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As a new mama, or at least a soon-to-be mama, you’re just immediately hit with waves of information and amazing advice left and right, and at the end of it all, you’re still going to have questions. When it comes to everything from what to feed your babies, the toys, what to dress them in, medicine, bedtime, baths, you name it. But in the end, parenting is a process that you learn along the way. Sure, there’s loads of information out there and plenty of advice you should heed, but you don’t fully learn until it’s hands-on.
But with that said, when it comes to the nursery, it’s one of the most simplistic aspects because a baby doesn’t really need a lot of furniture, just their bed, some toys, and for your convenience, maybe a diaper changing table and a rocking chair. Then there’s the decor aspect, too, since a lot of parents like to do themes. But at the end of the day, it’s really all about balance, the balance of ensuring that your baby can have a good night’s sleep there but also a space that’s stylish and can work with childhood development. So, here’s exactly what you need to consider when it comes to creating the perfect nursery!
You Need to Pick the Right Room
So, for a lot of parents, they’ll just pick an empty room, like the guest bedroom, where their home office was, a storage room, something like that. Sure, this can work, but sometimes it’s not always as easy as picking that one empty room you have in your house (but, of course, you’re limited on options). With that said, think about the room, such as the average temperature, how thin the walls are, whether or not a light of nature light hits inside, and, of course, how much of the outside noise can be heard.
If the nursery is right at the front of the house where the road is, then you can potentially expect traffic noises to reach the room. Also, what’s the proximity to your room you’ll need to get up and check every once in a while. But this is more about convenience, though. But in general, don’t just pick any room.
Is the Room Baby Proofed?
So, before you start buying furniture for nursery, you’re going to have to check to make sure that the room is completely safe, of course, the entire house too, but if they’re going to be spending a lot of time in this room especially as they age, then this needs to be completely safe. So, just keep in mind that safety is paramount in a baby’s nursery. So it’s going to be best to just begin by childproofing the room, such as removing any potential hazards and also ensuring that windows are secure.
When you do get furniture, be sure to install safety latches on drawers and cabinets, and even this should go as far as covering any electrical outlets and securing heavy furniture to the wall to prevent tip-overs. While yes, it’s not like a newborn can really put themselves in danger, but as they are, they become more curious with age, especially when they’re toddlers. So, what you should absolutely do is go ahead and get started on babyproofing and securing everything now while you can.
Think About the Colors and Walls for the Space
While it used to be all blue for boys and pink for girls, it’s no longer like that, thankfully. You can use whatever you want, but the whole goal is to make the room feel super soothing. So, when selecting paint and decor, opt for light, soothing colors like pastels or soft neutrals. These create a calm atmosphere and are visually appealing.
Of course, you’ll want to think about the paint itself, so it’s best to just use non-toxic, water-based paints to reduce exposure to harmful fumes. Wall decals, removable wallpaper, and framed art are great options to add personality to the room. It all helps out in creating a theme, but the whole goal is to just make a calming and cute room for your little one to grow up and develop in!
Your Crib is Everything
Just like for you, you need to have a comfortable and secure to get a good night’s sleep every single night; it’s the same for your baby, too. The crib needs to be comfortable, but it needs to be safe, too. In fact, the crib is the focal point of the nursery anyway; it’s the whole point of this room. So, you’ll have to ensure it complies with current safety guidelines that are out there (meaning be cautious of handmade and vintage cribs).
Since comfort is key, when it comes to an infant, you’ll need to use a firm mattress and avoid adding bumper pads, pillows, or stuffed animals to reduce the risk of SIDS. Eventually, you can start adding these for your baby, but in the first couple of months, you’ll basically need to avoid all the cute frills and decor for the crib itself. While that may need to be more on the barebones side for a while, there’s still the surroundings of the crib itself, and that includes the mobile, too.
There Needs to Be a Balance with Lighting
While natural light in the room is super important, like any bedroom, blocking out the light matters too. It’s such a big consideration because, like everyone else, even babies can wake up from natural light. So, you’ll be doing yourself a major favor just by installing blackout curtains since these can block out light during naps and bedtime, and it might even help to consider a soft, dimmable nightlight for nighttime check-ins.
For the most part, you can expect thick blackout curtains to not only block out any potential light that’s outside, but these tend to help block out noise and regulate temperature, too, thanks to their thickness.
How’s the Ventilation?
One thing that’s not often considered when it comes to nurseries (or bedrooms) would be the ventilation itself. In general, everyone needs good air circulation, but it is more important for an infant though. So, it’s best to ensure that the nursery has proper ventilation and consider adding a humidifier or air purifier to maintain air quality.
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