As endless as the permutations of genes on your child’s DNA strand, the possibilities for creating a nursery that is both tranquil and stimulating will keep you occupied for months. Start decorating a few months before your child is born and build up a lively stock of toys as you go.
A
Age-appropriate themes: Because children grow up so quickly and their developmental phases change rapidly, cut decorating stress by choosing a base theme that will suit a child of any age. Have a good stock of plain-coloured bed linen and towels, and complement with nursery themes for different ages. As they get older, children tend to interact more, which is reflected in the bed linen and curtains they choose. While younger children may be over-stimulated by too many noisy prints, cartoon characters and superheroes start to take centre stage as they near schoolgoing age.
B
Baby monitor: If your children are still at crib age, you need to keep a really close eye on them. Short of keeping them in your bedroom, buy a monitor which picks up every sound they make and link it to your lounge or bedroom, so you can race through at the sound of any squeak or squeal.
C
Crib rails: Remember that your baby will be monopolosing at least one of your arms most of the time, so get a side rail that can be lifted and lowered using one hand. These days, most cribs use a knee-release mechanism; it’s generally quieter to use and the basic design usually requires that less hardware be exposed.
D
DVDs and CDs player: Home movies and videos are great for keeping your child out of mischief and entertained at the same time. Try to include a good selection of educational material as well to ensure your child doesn’t treat the TV as a substitute for more meaningful and interactive activities. Be vigilant about television you select, if any, too, and screen cartoon networks and other children’s channels before you turn them on. Besides tapes and CDs with age-appropriate children’s songs, it is a good idea to keep music filtering softly through your child’s sleeping place during the night. Repetitive though it may seem, the sound of familiar tunes provide a soothing sense of security, and many a parent has found that golden oldies or contemporary perennials like Abba provide a light and pleasant sleep environment night after night.
E
Exterior influences: If you have a bright light or electric pole outside the nursery window, eliminate negative energy by keeping curtains closed or use a reflective film on the glass pane to deflect negative energy back to the source.
F
Furniture and floors: A primary concern here is safety; make sure there are no protruding nails or edge guards and that all planks are in place. Avoid furniture made with plywood, particle board, and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) because they often contain formaldehyde in their glues. Used furniture more than a few years old, however, is likely to have released all its harmful chemical fumes by the time it’s ready for baby, so those are fine (and affordable) options next to buying furniture made from solid wood, wicker or rattan. Buy secondhand furniture, paint it the same colour as the walls and add a few transfers if you like.
In the floor department, go for hardwood floors made from sustainably managed forests and finish them with a non-toxic or natural sealant. Consider discarding any wall-to-wall carpeting because they trap mould, dust mites, and other allergens.
G
Gender-neutral design: Studies show that girls and boys don’t necessarily have different colour preferences, so go for colours and motifs that are not gender-specific, like gingham checks, stripes, plaids and solids in bright, lively colours. Stars, sun and moon can inspire both sexes equally well.
H
Hamper for clothes: Rather than a cupboard, which can be cumbersome and costly, invest in a few attractive hampers or baskets for children’s clothes. Label them accordingly and keep one for dirty laundry.
I
Interactive toys: Besides keeping your child’s mind active and questioning, interactive toys are a great substitute when there are no other children around. Store them in a fun toy box which itself can be a focal point of the room. Digital games, if your child is old enough, are also a good way of keeping the brain ticking over.
J
Jam jars: Gather old preserve jars and coffee tins, jazz them up with paint and labels and keep them handy for everything from loose toys to keys and toiletries. Frame old greeting cards to give your nursery a unique, contemporary feel.
K
Koki pens: Keep a good supply of erasable felt-tipped pens at hand, together with a noticeboard and/or plastic-coated colouring-in books at hand. Make sure you keep the pens in a mug or tin to prevent them lying around and leaking on the floor. Always encourage your children to put the lids on, keep them out of their mouths and make sure the brand you choose is non-toxic.
L
Lighting: Whatever lighting you choose for the nursery, make sure you install it on a dimmer so that you can lower the light for a baby. Because babies are attracted to light sources, chose ones that will shade your baby’s eyes from the glare of a bare bulb. Never install a lamp within your baby’s reach; a wall-mounted fixture is best from a safety point of view as your child gets older, as is a table lamp beside the nursing chair.
