What to consider when designing your Baby's Nursery

One of the biggest decisions that needs to be made when you find out you’re pregnant is “what do we need for the baby’s room?”  Here is a list to get you started.

Theme – Decide what “theme” you are going to go with.  The most popular theme that works for both boys and girls is a jungle theme but you don’t necessarily need to have a character theme.  The most important thing about a nursery is to make it welcoming.  Whether you go pink for girls, blue for boys or with a gender neutral colour, you want to make it inviting to your little one.

Paint – Once you have a colour scheme picked out, it’s time to shop for paint.  Try to look for paints that have low or zero VOC’s.   Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) is an additive that is added to paints, coloured markers, gasoline, cleaning supplies and even some cosmetics.  They emit gases and can sometimes do so even after the paint is dry.  There is no telling how much exposure is needed to cause serious harm but I say it is better to be safe than sorry.  Exposure to VOC’s has been linked to many serious conditions including headaches, irritation to nose, throat & ears and even cancer.

Crib – The baby obviously needs a place to sleep.  Are you going to use the same crib for possible future children?  If not, why not choose one that is a 3-in-1.  It turns into a toddler bed and then a double bed.   

Mattress – make sure the mattress fits snug in the crib.  Most are a standard size so it should be an easy purchase.

Mattress pad – this will save you a lot of headaches for this inevitable accidents hat can and most likely will happen.  Since there is no real way to wash a mattress keep it protected with a mattress pad.

Baby monitor – great for peace of mind.  Do your research to decide what you want in a baby monitor.  Do you want one just to hear when the baby wakes, there is the Angel Care monitor which keeps track of sound and movement or video monitors.

Dresser – You’re sure to get an abundance of clothes for the new baby.  Look for a dresser that you can continue its use as the baby gets older.  You can also find dressers that come with a change pad so you won’t need to purchase a change table.

These are the necessities of getting your nursery prepared for your bundle of joy.  Everything else are extras to make it their own. 

Some other suggestions are:

Photos/pictures
Shelves/bookshelf
Mobile
Rocker
Books
Toys
Closet organizer

Whatever you decide to go with, have fun planning it.  There is no need to make it a stressful occasion.  Your baby will love it as much as you do.


This Blog was written by Angela Hickman - mother of 2, momstown Milton member and blogger - Mommy TimeOut.