The best baby nursery can easily be adapted as your baby develops. Many mums get ultra-attached to their vision of the perfect nursery, but that dream doesn't always coincide with reality. We can help!
We explain how to decide when to move your little one into his or her own room, and provide great tips on decorating the nursery.
We also give a few helpful suggestions to ensure that the nursery will still be practical as your baby gets older.
moving your baby into the nursery
 The first few months of parenthood are often a blur of feeding and nappy changes, and very little sleep. During this exhausting time, many parents choose to keep their baby in their bedroom, either alongside them in bed or in a a nearby bassinet. But after the frequent feedings subside (usually around 3 months), you may want to consider moving your baby to his or her own room.
Helping your baby make the transition from your bedroom to sleeping alone in a cot can be challenging. In general,
the younger your baby, the easier it will be.
A convertible bedside crib can help as it gives you the choice between a crib or two different cots. This
allows you to continue sleeping beside your baby for night time feeding and bonding, and when baby moves
into her own room she can stay in the same cot.
safety first
You and your baby will be spending a great deal of time in the nursery; so no matter what - don't forget to create a comfortable spot for mum to sit! But most importantly, make sure the nursery is a safe environment for your baby. Here's a few basic safety tips:
- Keep drapery and blind cords out of your baby's reach from the crib and changing table.
- Place a working smoke detector in or near your nursery.
- Never place a crib, playpen or other furniture near a window.
- Put plug-protectors in unused electrical outlets.
- Make sure your baby's toy box doesn't have a heavy, hinged-lid that could trap your child's fingers.
- If using a cot, consider purchasing an adjustable Safebaby Sleeper and be aware of these important cot safety tips.
Also, for extra security, be sure to invest in a quality baby monitor. You can catch up on some sleep or do other things around the house, knowing
all the while that you will hear if your baby needs you. The Angelcare Monitor is
especially practical as it can later be used as a family intercom system when your baby grows up!
calming colours and themes
All mums want to create a little nursery haven to help their baby feel comforted and nurtured. And just like adults, babies can be positively
and negatively affected by various colours. You might think pastel nursery colours are a bit dull or conventional, but there's actually
some sense in it! Professional colour therapists believe that little ones are much calmer and happier when surrounded by soothing pastel shades.
Click here for more colour tips to consider if
you are about to paint the nursery! You can even paint your chosen colour in a virtual nursery
with Mousepainter to see what it might look like!
Bear in mind that your baby's nursery can be well coordinated without being entirely themed. Personal attention, imagination and inspiration is much more
important than having perfect coordination throughout the room. Some modern mums are going far beyond the traditional themed nursery designs and incorporating feng shui!
moving to a grown-up bed
 You'll know it's
time to move your toddler into a "grown-up bed" when they are simply too big or too active to continue sleeping in a cot. And once your little one
is potty trained, he or she will need the freedom to get out of bed on his own! There's no exact time when you ought to replace your baby's cot
with a grown-up bed, although some children make the transition as early 18 months. Still, you may want to wait until your child is closer to
3-years-old, as many youngsters just aren't ready. A
toddler bed with removable safety-rails can be ideal for helping your child make the switch.
a room that lasts throughout childhood
 Decorating a nursery is exciting, but there is a tendency to over-do the newborn theme. When selecting colours and patterns, keep in mind that your baby isn't going to be a baby forever - so while it may be tempting, try not to give the nursery too much of a "baby feel". Instead, make a point of designing a room that will last throughout your baby's childhood.
Take into account that by the time your little one is old enough to appreciate your decorating scheme, he or she may actually want a say in the matter! Children quickly reach the age when they find walls full of pink bunnies or little blue rocking horses to be "too babyish", and you'll suddenly find yourself redecorating all over again.
A helpful hint is to choose paint, wallpaper and furniture (like a convertible sofabed)
that are appropriate for any age and use accessories (like a jungle clock,
a car rug,
heart light shade,
fairy mobile,
etc) to give the nursery that coveted "baby effect." Another tip is to decorate with gender-neutral colours. This means that the room can easily be used again if another baby comes along!
Finally, once your baby's clothes get bigger, you'll need every inch of storage space you can find! Not to mention a place to put all those toys! If you're short of extra space in your home, there are plenty of fun
storage solutions! Why not pick up a
gingham laundry bin, invest in some underbed storage bags, or hang up an extra large Teddy Tidy?
Don't forget that, ultimately, designing a nursery should be an enjoyable project. The bottom line is safety and comfort for the baby, but beyond that, the sky's the limit!
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