Building a space for your baby to live and sleep is an important part of a pregnancy. It’s called “nesting,” when a mom needs to prepare her home for the new arrival. Before you jump in and start making purchases at your local baby boutique, use these tips to build the perfect nursery.
1. Choose eco-friendly products.
I can’t imagine a better place to use safe and healthy products than your newborn’s room. Products made from toxic materials can be especially dangerous to immature immune systems, so I always prefer to fill the room with non-toxic furniture and safe baby bedding and toys.
2. Know the space you’re working with.
This might be silly advice, but I’ve seen a lot of people buy expensive furniture for their baby’s room only to find out that it doesn’t fit in the space. Make sure to measure everything about the room before you make your purchases. Measure more than just the length and width of the room. Measure the height from the floor to the windows, the space between windows, and the width and height of the windows themselves.
Also take note of the outlets in the room so you can place furniture near one; you don’t want extension cords running across the room. Bring your measurements with you to the store.
3. Plan ahead.
The worst thing you can do is buy too many things you don’t need, and then run out of space or money for the things you do need. Plan out the room and think critically about each item. For example, the crib is an expensive purchase. Will you be having more children? If so, go with a neutral color that will work for both a boy and a girl. Will you be moving soon? If so, maybe that ornate, heavy furniture is a bad idea.
You’ll also want to consider what you already have in the room so you can buy pieces that match that theme.
4. Choose adaptable décor.
If your nursery will grow with your child, you’ll want to incorporate décor into the room that can grow as well. I don’t recommend painting intricate drawings on the wall unless you’ll be willing to paint over them one day. Your teenager probably won’t appreciate your cowboy theme. I like those colorful wall decals because they can be removed at will.
5. Paint well before baby is due.
Paint is one of the most toxic chemicals found in a room. If your house was built in the 70s, you’ll want to have the paint tested for lead. If lead is found, it needs to be stripped by professionals to make sure all traces are removed. Whenever you repaint, you’ll want to do it at least a few weeks before baby is due to sleep in the room so it has time to air out.
6. Choose your key pieces first.
Moms and dads often choose their colors before their furniture, but this is actually a mistake. A whole spectrum of colors are available, but your choices of furniture are limited. Pick out your crib, rocking chair, changing table and dresser before you choose paint, wall paper, or decorations.
Guest Blog by Jennifer Cicci of Babee Talk
As a mother, Jennifer understands the importance of offering nothing by the best for baby. Motivated by teeth marks on her children’s cribs, she decided to design a teething rail cover after trying products that didn’t measure up when it came to quality or style. What she found out made her even more concerned about children’s safety and health: The toxic chemicals used in the production of synthetic materials have been linked to birth defects, reproductive disorders, and weakened immune systems.
She asked herself, “What if I could revolutionize the way parents decorated their crib with a safe and stylish teething rail cover that could be placed on the crib from day one?” Babee Talk® launched in 2014 with organic bedding and accessories. Chew-friendly, drool-friendly, and organic inside and out, her products ensure a healthy start in life for babies.
She only offers products that she would provide for her own children. She hopes moms and dads will start to talk about the importance of choosing safe, healthy, eco-friendly products, especially for babies.
Interested in writing a guest blog for Strong Little Sleepers? Send your topic idea to pr@stronglittlesleepers.com.
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