Creating a nursery can be an enjoyable way to prepare for your new arrival. However, if you’ve never had a baby before, you may be wondering what you’ll need and what is a good idea in terms of layout. Even if you’ve had a baby before, you may be left wondering why something worked and why another thing didn’t with your last child.
Let’s look at some of the steps you shouldn’t skip when preparing the perfect nursery that works for both you and your baby:
1. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Think of the basics.
When you see cute pictures on Instagram and Pinterest, you might jump from one idea to the next about what you want. However, start at the beginning and work your way up to the cuter parts.
The main rules of a nursery are:
- A place for the baby to sleep (obviously)
- A place for you to sit
- A place to put things
- A place to change the baby
Once you have those four elements, your nursery is off to a great start! Your style can always change, but the base furniture can be expensive, so make sure that it is covered before you move on to the room’s decor.
Other than those four things, the next essential item would be a comfortable rug on the floor. This is somewhere you can comfortably sit with your child as they grow. It also takes away the harshness of a solid floor.
2. You set the rules.
If you don’t want a themed room, you don’t need one. This room is as much yours as it is the baby.
You’ll be spending a significant amount of time here over the next year, so you need to make sure it’s comfortable for you, too.
Don’t feel like cute drawings on the wall? Please don’t get them.
Want to design it in a way that matches the rest of your house? Go for it!
As your baby grows, they will start to have more input into what they want. You don’t have to skip to that stage right now.
3. They won’t be tiny forever.
As we said, if you don’t want to decorate just yet, don’t. Your baby will grow from being a newborn quickly. As they grow and develop, they will have new interests and passions. This is a better time to decorate rather than the day you both come home from the hospital.
Another element to think of is that as they grow, the space needed will grow, too. Your baby may not require significant storage space, but your toddler will need plenty. That amount will keep on growing as they get older and older. So, if you’re thinking of investing in one thing, it should be smart storage options.
When designing a nursery, always think beyond the first couple of months – you have years of changes ahead!
4. You are as important.
While purchasing a crib is a high priority, knowing where you will spend time is in the room is also essential. Investing in a comfortable armchair where you can easily nurse and feed the baby will be the best purchase you’ve made in a long time.
Try to keep the room clutter-free so that there is enough room for you to walk around as your sway your baby to sleep. Leave some space on the floor for your both to hang out or do a baby massage before sleep.
5. Pick some gadgets
Your baby’s nursery will likely have more gadgets than the rest of your home, and that’s okay. It’s for your peace of mind.
Think about the monitors you’ll need and the temperature controls that can work. It would be best to consider things like light dimmers and sound machines.
The more options you have to make your baby comfortable as they sleep, the better. These gadgets make being a parent easier as you limit the potential for things to go wrong or your child to get agitated.
5. Keep it minimal
As your baby grows, you will learn that the least amount of distraction, the better for getting them to have a peaceful night’s sleep (something we all need!). As your baby sleeps in the nursery, it’s helpful to keep it as minimalistic as possible with the fewest distractions around.
While it should be comfy for them, you don’t necessarily need to have a room filled with toys. Maybe choose one mobile to hang above the bed and ensure you have enough storage space to put the toys away at the end of the day.
Think about getting a black-out curtain so that you can keep the same routine as you did in winter throughout the summer months. All of these touches will make a world of difference to your future life as a parent.
The Nursery Takeaway
If it seems impractical or over the top, it probably is. Think about your comfort and your baby’s comfort – and forget about the fluff. There will be plenty of time to think of the extras you need later once you have covered the baby’s basic needs.
