Planning a nursery for your new baby can bring out plenty of fun and creative ideas. However, you should also include functionality by arranging the room to be adaptable as your little one grows. Here are some ideas that could help.
Choose an Adaptable Bed
Shop for crib designs that can be adjusted as your baby gets bigger. There are many styles of baby beds that can be reconfigured into toddler beds when the time comes. Typically, one or more sides of the crib can be removed with the mattress lowered closer to the floor to safely accommodate a small child. The toddler bed then provides a safe structure for your growing child. Keeping the same mattress and headboard helps your toddler to feel safe and secure as they don’t have to get used to a new bed.
Get a Medium Chest of Drawers
Instead of using a baby size chest for storing infant clothes and supplies, buy a medium chest or dresser with enough storage space for your young one’s expanding needs. The chest can hold diapers, wipes, and baby clothes at first and then transition to toddler clothing, underwear, and socks within a year or two. As you receive baby gifts and clothing that are too big for your baby, save them in the drawers until later.
Install Comfortable and Safe Flooring
While your baby might not be able to do much on their own yet, that won’t last long. Babies love rolling and crawling on the floor, and that type of activity helps infants develop muscle tone, coordination, and strength. Soft carpet offers a safe and cozy place for babies to explore their room and play with toys as they grow. Hard floors are more likely to lead to injuries. Toddlers also enjoy sitting on the floor to read books or enjoy building blocks and action figures or dolls. Another option if you don’t want to entirely redo the flooring is to use large area rugs on a hardwood floor. The rugs can be cleaned professionally if needed when a baby or a toddler spills foods or beverages or becomes ill and throws up.
Make the Windows Child-Safe
To improve temperature control for the nursery and help prevent SIDS, you’ll need some window coverings. If you use window blinds in your child’s room, use the cordless style to prevent a baby or toddler from getting entangled.
Toddlers may be tempted to climb into the window and possibly break the glass with a toy or fall out if the window is left open. Consider installing shutters that can be closed to cover the windows for safety purposes. Babies and toddlers sometimes get scared during noisy windstorms or thunder, so the shutters can also help to muffle weather sounds or outdoor noise to facilitate children’s sleep.
A few preparations while furnishing your baby’s nursery can save time and money when your child becomes a toddler. Think long term when setting up a bedroom for your little one now and later.
