Every few years, a new buzzword emerges in the world of interior decoration – minimalist, abstract, contemporary. These concepts influence what’s trendy for when people style their homes. But, when it comes to your baby’s room, how much colour should you use, how many stuffed toys can make baby feel too stuffy?
A nursery room is more than just a place for your baby to sleep, it’s an essential space for them to grow, be happy and healthy. “Research has shown, that it is not advisable for baby to be left alone in a nursery room in their early months of life. Attachment parenting is essential for emotional well-being, and bonding. This parenting style is easily built when there is zero separation between parent and child in the early months of life. Having said that, you and baby will spend a lot of time in the nursery, even if they only start sleeping there a few months down the line. So, it’s good to make the space feel like a sanctuary for them”, explains Parenting and Pampers® Institute Expert, Sister Lilian.
Decorative style for this room can follow any desired trend. The most important thing is to get the basics of what makes a good baby room right. The patterns on the wallpaper, colour schemes, wall art and so on – all of these can have an effect on what type of environment this room becomes for your child.
Sister Lilian adds that “babies react differently to various colours, patterns, objects, just as adults do. Some colours can be calming, some patterns fascinating and some objects stimulating. But too much of anything may have a negative on them.”
She provides the following interior tips when decorating a nursery for your baby:
Studies have shown that colour can have a psychological effect on people’s emotions. While parents may be tempted to go all-out and paint the whole room in all the colours of the rainbow, it is not advisable to have many colours displayed boldly in the baby’s room. Too many bright colours may irritate or overstimulate your baby.
Look at choosing softer, warmer colours that can help create a soothing and calming space. This will come in handy for naps and at bedtime, in the nursery. If you want to add a range of colours at once, ensure that this is broken by a wall with one solid relaxing colour that the baby’s eyes can rest on as well.
Patterns
Patterns can also have an overstimulating effect on your baby. Items on the walls, such as animal paintings, shapes, letters or numbers can be overwhelming for your baby. It may make the room feel a little too cluttered. Opt for minimal objects/patterns across the walls in the room, or dedicate one corner for the decoration. The walls should have a neutral space with as little stimulation as possible. When it comes to patterns, less is more. Remember, almost everything about life and interaction with loving parents is already stimulating for a small baby!
Lighting
Babies can associate different lighting with different activities. When the room is brightly-lit, babies often associate this with daytime and playtime. This can create more of a challenge at bedtime, especially at night. A darker-lit room creates a “sleepy” mood for them. Inventions such as a dimmer switch, have made it easier for parents to check on their baby at night, without creating a disturbance with a bright light.
Comfortable furniture
Mom and dad will also be spending a great deal of time in the nursery room. It is important to design the room with them in mind too. You should be able to enjoy the room just as much as your baby. Whether it is for feeding your baby, changing their Pampers nappy or keeping an eye on them while they sleep. Create a comfortable space for yourself, with something as simple as a rocking chair, recliner or a comfortable feeding chair. A piece of furniture that you can sleep comfortably in when needed is essential.
Sound
Sound control in the nursery room will help your baby have undisturbed sleep or be in a more relaxed state during the day. The sounds they receive in this space will affect how they sleep or play. This does not mean an absolutely silent room. The key is to have a background sound that soothes and calms your baby. Often, soothing music or normal household sounds comfort babies and reassure them that their parents are in close vicinity. Another example is white noise (sound with particular frequencies of equal intensity on repeat). White noise machines can play throughout the day. This will also ensure that even unexpected noises (e.g. dog barking) do not disturb your baby.
“Most of all, take into account that your baby is a unique individual – trust yourself and trust your way, when it comes to picking up on their cues about what calms, relaxes, and what energises them,” concludes Sister Lilian.
Regardless of how you decorate your baby’s room, an essential part to baby’s growth, development and sleep are a great nappy. Baby’s skin is thinner than adults and as a result, they lose 30% more moisture than an adult. Their skin is also sensitive, urine and faeces left in the nappy too long can cause irritation and rashes. Pampers is continuously innovating to find the best solutions for you and baby. The new Pampers Baby-dry with ‘’two air channels’’ allows air to flow directly to your baby’s bum, for breathable dryness.
Pampers Baby-dry has been specifically designed to distribute wetness evenly from the front, to the back and across the nappy and lock away moisture even better, allowing baby to enjoy up to 12 hours of dryness. Which means mom and dad should only be woken up for feedings, and not to change wet nappies. Pampers nappies are less bulky and provide a great fit and more freedom of movement for your baby.
