1. Heavy Shades/Black Out Curtains
Dressing your nursery windows is more than a decorating must - It’s a safety issue.
Nurseries can get pretty hot during the day, especially if they get direct sun. Properly covering your windows will not only help your little one sleep better but will also help keep things cool, reducing your baby’s risk of SIDS.
To help baby beat the heat, opt for double-lined, UV-blocking drapes or a set of heavy, light-blocking blinds. You can also purchase UV-blocking window film, which can be applied directly to the window glass.
Need more help with windows? Check out this helpful list of Nursery Window Do’s and Don’ts.
2. A Fan
Don’t have one? Get one! A fan both cools and circulates the air, breaking up dangerous pockets of carbon dioxide that might otherwise restrict your little one’s oxygen intake. While the cause of SIDS in still unknown, many experts believe that poor air circulation may be to blame. In one study, researchers investigating this theory found that introducing a ceiling fan to your baby’s environment may reduce their risk of SIDS by 72%!
As if that wasn’t enough of a reason, the roaring “shush” of a fan also provides a comforting source of womb-like white noise, which calms anxious newborns, helping them sleep. It also prevents outside disturbances, like doorbells and noisy siblings, from cutting your little dreamer’s nap time short.
3. A Humidifier
Want to keep that adorable, little newborn nose happy? Invest in a good humidifier. Humidifiers work wonders on sick babies, helping them breath easy by keeping sinuses and nasal passages moist. You can even add a few drops of eucalyptus oil or a medicated breathing aid to help alleviate baby’s suffering. Humidifiers also help reverse the harsh, drying effects of furnace use, preventing dry skin and chapped lips.
Learn more about the benefits of humidifier use here.
4. Adequate Lighting
For many parents, adequate nursery lighting is something of an afterthought… as in they thought about it after they rammed their toes into the rocking chair.
A functional nursery should have at least three sources of light: A night light to help you navigate the nursery at night; a lamp (or two) to help with tasks like reading or changing diapers; and a shaded, overhead fixture.
Using multiple lamps allows you create soft layers of light, ensuring you have just enough for any situation. It also reduces the need for overly bright lights, keeping the atmosphere easy on your little one’s eyes.
For more lighting tips, read our Nursery Lighting Guide.
5. Adequate Storage
New parents tend to vastly underestimate the amount of storage needed in the nursery. Stacks of bibs, blankets and burp cloths take up more space then you think - not to mention the toys, stuffed animals and piles of outgrown clothing that accumulate with time.
Need to make some more space? First, make sure you’re rocking the essentials. Once you’ve covered the basics, try incorporating a few of these creative storage ideas.
6. A Rug
People often forget to dress their floors. If you have hard flooring, a big, soft nursery rug is essential. That said, an attractive rug makes a dramatic difference to any nursery space - even if you already have wall-to-wall carpeting.
Rugs add color, pattern and texture to a room, giving them a rich, finished look. They also protect your existing flooring (carpet or wood) and provide an extra layer of soundproofing.
Not sure you can’t afford a decorative rug? These budget-friendly beauties start at just $20!