosing a colour, choose one which will create a soothing and warm environment.
Do: Paint the room last
Most parents always paint the room first, but there is nothing wrong with first choosing the room’s furniture. This helps as you won’t choose furniture, baby bedding and curtains which clash with the colour of the walls. There is a variety of different colours available which you can choose from once you have an idea of the furniture and textiles.
Do: Decorate your baby’s bedroom ceiling
Something you may have overlooked when decorating your baby’s nursery is the ceiling. Your baby will be sleeping on their back most of the time in their room, it would be nice to have something cute on the ceiling which they can look at.
Do: Have a storage solution
From you buying plenty of baby clothes to receiving gifts at your baby shower, a baby has quite a lot of clothing. Find a cute chest of drawers or cupboard where you can store all the items you won’t be needing every day.
Don’ts: Make your baby’s room cluttered
Try to make your baby’s room clean and tidy. You are trying to create a peaceful environment for your child and having tons of clothing and toys lying around won’t help. Another reason why you should avoid clutter is that it helps you. You don’t want to be knocking things over and making a noise when checking in during the night for a diaper change.
Don’t: Use bright lights
It would preferably be better if you get a bedside lamp. Having the right light can create a calm sleeping environment for your baby. Night lights are convenient for when you are doing a diaper change during the night. During the day you can always use the natural light coming through the window.
Don’t: Forget baby essentials
With all the planning, you can forget the important things. Items like the baby’s cot, rocking chair, changing table, cupboard and pram are all essential. Don’t forget to have a baby bag with all your essentials for travelling and visiting relatives.
Don’t: Forget to baby proof your nursery
Baby proofing your house and nursery are important. It won’t be long until your baby starts crawling and going on adventures, so it’s important you stay one step ahead. Make sure your baby’s cot has fixed sides and is secure. Dropped sides can be dangerous and can cause injury or death.
Although baby blankets and pillows are cute, try to avoid them. Your child could suffocate or overheat which could lead to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). You can always use the blankets and pillows for decoration but remember to move them before putting the baby down to sleep.
Position your baby’s crib away from the window, mirror or any other furniture which can be harmful. Make sure you have child-proofed all of the electric sockets. Lastly, before you leave your baby in the nursery, make sure that are no harmful object in their cot that they can choke on.
Don’t: Be caught off guard
Be prepared before the baby arrives and have everything you need. Try buying essentials in bulks. You should always have extra diapers, baby wipes, baby lotion and medical ointments. When the baby arrives to make sure you have everything at arms reach so you can avoid those messy diaper changes.
Try to start planning the nursery a few months early, this help reduces stress which isn’t good for you. Planning ahead will allow you to have enough time to chop and change your ideas. Starting earlier also allows the paint smell to wear off before the baby arrives, allowing your bundle of joy to spend their first night in the comfort of their room.