StrongMoms™ Baby Proofing

Pregnancy - Nursery Planning

Ideally, your nursery theme will make you smile (even during 3 AM feedings), and keep you smiling months later when your infant is toddling across the room. Themes can be vintage (think bicycles or trains); animals (frogs, penguins, pandas); shapes (wide, bold stripes, checks, oversized polka dots); or simply something you've always enjoyed (cupcakes, cowgirls, daisies). Switch plate covers, drawer knobs, wall pegs, and lampshades all can help carry out your theme.

But sometimes too much is...well...it's just too much. Try to resist the temptation to do everything at once to help you avoid décor overkill.

If your baby will be in the same room throughout childhood, consider how you could easily change, or add to, your theme as he grows. Neutral walls can be transformed with murals, and a subtle trim can be replaced as your child's personality blossoms.

If your baby will eventually move to a different room, and you have other plans for the nursery when that happens, keep colors neutral and stick to decorations that can easily be removed. Will the nursery become a computer room in a few months (if, for example, you're considering working from home)? If so, skip the butterfly border and hang a butterfly quilt or framed prints that you can move when baby moves.

Most nurseries need to do storage duty as well, for baby supplies, accessories, and clothes. Smart furniture can play dual roles, which can cut back the need for more pieces — and save space. Consider these ideas:

• A padded-top toy chest can double as an extra place to sit.
• A convertible crib will convert to a toddler bed as your baby grows.
• A changing table with roomy drawers or cabinets can store all your diaper supplies, toiletries and clothes, eliminating the need for a dresser.

You'll be spending time feeding and rocking in your special nursery-room chair, so outfit it for you, too, with a soft "mom" blanket and comfortable pillows.

Also, think about setting your nursery apart with one or two special pieces. Consider:

• Cheerful wall prints in vivid, saturated colors from kidmodern®, modern art for children from Gale Kaseguma (you'll find some of her original work at Giggle in Soho).
• A simple growth chart (your little one will be a teen before you know it!). Peaceable Kingdom Press® carries growth charts featuring children's classics from "Where the Wild Things Are" to "Guess How Much I Love You," and more.
• Window film with cutouts (from the UK's Brume Basics) for privacy with a modern twist. Instead of curtains, these hip window treatments let you carry out your theme in a fun way that's easy to change up when your taste changes. (Don't miss their decorative wall stickers in everything from zoo animals to NY graffiti — they peel right off with no mess.)
• A school-size chalkboard so you can jot quick reminders midway through a diaper change (and for grandma to write love notes to her favorite grandchild). And it'll be the perfect accessory in a few years, when your little one starts playing "school."