M
Mattresses and bedding: Besides ensuring that the bed or cot you choose is safe, try to be as eco-friendly as possible. Pick a baby mattress made with wool casings or organic cotton filling. Regular mattresses contain harmful and potentially cancer-causing fire retardants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in addition to equally suspect stain- and moisture-resistant chemicals. Rest your baby’s head on pillows that are stuffed with natural stuffing such as kapok, buckwheat hulls, untreated wool, organic cotton or synthetic-free latex. Dress the crib with organic all-cotton bedding. Conventional cotton is one of the most heavily pesticide-sprayed crops in the world and the chemicals could irritate your baby’s sensitive skin.
N
Nappy bin: Possibly the most essential functional item in the nursery, a bin exclusively for nappies should be constantly kept at hand. Line it with disposable, plastic liners and always keep a good supply in stock.
O
Overlooked orange: Vibrant and lively, orange is often considered to be too outrageous for a nursery. If you and your child have an adventurous streak, there’s no harm in going a tad over the top or adding a few streaks of orange to the nursery. It’s not called the new pink for nothing!
P
Protective plastic sheeting: Create a specially designated area for painting and other messy pursuits. Cover it with a plastic sheet which can be wiped down and re-used. Keep plenty of sponges at hand in a bucket which can also be used for other activities and cleaning.
Q
Quiet and peace: If the room of a neighbouring apartment or house is someone’s living room, the noise may distract concentration or a good night’s sleep. Cover the wall with a heavy fabric or artistic décor which will absorb the noise.
R
Rocking chair: Because you will use it to feed your child, it should be comfortable and support your lower back. Cover it with padded cushions covered in a fabric that washes easily and doesn’t stain. Besides being functional, your rocking chair could be a main feature of the
S
Shelves and side rails: Possibly the most important item in the whole nursery, shelves are absolutely essential for packing everything from books and CDs to toys and stuffed animals. Besides keeping the floor space clear and adding a sense of order to a potentially chaotic room, they are also a good incentive for your child to learn to pack away afterwards. Add a toy box to keep the really untidy bits out of sight decoratively.
T
Table: Essential for changing nappies, a well-placed table is also useful for storing baby’s toiletries and other goods related to day-to-day care. To double up on space, try to get one that has a shelf underneath for storing linen and nappies. Make sure there is space for a wash basin too.
U
Under budget: Draw up a very basic budget and scout around secondhand shops for items that are both unusual and not likely to break the bank. Ditch your credit card and ransack bargain bins and garage sales. You’ll be surprised at how much more fun you can make your nursery at a lower cost.
V
VOC-free paint: Paint the walls of the nursery with environmentally friendly paint that doesn’t release poisonous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. Look for VOC-free paint made from all-natural ingredients such as mineral pigments, beeswax, plant oils, crushed limestone, soy resins and buttermilk. Paint the walls in one colour and decorate with bright, self-adhesive transfers that can be removed when baby gets older.
W
Waterproofing: Most children wet their beds at some stage of their lives and it is wise to get waterproof underblankets to ensure there is a back-up plan in this event. Always keep spare waterproof underclothes at hand as well as waterproof bibs or disposable potty mitts. In short, anything waterproof is better than not.
X
Xylophone: While drums and cymbals provide endless fascination for children, they can also be a nightmare for parents. If your child must vent and explore his/her musical prowess, settle on a xylophone instead. There is a wide range of sizes and colours available and the muffled sound will keep your ears safe.
Y
Yellow is mellow: Whether you go for a buttercup shade, or a bright dollop of sun, yellow can transform your baby’s nursery into a tranquil imaginary garden. Complement it with pastel shades if you want a soft look, or go for rainbow colours if you’re into something more bright and exciting. Either way, yellow creates an inspiring and crisp, clean atmosphere.
Z
Zoo creatures: Whether they’re plastic or wooden, domestic, farm or wild animals, there’s nothing quite like a set of animals to keep children of both sexes occupied when moments of boredom set in. Add new animals on a regular basis to expand the collection and add variety to your child’s menagerie. An inexpensive gift idea too!
(Published in Aquarius, Dubai. Copyright owned by the author.)
