3 TIPS For Navigating The Nursery with Your Eyes Closed

9/9/2019

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This post goes out to all the first-time moms who haven't yet experienced nursery life and experienced moms who want to improve their care giving for a newborn. Things are hard enough as a new parent figuring out how to care for a new little life. Then things are kicked up a notch in the middle of the night when it's dark and you are exhausted.

Here are three ways we try to help new moms navigate the baby nursery when designing their space. We want them to be able to handle all that comes their way with less stress, even with their eyes shut, or barely open.

mom holding baby in sling in the nursery

1.
Beeline to Baby

If you are using a bassinet to co-sleep in your room with baby by your side for the first weeks/months of your newborn's life as recommend by the American Academy of Pediatricians, you're eventually gonna need to move baby into the nursery and a regular crib. You'll want to be able to move swiftly and safely from your bed to the crib without bumping, slipping or making too much noise.

Because you'll pretty much be sleepwalking to pick up your baby for middle-of-the-night changes or feedings - thoughtful setting up of the nursery so that there are no items like a pouf or baby play gym in your way.

We suggest that when selecting furniture and decor you pay attention to the size of everything and keeping your furniture in proportion and out of the main paths from the entry door to the crib and from the crib to changing table or glider.

Another place to be give special attention is with all rugs – large area or small decor rugs. Be sure and use rug pads under all rugs on hardwoods and and make sure your small accent rugs are not going to slide when place on carpet.

baby nursery with dark woo, mid-century modern crib and distressed, pink and brown area rug

2.
A Guiding Light

Whether you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding a little light is your friend for this is task. You don't want to flood the entire room from an overhead source. Going from dark to bright light will jolt and baby awake, making it hard for both of you to stay relaxed. Making it even harder for your bodies to fall back asleep fast.

We recommend adding a dimmer ceiling light, adding a motion sensor light to a smaller ambient lighting piece. The other key place to add a task lighting is near the glider. A dimmable light is even better so you can use it in low-light situations like feeding or rocking, but can also provide you a bit more light for reading at story time.

gray glider next to a handing wall book shelf

3.
Night Time for a ChangE

Think about setting up your changing area like you might a work desk. Have baby necessities from diapers to nasal aspirator to clean clothes with in a one hand's reach. With your eye glazed over and for safety reasons, you don't want to leave your baby unattended so make sure you can grab the essentials with one hand. Like when the other hand is covered in poo.

Ensure the changing table area can hold the essentials like diapers and wipes, plus a clean change of clothing. Also keep all baby toiletries well organized and always put back in the same spot like rash cream, nasal aspirator, nail clippers, boogie wipes and any other must-haves.