Creating A Nursery That Nurtures Development

When you think of a nursery for plants, it’s a space that has everything they need to grow and thrive. We want the same thing for our kids, of course! A nursery can be so much more than just four walls and a crib. I like to think of different parts of the room as “zones” that take on different functions depending on what you need. You can create a nursery with just the basics to function, but a few little additions can elevate a ho-hum room into an engaging, fun environment that really boosts a baby’s development. Babies learn about the world from exploring new textures, smells, and tastes, but 80% of learning involves vision! Read more about how to supercharge the learning potential in your baby’s nursery.

The Sleep Zone

What should I surround my baby with where they sleep? 

A crib is an essential piece of any nursery and is usually one of the first things anyone will notice when walking into the room. Your baby will notice it too! Try a crib sheet with a visually interesting pattern to grab your little one’s attention when the lights are on. They won’t be able to see the pattern in the dark, so it won’t interfere with sleep, especially since experts recommend babies sleep in complete darkness. Use blackout curtains if light is coming through any windows and test out how dark your nursery gets to be sure nothing fun and interesting is visible when the lights are out! My little one is super sensitive to lights in his room, so I put a towel on the floor outside his bedroom door to help keep unwanted light from coming in during those critical daytime naps.

When the lights are on, a fun crib sheet is an awesome opportunity for visual interest for your baby as they hang out in their room. Most babies will see their crib sheet while being held by a parent, so a small, repeated pattern or pastel colors are not likely to be interesting to young, developing eyes. The pattern should be a large, sprawling design visible from far away, or offer different levels of complexity or color as their eyes improve.

The Diaper Changing Zone

Are there good distractions for diaper changes?

This is my favorite place to hang a crib mobile! It is such a fabulous opportunity to turn one of the more unpleasant baby “chores” into a visually engaging moment for your little. Talk about multi-tasking! A distracted and entertained baby makes diapers changes so much smoother and less frustrating for parents. You can take care of business while your baby sees and learns. Plus, mobiles quickly become unsafe when babies can reach them, so it’s always best to use them with supervision. Hang yours above your change table to maximize development and never worry about their safety!

Don’t forget to use a mobile that uses characters or shapes oriented to face downwards towards your baby, think about what they are seeing from their perspective! Wall decals near a changing table can also help create a great distraction and learning opportunity.

For clothes, shoes and other storage areas, consider bright and fun labels with pictures so your little starts to know where things are in their room. Many children with visual impairments use room labels to help them navigate their space; we think it’s a great addition to any child’s room, regardless of visual ability.

If you’re not familiar with room labels, check ours out here. They have braille and tactile components as well, which are fun for all kids!

The Feeding Zone

Should I keep my baby entertained while giving them a bottle?

If you plan to nurse or bottle feed in your baby’s nursery, then this would be the area to keep their surroundings calm and serene. Anything too exciting near a rocking chair meant for feeding might be a distraction from getting full feeds. Know that the nutrients they are getting is the goal of this zone of the nursery!

On the contrary, if your baby tends to drift off during feeds, some visual interest could keep them awake for longer. In that case, try out a visually interesting throw pillow or blanket on the rocking chair, or some wall decals at or above your baby’s eye level when they’re feeding. Every baby is different, so be ready to adjust this space as you get to know what works for your little!

The Exercise Zone

How do I motivate my baby to move around?

If your baby’s nursery is big enough, you may have dedicated space for tummy time, crawling and standing practice, or maybe even some baby yoga! Even if your nursery is small, you’ll likely be doing these activities in another space in the home. Wherever you end up, don’t forget to include some visual targets to aid their motor skills practice!

A tummy time mat with interesting patterns, a play gym with hanging characters, or even sticking decals on the lower third of a wall will inspire longer and more intentional movements from your little one. For example, babies will lift their head during tummy time (or try to) because they don’t want to be face down. They want to look around. By placing items designed for newborn vision at their eye level, then they will truly be rewarded every time they manage to pop their little head up!

The Reading Zone

Are reading nooks good for babies?

Books, books, books! Some babies enjoy being read to early, others will take time to show interest, but incorporating reading into their routine is a huge win in the development game. The visual interest from pictures in the books, the auditory processing of hearing a story, the variety in vocabulary, and even the motor skill of turning pages are just some of the many benefits of story time with your little. Find some fun, cozy pillows or a piece of furniture to create a cozy reading nook. I use my rocking chair with a throw pillow because it helps my child associate a physical location in their room with reading. When we're sitting on the rocking chair together, he knows it's time to read a story! Consider keeping books in a bin on the floor or a low bookshelf especially as your baby becomes a toddler so they can be involved in choosing their story!

The Music Zone

How should I introduce music to my baby?

Music is another activity that encourages development on so many levels. Early exposure to instruments is fabulous for a baby’s motor and auditory development! Music, rhythm, and singing is even linked to language development in infants with nearly every language in the world. When your little rock star grasps, shakes, and hits instruments, they are working on their gross and fine motor skills. You don’t have to be a musician yourself either! Keep a few simple instruments such as egg shakers, tambourines, or xylophones for simple, compact, development boosters and get ready to bust a move!

What are other ways to decorate a nursery for development?

Other ways to incorporate fun and stimulating designs are on your walls and doors, using wall decals or wallpaper, curtains, throw pillow covers, blankets and mirrors. Instead of going for white or pastel shades, try throwing in some interesting patterns made for infant vision that will encourage your baby to scan their surroundings and start thinking about their environment and what they are seeing!

Creating a nursery that fosters development doesn’t have to be time consuming, expensive, or hard to do. Whether it’s a mobile hanging above a changing station, or a throw pillow on a rocking chair, the right touches in the right places can turn every corner of your child’s nursery into an opportunity to learn, grow, and engage with their surroundings.