One of the most exciting things about having a baby is deciding how to decorate the nursery. You’ll spend hours researching what a fully-stocked nursery should contain, registering for the items, and waiting for your surprise baby shower to receive all the goodies you wanted. Setting up the nursery makes the prospect of becoming parents feel more real. And, if you’re lucky, you might get to stand in the corner of the room and boss your husband around, since you’re pregnant and shouldn’t be exerting yourself too much!
A lot of moms end up registering for things they will never use, but think they should have anyway. I did this myself and now have an attic full of unused gadgets. I never returned anything because I thought maybe a future baby would enjoy a spin in the Johnny Jump Up or a snuggle in the crescent-shaped pillow. Nope. My kids didn’t like gadgets, and now, six years later, I’m not sure the store would take them back.
Choosing the Right Nursery Gear
One gadget that is definitely recommended for the nursery is a monitor. There are several varieties, and the one you choose depends on how cautious of a person you are. Options include audio, audio-visual, and movement monitors. These monitors not only give you peace of mind while the baby slumbers in a different room, but they can also alert you if the baby is in danger. Be sure to research these items thoroughly and consult your pediatrician about which one is best for you and your baby.
Choosing which room in your house to use as the nursery depends on several factors, such as space and orientation. Many parents prefer the baby’s room to be close to their own, while others feel that everyone sleeps better with as much distance as possible. If the master bedroom is on a different floor than the secondary bedrooms, this can also present a challenge. You can always have the baby room-in with you while she is very young, and you’ll need to purchase a bassinet for this arrangement. Having the baby at arm’s reach can be extremely convenient in the beginning when she’s eating around the clock. As the baby gains weight and starts sleeping through the night, you can move her to the nursery when you feel comfortable doing so.
The easiest way to decorate a nursery is to find out if you’re having a boy or a girl. I know some people love the element of surprise and wait until the baby is born to find out, but I’m not one of those people. I’m way too impatient and dislike surprises. If you know the baby’s sex, you can choose a theme, and even if you don’t, you can muddle through somehow.
There are three common themes for nurseries: stereotypical boy themes, stereotypical girl themes, and unisex themes. Boys usually get sports, dinosaurs, trains, or zoo animals. For girls, the overdone princess theme, flowers, or butterflies are common. (For the record, my daughter’s room is fairy-themed, so I’m not immune to this trend.) Unisex nurseries often feature colors like yellow, green, or cream, with polka dots or stripes. I have three daughters, but if I had a boy, I’d decorate his room in a surfing theme.
The best way to choose paint for the walls is to select the crib bedding first and find your favorite color in the pattern. Be sure to pick a cheerful, yet soothing color. No baby wants to be in a fluorescent orange room—unless, of course, that’s your favorite color, in which case you might have other issues to address. Also, if you’re a melancholic person, consider that your baby might not share your taste. Decorating the nursery in black and gray with spider stencils on the wall might not be the best approach. There are now environmentally- and baby-friendly paints available, and you’ll want to choose one with an eggshell or satin finish for easy cleanup of projectile vomit or a particularly messy diaper.
It’s also smart to plan ahead when decorating. Will this nursery be for every baby you have after your first? If so, you may want to choose a unisex theme. If the same child will always occupy this room, you might want to pick a color or motif they can grow into. The Pooh Bear border may not peel off as easily as you hoped once your child starts Kindergarten and decides they want to be a “big kid.”
Don’t wait until the last minute to get the nursery together, including painting. It takes longer than you expect, and if you paint, you’ll need time for the smell to dissipate. All joking aside, it’s best to let your partner or a non-pregnant friend handle the heavy lifting. No matter how benign the paint you buy, it’s always better to err on the side of caution. And who doesn’t enjoy watching their husband curse at the instructions for assembling the crib?
Once the nursery is complete, spend some time in there before your baby arrives. You’ll certainly be in there enough once you’re a mom, and it’s nice to get a feel for the space. Arrange the furniture for convenience and comfort. You probably don’t want to place the crib directly under an air-conditioning vent or next to a window, for instance. As for safety, there are many online resources to help you baby-proof the room and the rest of the house.
The picture isn’t complete until your bundle of joy finally arrives. The nursery truly comes to life when it becomes a place where you make countless memories caring for your child.