Creating a Sleep Sanctuary for your baby

How to decorate your nursery for a good night’s sleep

The advice I have for you new parents is that, when it comes to your kids’ bedrooms, functionality trumps fashion.

The primary function is to help your kids feel comfortable enough to sleep well and not to overburden them with stimulation. These tips will help your baby feel relaxed and calm and prepare them for the wonderful event that’s about to happen.. SLEEP!

• Regulate the temperature

Babies sleep best in a room that’s somewhere between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but you should adjust it as you see fit and see what works best for your baby. Some kids like to be bundled up in a cool room, and some prefer sleeping in next to nothing in a warmer one. Whatever your baby prefers, stick with it.

• *Keep it dark*

Darkness is an indicator to the brain that it’s time to go to sleep. Light, especially light on the blue end of the spectrum, commonly found in screens and sunlight, inhibits melatonin production and throws our circadian rhythms off. I recommend some blackout blinds for keeping the outdoor light away, and turning the lights off in the area outside baby’s room as well.

• *Make some noise*

White noise machines can be a great addition to a nursery. Imagine being able to fall asleep to the sounds of rainfall or crashing waves.. now that’s some good sleep! Just be sure to keep them a reasonable distance away from the crib so it’s not loud enough to be a distraction.

• Soothing colors

Imagine going to a spa with bright colours, stripes and animals painted on the walls. Simple colours and designs will help to create a calm, relaxing environment for your baby. A British study from 2013 suggested that blue, yellow and green are the most sleep-conducive wall colors. Purple, grey and brown scored the lowest.

• Remove distractions

Mobiles, light shows and pretend aquariums are cute, for sure, but they’re more likely to keep your baby awake than help him fall asleep. Babies sleep best in a crib with a pillow, a blanket, and maybe a soft lovie (if age appropriate). Leave the entertainment outside of the bedroom.

• Get a great mattress

Mattress salesmen have a good point when they tell you that you spend 1/3rd of your life on your mattress. Your baby will be spending almost double that on his, and he’s still got a soft, sensitive little body, so make sure you get the best mattress you can. It’s worth your time to do a lot of research.

• Keep it organized

People tend to sleep better in a clean, organized bedroom, but that’s not the only reason why I recommend keeping your nursery organized. The less light you have to turn on when going in to change a diaper or feed during the night, the better. So if you’ve got everything squared away and easy to find, you can hopefully get it done without turning on the lamps.

• Keep it squeak-free

Walk around the baby’s room and locate any spots that tend to squeak, creak or otherwise protest when you step on them. Babies can sleep through noise, but if they hear a squeak from mommy ninja sneaking in to check on them, chances are they’re going to hear it and get excited.

• Clear the air

Dust, pet dander and other pollutants can build up faster than you might think, even if you’re keeping your baby’s bedroom neat and tidy. A good air purifier with a HEPA filter can trap 99% of airborne particles, and can also substitute as a great white noise machine.

Baby’s room should be about sleep, and sleep only. If they get it into their heads that it’s a play area, that’s what they’re going to want to do when they get in there. But if they understand that it’s a place for sleeping and that’s what happens when they get in there, they’ll be much more comfortable falling, and staying asleep in there.