Nursery
Pro Parenting Guide for Nurseries
When setting up the babies nursery there are a few things you want to keep in mind. The first and the most important is, Less is More! Here is a list of my important points to consider.
- When decorating the nursery stay with colors that are calming. I prefer pale yellows, blues, pinks, greens, purples, ect.
- When choosing decorations for the walls remember for at least the first few months you will be the one enjoying the art work, the newborn can only see less than 12 inches away. I suggest NOT hanging artwork over the crib for safety reasons.
- When placing the crib try to keep it far away from the window. Windows can be drafty or a magnifier for the sun.
- Try to keep the crib away from the heat source. For obvious reason the heat can make the crib to hot and air can be dusty or dry. This hold true for the air conditioning source as well.
- Use room darkening shades or curtains to limit the light source during the days to limit the amount of visual stimulation and give the eyes a rest.
I always recommend a few staples for the nursery:
- Cold Mist Humidifier (keep close to the crib): Keeps the air moist and keeps nasal passages from getting to dry especially in the winter. I found over the years it appears to help minimize colds.
- Air Purifiers (keep close to heat source): This is especially true for older homes or homes with pets. I like to keep the air as pure as possible while the baby is sleeping.
- Changing Table Pad: A good changing table pad can make a baby feel safer while being placed on their back. I have chosen one with a safety belt and curved sides for safety.
- Mesh Crib Bumper: I like the mesh bumper for air flow. Providing good inflow of oxygen and exit of carbon dioxide is important.
- Room Darkening Shades: I like these for nap times. Just to give the eyes a break and completely shut down the visual input. If u must use a night light try one with a motion sensor.
- Mobile: I like an overhead mobile with bright colors and contrast. The objects on the mobile should be facing the baby NOT the parent. (I always wondered why a majority of mobiles parents can see the images perfectly but the baby is only looking at the bottom. Who is the mobile for?)
- Good supply of diapers, wipes, onesies, receiving blankets, bibs, etc
Remember less is more. Do not put a lot of things in the baby’s crib especially before they can lift their head or roll over. Limit bulky things like stuffed animals and large blankets. Use common sense that if a baby can’t move away from something it can be dangerous. I am not a fan of flashing light toys in the crib either or music that plays all night long. Sleep time is a time to allow all the senses to shut down. That includes vision and auditory. Usually the air purifiers or humidifiers provide a little white soothing noise for the babies. A quiet chakra cleansing music is or wave machine is calming.