So, you just recently received the exciting news that you are having a baby…congratulations! It’s perhaps the most emotional complex time in our lives, joy and the fear of the unknown at the same time. There is so much to think about including the gender, insurance coverage, nursery décor, prenatal care, list of names, and the list could go on forever. 

I can’t help you with all that I listed above, but I am going to share with you some tips to create a safe baby haven, or…your first baby’s nursery. It’s something that I thoroughly enjoyed creating for my first child. 

So read on for some great tips…

The Furniture Basics

I know when I first started to plan our child’s nursery, I was so excited that I wanted to run out to the store immediately and buy what I loved. However, my common sense kicked in, making me realize that I needed to make a plan first. 

It’s best to draw up plans, with measurements included, before rushing out to the store. Make a list of what you need first, such as the crib, changing table, dresser, and don’t forget my favorite …the rocking chair for middle of the night feedings.

Make sure to measure between windows and doorways to know what you can fit in the room, and how to place it. In other words, some wall space can be considered ‘dead space’ and not usable. For example, every room in our house has either a door wall, or a large bay window. That’s great for viewing the outdoors, but very limiting when placing furniture. 

Once you know what you can fit in the room, consider looking at pieces that can grow with the child. We bought a crib that could turn into a toddler bed, and a changing table that doubles as an additional dresser now. Also, consider a color or finish that will be universal for the child as the décor changes. 

Safety Tips for Peace of Mind

There are so many tempting things you will want to do. At least there were for me. Stuffed animals, pictures, toy boxes, and so on. However, when deciding what to place in the nursery, keep these safety tips in mind:

• Blind, Draperies, and electrical cords need to be out of the baby's reach
• Crib slats should be 2 3/8 inches (or less) apart to prevent the baby’s head from getting stuck
• Use window guards to prevent baby/toddler from opening the window and falling out
• Do not place the crib or anything they can climb on below a window
• Use plug protectors in open electrical outlets
• Toy boxes should have safety latches, or no top at all to prevent it from closing on the child
• Keep pillows, stuffed animals, and blankets out of the crib
• Avoid hanging shelves or pictures above the crib and changing table 
• Use wall anchors to secure furniture from tipping over on the child as they try to crawl up

Now that it seems as though I took all the fun of getting the room ready, don’t worry. There are other areas to focus on the ‘fun’…

Finishing Touches

Now the fun begins! There are 3 options you have when deciding on the décor; boy, girl, or neutral. 

Once you know that, then I would suggest deciding on the theme for the room, if you are going to have one. We wanted to go with a neutral theme, just in case the ultrasound was wrong. I then searched online for nursery bedding sites to get ideas of what themes were available, as well as the choices of bedding we could choose from.

After choosing the bedding, pick a paint color that will complement the bedding. If you are unsure on what colors would be best for a baby’s room, you can always do a search on how color affects moods. In other words, certain colors are more soothing than others, such as green, or blue.  

Next, consider the wall décor, such as Disney princess room decorations for a girl, if your idea is to have a princess theme. The wall décor can consist of murals, photos, paintings, or even removable decals. I happen to like the removable decals, because it allows for a much easier change down the road. 

Finally, consider stuffed animals, dolls, or children’s books for the finishing touches and ‘filler’ decorations. Another small touch that I did was to add decorative knobs for the drawers. If you search online, you will find a large selection of available knobs for kids such as ducks, cars, lions, and more.

If you don’t want to do anything ordinary, or expected, there is nothing wrong with that. Some parents prefer to not have a theme and go with colors only, rather than a butterfly, Noah’s Ark, or teddy bear theme. 

There are no rules in decorating a baby’s nursery. Just have fun with it, as long as you keep it all safe for the baby.

About the Author

Kathy Barber is currently writing on a series of articles on nurseries and toddler rooms, which were inspired through her looking at Pixar and Disney Cars wall art. As a freelance writer, she enjoys writing on topics such as medical, family, cooking, and more. When Kathy is not writing, she enjoys spending time with husband and son traveling, boating, cooking, and playing baseball in the yard.