If you?re expecting a new family member but your home is feeling a little unprepared, it might be time to start some serious room planning. Here are some great tips to help you design the perfect room for your new baby.
Safety
The first thing to look out for is safety. You want to feel confident setting your baby down to sleep without having to watch over the cot at all times. If you?ve created a safe environment for your child, you?ll have peace of mind when your child is snoozing soundly. It should also be a safe place to play during waking hours.
Make sure any sharp or heavy items are placed well out of reach and cannot be pulled off shelves or out of cupboards. Install childproof latches on drawers and cupboards that contain anything you wouldn?t be happy with your child handling without supervision. Make sure any hazards are safeguarded against, for example, remove any blinds that work with hanging strings or cords and replace them with curtains, anchor furniture securely so it cannot be pulled over by curious little hands, and try to mitigate against risk factors that might cause falls or impact to your child’s body.
Comfort
While a baby’s room should be safe, it should also be comfortable for parents and child. Make sure the cot is a safe and comfortable place for your baby to spend naptimes and nights without being disturbed. Ensure that the temperature can be kept at a comfortable level and noise to a minimum.
You should also include a change table where you can change your child with as little fuss and discomfort as possible, and can store all the necessary items so that when it comes time to change, you?ve got everything at hand.
Somewhere in the baby’s room, have a comfortable chair, recliner, chaise or even a day bed, where you can make yourself comfortable while feeding, watching your child play, or lull him/her to sleep.
Colour
Go for muted, soothing colours to decorate your child’s room. Neutral, earthy colours are great for keeping the mood of the room subdued, or you can go with understated pastel colours for a bit more character.
A room that is overtaken by a loud colour palette is not soothing or calming ? keep in mind that the baby’s room is a place for rest, so you want the mood to be primarily calm and peaceful rather than playful and exciting. Leave the upbeat, vibrant schemes for play areas.
Stimulation
Give the room a mood boost with brightly coloured accessories, toys or artwork, but avoid bright vibrant colours taking up too much of the room.
Include plenty of stimulating material to encourage imagination and play. Store these items out of sight so they are not a constant distraction while you?re trying to settle your baby down for sleep, but make sure they are kept somewhere that your child can easily access.
A mobile hung from the ceiling or some soft music can be a nice way to provide stimulation for your child at sleep time that will encourage him/her to settle down in the cot and create a soothing state of mind.
Storage
Always ensure there’s lots of storage in your baby’s room. This way, you can keep everything you need for your child in one central area. This will help you avoid poking around the house in the middle of the night if your child wakes for a feed or a change of nappy. It will also make the room very easy to keep tidy, helping you to avoid clutter and potential hazards.
If you?re ready to get started, there are lots of great apps available that help you create house floor plans using the dimensions of your home. This will help you design the layout of your baby’s room with all the above taken easily into consideration.
Once you?ve formed your plan, the fun begins with shopping and decorating, getting ready for your new arrival. With a well thought-out room, you?ll have nothing to worry about when you welcome the newest family member home.
Written by Emma Jane
