One of the tasks you’ll want to complete before your baby arrives is creating a nursery.
Declutter your spare room ready for your new baby
Many spare rooms seem to collect items that don’t fit in other parts of the house. Take an honest look at these things before you begin setting up your nursery. Are they things you want to keep? If not, get rid of them. If you are not sure, or if you know that you will want them in future, the best place for them is a self-storage unit. Stored goods are out of your way, but in a safe, constant environment where they won’t deteriorate.
You may have already bought some items for your new baby, or been kindly given things by friends and relatives. Anything that you won’t need immediately – such as toys or clothing for toddlers – is best put into storage until it is needed. We shared some ideas about storing baby things in a recent blogpost.
Decorate your nursery
Soothing neutral colour schemes are ideal for a nursery because they allow the décor to grow with your child. It’s also a good choice if you don’t know the gender of your baby.
Peel-and-stick decals add interest to a nursery; they can be easily removed and replaced as your child’s tastes change.
Rather than carpeting your nursery, it is more practical to have a floor that can be mopped and a few rugs that are small enough to go in the washing machine.
Black-out curtains can be helpful in establishing a sleep routine and keeping the nursery free from draughts.
Beds in your child’s nursery
Many babies sleep in with their parents for the first six months, and experts recommend that babies are not left to sleep alone during the day, but instead use a portable sleeping space in the same room as a carer. BASIS (Baby Sleep Info Source) explains why this is recommended. But having a cot or Moses basket in your room may not be practical or desirable. Instead, consider placing a bed in the nursery.
Changing tables and storage for your nursery
A changing table will save your back, but once the child is mobile, it’s likely you’ll end up doing nappy changes on the floor anyway for safety reasons. If you can plumb a sink into your nursery, this will be useful for handwashing.
You will need more baby clothes than you thought possible, so have plenty of clothes storage within easy reach.
Toy storage is also handy. Once your baby can choose their own playthings, you’ll be glad of low baskets and containers. It’s also helpful to have a place to put certain toys out of sight so you can have a break from repetitive tunes or phrases. Use self-storage to rotate your toys to keep the selection fresh and interesting. Domestic goods, including toys, kept in your storage unit are covered by your self-storage insurance. Don’t forget to let us know if the value of your stored goods changes so we can adjust your payments.
Enjoy your new life as a family
Your new arrival will change your lives completely, but children grow so fast: within months, you’ll have a baby, not a new-born; and it’ll be just a year before they change from baby to toddler. So be sure to take the chance at every stage to enjoy your baby in the moment.
Photo by Ömürden Cengiz on Unsplash
