When a family is expecting a new arrival, one of the first decisions to be made in the home is where the baby’s room is going to be. For some, creating a nursery might be as simple as picking paint colors and a crib, whereas others many have to restructure an entire home to find a suitable space for baby. Whichever category new parents might fall into, there are some things to keep in mind when determining and designing a nursery.
Location is the first priority, which might have only one option in certain homes. If new parents have some flexibility in determining the baby’s room, major considerations are convenience, noise, and lighting. During the early months, the new addition may be bunking with Mom and Dad for awhile, but eventually will be moving into his or her own room. Consider how close the baby’s room will be to the parents’ room - will Mommy and Daddy be trekking downstairs/upstairs or down a long hallway during those nighttime feedings? Having a convenient and safe passage to and from the nursery are important.
Noise can be another factor, as new parents’ may either want to shelter the baby from potential sound that can disrupt precious sleep, or they might want have to teach their baby to sleep through a variety of noises that can’t be masked. Having other children in the house might affect this decision as well, especially if older children have different bedtimes or wake times from the baby. Or, perhaps Mommy and Daddy envision being able to watch a movie after baby is asleep, which may require the nursery to be located a little farther away from Daddy’s surround sound home theater. Although there are ways to mask sound (noise machines, humidifiers, etc), planning ahead can make controlling noise much less stressful.
Lighting is another important consideration for the nursery’s location, as a newborn eventually learns time of day from the dark and light. If the nursery has large east facing windows, the new parents might discover that baby’s ideal wake time is when the bright sunlight comes streaming through the curtains, or vice versa when trying to put a baby to sleep with west facing windows during the middle of the summer. While room-darkening shades can be utilized in many cases, some homes may have custom windows or the homeowners may have particular ideas about what to cover their windows with (drapers, blinds, etc.) that may not have been a part of the original nursery plan or cost. Again, planning ahead can save a lot of stress. Artificial lighting is also important, as a nursery will require at least two different lighting levels - one brighter for specific tasks like diaper changes and playing, and one dimmer for nighttime feedings, diaper changes, or quiet time. New parents should be aware of their lighting options, from ceiling mounted fixtures, wall sconces, table and floor lamps, and even night lights.
Other considerations when planning the nursery include being able to adjust the room as the baby grows. While baby proofing might not be necessary in the first few months, when baby does become active the nursery might need an overhaul. Planning for future changes can save headaches and safety hazards later on. For example, while a table lamp might provide the best option for reading to baby at bedtime, in a few months an expert crawler might determine that an exposed cord plugged into an outlet is not a safe lighting option for the nursery. Additionally, if parents plan on keeping the baby in the same room until they become a teenager, choices in décor and furniture space planning are important to keep in mind. A convertible crib and wall decals might be the best option to allow the space to change as the child does.
Nursery style and décor can be determined after a suitable location is found, and this is generally the fun part. Surfing the internet can help new parents find styles and images they like, while actually walking around a furniture store can provide valuable hands-on experience. Within the Indianapolis area, there are many stores that can inspire parents and help them make a quality nursery. Nurture on Massachusetts Avenue provides modern apparel, gear, and décor for babies and children, while Babies R Us has two locations in Indianapolis and Greenwood for almost all essential baby gear, nursery décor and furniture, and everything else. Once Upon a Child has multiple locations in the Indianapolis area and can be easier on new parent budgets as they provide gentle used clothing, gear, and furniture for baby. Carmel Baby Boutique offers a variety of specialty clothing and furniture in the latest trends.
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