When you find out that you’re expecting for the first time, you almost certainly have lots of questions. Many of these most likely revolve around how to design your baby’s nursery. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend your entire savings to create a safe space for them to sleep. Here are some tips from Enjoy Birth to get you started.
Prioritize safety
Your baby’s nursery is an important addition to your home, so it pays to put some thought into it before you start painting the walls pink or blue. One of the first things to consider is the temperature of the room. Ideally, you want to keep your baby’s bedroom between 68–72°F year-round. This is considered ideal for safe sleep.
If you live in an older home, this might be more difficult, particularly if the room has many windows. If you notice the room stays warm in the summer and cool in the winter, start your nursery renovation by getting a quote on repairing (or replacing) your current windows.
You’ll also need to dust often and keep your baby’s crib away from the windows. Speaking of the crib, Crate & Barrel maintains that the mattress should fill the entire frame, leaving no more than about an inch (approximately two fingers width) between the frame and the mattress.
As your child ages and becomes more mobile, you’ll want to maintain supervision. Be mindful of any sharp edges and tripping hazards in the house. Try to keep the boo boos to a minimum!
Cozy and comfy
A safe nursery is a comfortable nursery, but there are other steps you can take to ensure a relaxing environment for you and your brand-new baby. Start with the paint color. Whites, grays, neutrals, greens, and blues are all calming colors that will help keep everyone’s anxiety levels low. Other decor, including a nursing chair, artwork, and bedding, should also be subdued until the baby is old enough that they aren’t overwhelmed by bright colors. Do keep in mind, however, that a bit of black and white contrast can actually help stimulate your baby’s brain.
Your little one may also appreciate a bit of noise in the nursery, especially in the early days, weeks, and months after birth. The womb is a noisy place, and your baby can hear everything from your heartbeat to the dog barking while they are safe and secure inside of your belly. A noise machine is a great investment that Babylist asserts may help your little one fall asleep and, more importantly, stay asleep. You may also want to invest in an immersive sound bar to play calming music for your baby.
Going along with that, do yourself a favor and optimize your whole home for wellness. After all, you’re under plenty of stress, too, so reducing negativity from your environment will make parenting a lot easier.
Nursery essentials
Babies are expensive, and you likely want to run out and buy all of the cute things you see on the shelf. Don’t. Your baby doesn’t need “the best” of everything. In addition to a crib, mattress, and noise machine, your baby really only needs a diaper pail, humidifier, rug, and rocker to enjoy a fully functional nursery. Whatever you choose to put money into, make sure it will grow with your children. A convertible crib, learning toys, and neutral decor will all last well into toddlerhood and beyond.
With a bit of research and diligence, your baby’s safety and comfort can easily go hand-in-hand. And, thankfully, you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics to create a safe space for your newest family member. The tips above can get you started, but the best piece of advice is to use common sense.
This article is brought to you by Enjoy Birth, written by Sheridan—mom of 3 Busy Boys, Hypnobabies Instructor, Hypno-Doula, Proud VBAC mom, Loving Lactivist, and Positive Birth Story Collector. For more information, please contact me today!
