How To Create A Safe Nursery Your Baby Will Love

Setting up your baby’s nursery is one of the more fun things to do while pregnant. Baby may not even spend that much time in the nursery in the early months, but it’s still worthwhile designing a space for your little one that is both pretty and practical.

A nice nursery
A nice nursery that your baby will like is important. A nightlight can help comfort Baby, and provide a gentle light for those late-night feeds. Preferably, pick a red light, as opposed to white or blue lights, which disturb sleep by disrupting circadian rhythms.

Some parents also find that mobiles over a cot are too stimulating and interfere with sleep, while the movement of suspended mobile toys over a changing mat can soothe an irritable baby. Wherever you decide to mount your mobile, make sure it’s out of reach, to prevent body parts getting caught up in the dangling cords or your baby putting small parts in his mouth.

What about the cot?
The crib should be painted with a lead-free product and preferably fitted with a new mattress and linen. Make sure the mattress fits snugly, and don’t put a pillow in the cot. For safe sleeping, your baby needs a firm and flat surface.

The cot should be deep enough that your growing baby can’t climb out, and there must not be steps, or cut-outs in the headboard or footboard that could trap your baby’s limbs. Ensure that you have a distance between each bar of no less than 2.5cm and no more than 5cm; this will prevent your baby’s head from slipping between the bars.

Position the crib away from possible draughts and where your little one can see out the door, so he’ll feel less alone. Also, keep the cot away from direct sunshine, windows, heaters, lamps, and wall decorations, as well as furniture or drapes that your tot could use to climb out of the cot.

Picking a palette
There are different theories on which colour schemes will stimulate a baby, and which colours can affect a baby’s mood, but this ultimately comes down to personal preference. Irritable, distressed babies may respond to soothing colours; placid, calm babies may enjoy more enlivening colours. Why not have a neutral background, and introduce colour in the form of mobiles and toys?