When will my baby sleep through the night?
The “PERFECT” Nursery for your baby.
The Arabic version of this article is also available here.
One of the first things that come to our minds when we first know we are pregnant is how will we create the cute, cozy and most “PERFECT” nursery for our coming baby! What theme will we chose, what color to paint the walls and which teddy bears and toys would my baby enjoy.
I am sure all moms dream about this and spend days if not months searching and preparing that perfect nursery… And guess what, this is perfectly normal, and moreover it is a natural instinct known as “NESTING”. Yes, this is real! Mayo Clinic asserts that the nesting instinct is an overwhelming desire to get your home and yourself ready for your new baby. And this can begin at any time during pregnancy.
For me, at first, I was thinking zoo animals theme for my little boy. But then, I changed my mind and decided that a pastel green, elegant look was the way to go, accented with some forest themed wallpaper, some plush toys for my baby to cuddle and a cute little crib mobile to keep him entertained. Oh! and don’t forget the cutest night light that shines colored stars on the ceiling and plays music for my baby to happily drift to sleep.
But! If I had known then what I know now, I would have just painted it a nice, simple color and spent the rest of my time researching crib mattresses and sleep sacks.
Because when it comes to nurseries, I’ve got FIVE words of advice for you.
Dark, cool, comfortable, simple and safe.
I know how tempting it is to stuff baby’s sleeping quarters with adorable fluffy teddies and inspiring images. After all, wouldn’t baby want to be surrounded by a sea of cuteness while they drift off to sleep?
Well, probably not.
In theory they will sure like it! but the reality is that it’s not conducive of a good night’s sleep. That is for the same reasons that you shouldn’t bring your iPad to bed, or watch TV while you’re drifting to sleep. It is simply stimulating, and stimulation and sleep are best kept at a distance from one another.
So, what does the PERFECT nursery look like?
- It’s dark!
I’m talking pitch black. Investing in some blackout curtains or blinds might be the best idea that will help your baby sleep better especially through naps and early morning hours. When your baby is in Newborn stage, we always advice that they take naps in a lighted room to prevent them from having day/night confusion. However, this changes at 4+ months when your baby needs to be sleeping in the same place all the time, which means naps should be in the crib. And you’ll find naps go down with a lot less fuss if there’s no light coming into the room.
A dark room will also help you prevent that dreaded 5 am wake up, where your baby feels energetic and eager to start their day unlike you! Logically if they wake up at 5 am and find morning light they will not be able to go back to sleep as melatonin levels will decrease and they feel awake, whereas if it still dark they will most probably sleep.
- It’s cool
This may sound cold! as cozy and warm always sound better, but studies show that babies sleep best in a room that kept between 21-23 °C. In general, its recommended to put the baby in 1 more layer than what you are wearing. A comfortable sleep sack and onesie in a cool room will often lead to better sleep than no cover in a warm one.
- It’s comfortable
Babies sleep for nearly half the day, so a good quality mattress is an excellent investment. It’s worth your time to do some research and spend the money you had set aside for mobiles and fluffy toys on the surface baby’s going to be spending the majority of their time on. Which brings me to my second point.
- It’s Simple
Music and light, pictures of Disney characters, bright colors and cute characters turning around in circles above your baby’s head, all of them seem like they should have a calming effect, but it’s just the opposite. These standard nursery embellishments are mostly distracting and stimulating. Crib mobiles can often cause over stimulation especially early on. Simple decorated walls, and an easily accessible changing station, are your best decorating choices when it comes to your baby’s bedroom.
- It’s Safe!
When thinking about your baby’s sleep quarters, Safety should come first. The mattress you chose has to be firm, covered by a fitted sheet and No other bedding. No pillows, bumpers or any other bedding are needed, on the contrary any of those can increase risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). In addition, make sure your baby’s crib is located away from curtain, dangling cords or window blinds.
I know it’s probably a little bit of a tough pill to swallow for new parents, because we really do look forward to putting together a little baby-themed paradise for our little ones. But bear in mind, this room serves a crucial function in your baby’s day-to-day life, and that’s to be a quiet and relaxing environment for them to get the extensive amounts of sleep that their growing bodies need.
There will be plenty of opportunity for them when they grow to adorn their rooms with whatever theme they chose and extensive amounts of stickers they want to stick on those walls.
Layal Fayad
Related posts
