Let’s be practical for a moment. Before we go and get busy placings all of those cute little decorations and toys in the room we need to focus on what is important.
It is easy to find plenty of ideas for the baby’s room but before you begin moving anything into the room it is important to ensure that the room has been prepared. That is is safe and that any issues with the room have been tackled before you move on to the fun part.
Then and only then should you begin giving it the personal touch that will shape the baby’s new home.
Ground Work
Like with everything else it is important to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve before you set out on the task of actually achieving it. When it comes to a baby’s room it is important to have an understanding of what does and does not belong in the nursery. A floor plan will help you lay out the different pieces before you begin to actually start moving them into the room.
Experiment with the different pieces. Work with them and move them around on the floor plan trying out different options so that you know what will work and what wont. One of the things that you should keep in mind while you work on the floor plan is the scale. Make sure that you have accurate sizing for the different items as well as for the room. This will give you a better idea as well as the chance to avoid purchasing items that do not, in the end, fit in the room.
What you can do after you have laid out the room is think about it in the form of activities. This means that there will be a crib (sleeping), feeding, care (cleaning), and playing area. Each of these areas can then be organized so that the items you will need for each are in reach.
You don’t want to be forced to move around the room during different tasks. For example it you are going to change the baby the items you need for the task should be right at hand. If you can’t hold your baby with one hand and acquire the items with the other you should consider reworking your plan.
The Crib
To get the ball rolling find the ideal place for the crib. This will be the focal point of the room since you will spend the majority of the time there.
It is important to ensure you select a place for the crib that will offer the baby a steady temperature. That means do not place the crib near windows or heating/cooling. Once you have found the ideal place for the crib in the nursery you can begin placing other items and furniture.
Safety First
One thing to keep in mind when you begin placing these items around the crib is that they should be placed a safe distance from the crib.
The reason is because once you baby grows older the chance that they may be used as a hand hold to climb out of the crib unassisted is high. Make sure you place them at a distance from the crib.
Items like tables, dressers and nightstands all pose a potential danger. Follow the instructions when you assemble including the safety warnings. Any items that posses a danger of tipping over should be mounted to the wall. Many parents over look these warnings when they assemble the furniture with the justification that the baby cannot yet even crawl or walk. Unfortunately the likeliness that they will mount them to the wall at a later date when their child is more mobile is slim. That is why making the extra effort now is important.
Why?
Even if your child never tries to climb from their crib they will at some point crawl and begin to learn how to walk. Both of these activities will lead them around the nursery. And you can be sure that they will use the items you add now to stead themselves.
If the furniture that you purchase doesn’t come with the necessary or satisfactory means to fastening the accessories to ensure their safety you can easily purchase tip resistant kits either at your local hardware store or online.
Of course you may need to install shelves to store items.
As a rule of thumb you should store with the softest lightest things first, make sure that you place any hard or heavy items out of reach.
Colorful
When you choose a paint for the nursery make sure that it is safe to use. Does not produce fumes and is cured well before the baby will move in.
There are a number of different paint manufactures you can choose that aim to produce less toxic paints which are better suited for the nursery. I have included a couple of options for you to investigate in the Recap section. They are only suggestions, you should use your own judgment when you pick a paint for the baby’s room.
Just because you can’t grab the first paint off the shelf at your Lowe’s store doesn’t mean that you aren’t able to have a colorful, warm, and appealing nursery.
Pick out colors that are soothing, that will be durable for the first couple years of life in the nursery and ones that can be repainted/painted over when the time comes to update the room.
Recap
To recap what we have gone over:
Make sure that you plan ahead before you start filling the babies room with items. A nursery is like any other renovation project. You will need to create a floor plan before you begin remodeling the room.
Start with placing the baby’s crib in a place that is comfortable, away from windows, and the heating register.
Once you have the crib in a suitable place you can begin to organize the rest of the areas. There are four main areas in a nursery. They are the sleeping, feeding, changing, and play zones. Make sure that you have the items you need for each in reach.
Make sure you put the focus on the safety your child deserves.
Nursery safety is something that cannot be emphasized enough.
Here are two sites that will give you more information on the topic:
There are plenty of resources out there for new parents, so many in fact that you might feel overwhelmed. Still it is important to know that you aren’t alone. That when you have questions you can ask your pediatrician. Taking care of a baby is a lot of work. But it is all part of growing a happy and health family.
Paints
Please note that this list is not complete and the manufactures may choose to discontinue or change their assortment at any time.