Design Baby’s Nursery Safely
Safety is an important issue to consider when decorating your baby’s room because of that you should examine furniture, toys, paints, and fabrics before using them to decorate or even the placement of your child’s bed in relation to the doorway is a decision in which safety comes into play. You may not be able to check off everything on your baby’s wish list because babies’ needs are crucial but simple: a safe nest to sleep in, a safe place to have diapers changed, and a comfortable spot for you to sit while feeding, cuddling, and rocking him or her but in fact, a comfy rocking or gliding chair is as important as a bed and changing table and there are a few key needs for each age-group that you should focus on.
1. Babies sleep most of the time, so a comfortable bed is a must. A bassinet or cradle may be charming, but it’s only safe for a few months before babies start moving and rolling. If you do use a bassinet, be sure it’s on a sturdy base that won’t move but if you’re using a cradle, make sure the cradle won’t rock more than a few inches either way so that baby and all don’t fall.
2. A changing table will get a lot of use, so be sure to get a good one. You can make a changing table out of a waist-high chest of drawers, but be sure you add a top with a low guardrail as well as a waterproof pad. A chest may be more versatile later, but it generally is not as safe and, therefore, not recommended. In addition, diapers and clothes will be easier to reach if you opt for a changing table with open shelves below. Choose a unit with a safety strap to go across baby’s middle, or make sure you can get at things you need with one hand while keeping the other on your little wiggly worm at all times.
3. To aid with midnight feedings and diaper changing, use an overhead light on a dimmer that you can switch on from the door for your safety’s sake. Choose a room-darkening shade to facilitate daytime naps.
4. When it’s time to decorate walls, remember that, until they’re between six and nine months old, babies can’t see subtle colors and details. Black-and-white and other strongly contrasting colors work better as do simple patterns. A proven favorite is two dots and a curve within a circle that suggests human eyes and smiling mouth.
5. Although newborn babies’ sight may be lacking, their hearing and sense of touch are almost fully developed at birth. Indulge them with safe toys in a variety of textures and soft melodic sounds. Crib toys and mobiles that move or play music will appeal to most babies as well as add attractive color and pattern to the room. Just make sure that any hanging toys your baby can reach are safe and that they do not have small detachable parts.
