Nursery

“Rock-a-bye baby, on the treetop” goes the Mother Goose nursery rhyme; poetic but hardly practical. Today’s baby nurseries run the gamut from functional to extravagant, depending on the parent’s taste and budget.

Before starting to decorate your baby’s space, certain considerations should be addressed. Will the baby have his own room, or will he be sharing space with the parents or perhaps an older sibling? Nursery bedding or nursery themes need not clash with the existing décor, although an older child might balk at nursery mural wall stencils encroaching on their style. There are themes that would be acceptable to an older child, such as cartoon characters, dinosaurs, fairy princesses or sports teams. The older sibling may enjoy picking a theme, and perhaps choosing a new color for the walls.

Nursery themes might be put on hold if the baby is to share the parent’s room, but nursery furniture tucked into a corner of the bedroom can be a joyous new decoration indeed. The nursery bedding could be coordinated with the color palette of the room, but who wouldn’t mind seeing puppies or duckies peeking out from the crib?

Nursery furniture offers a wide choice. The only rule is that the furniture should be sturdy and safe, and after that the imagination can run wild. The furniture may be only a crib, but parent’s choices are limited only by space and budget. Some find a changing table invaluable. A rocking chair is another comforting choice. Shelves to hold teddy bears can be a decoration all by itself. Some parents like to go all the way and have all the furniture match; others prefer a more casual approach in adding here and there when possible.

Speaking of children’s nursery rhymes, parents should be sure to know each other’s other tastes when it comes to theme and decoration. What one might think cute and adorable, another might find nauseatingly over-the-top. Some people have a very low threshold when it comes to “cute”. This does not mean they are heartless or cold, just as those in love with “adorable” are not tasteless and simpleminded. The “cute factor” should be considered especially when an older sibling is to share space with the new baby.

Nurseries and nursery décor should, at the end of the day, be part of the fun of preparing for the new baby. If it becomes a hardship or cause of argument, couples should realize that they are trying too hard for perfection. Step back; have a laugh and a hug. After all, the baby will not love you because you have given it a magazine-cover nursery. The baby will love you for you.