Visualizing the perfect nursery comes pretty soon after finding out you’re pregnant. Well, at least it did with me. It was right up there with planning a wedding. FUN!
Soon into my 2nd trimester the real planning began. I even set aside an entire weekend with my mom and aunt to create the perfect matching drapes and baby accessories. Thank goodness those ladies can sew!
At first, I was thinking contemporary with a hint of traditional. But then, I thought about how much I wanted our son to love his room so I briefly entertained an airplane theme. It was a logical though as he comes from a long line of pilots (2 great grandfathers, a grandpa and his own dad). Later on, I changed my mind and decided that a blend of the two was perfect-elephants with a contemporary color palette (beige and pale blue).
If I had known then what I know now, I would have painted it a nice, neutral earth-tone and spent the rest of my time researching crib mattresses and blackout blinds. That overstuffed puppy chair was not necessary (but super cute!).
When it comes to nurseries, four words come to mind.
Dark, cool, comfortable, and boring.
I know its tempting it is to fill baby’s room full of adorable mobiles, cute characters, and fluffy, squishy toys. After all, wouldn’t baby want to be surrounded by a sea of cuteness and fun while they drift off to sleep?
Actually, no.
I mean, they may show some interest in those surrounding, but it’s not conducive to a good night’s sleep, for the same reasons that you shouldn’t bring your iPad to bed, or watch TV while you’re drifting off. It’s stimulating, and stimulation and sleep are not friends.
So what does the perfect nursery look like?
It’s dark
Dark dark and then even darker. You cannot make it dark enough for an infant as fear of the dark does not happen until around 2.5 or 3 years old. Most of the families I work with already have blackout curtains, but with light streaming in from all sides, it just doesn’t do the trick. Investing in great blackout blinds is a solid choice for a chunk of your budget. Even covering the windows with dark trash bags will do the trick. And you’ll find naps go down with a lot less fuss if there’s no light coming into the room.
It’s cool
Studies show that babies, like adults, sleep best in a room that kept between 68 and 72 degrees. Obviously, you should follow your baby’s lead on this, but a warm, comfortable sleep sack with a onesie or pajamas underneath is usually all you need.
It’s comfortable
Babies sleep for nearly half the day, and newborns even more so. A great mattress is a sound investment. It’s well worth your time to do some extensive research and spend the money you had set aside on those custom window treatments on a good firm mattress your kiddo will be using for the next 3-5 years.
It’s boring
Lullaby music, colorful murals, spinning mobiles and Disney stuffies all sound like a pretty perfect room for a baby, right? WRONG! Soft colors, white noise, a basic crib and a changing table are all you need. Stimulation and excitement should not be part of the bedtime and naptime process.
I know this is not what new parents want to read. We really do look forward to creating a little corner of baby heaven for our new bundle. But don’t forget, what you are really creating is a sleep sanctuary where your baby can get the appropriate amount of restorative sleep to grow and thrive.
Believe me, if your baby takes two hours to get to bed each night and is up every hour and a half, you won’t care how cute that nursery is. But, if that does happen, and mama, I’ve been there, remember there is help. Reach out and we’ll hop on a quick sleep evaluation call.