When we found out we were pregnant, I imagined many things in store for us. Agonizing over fine details of his room was not one of those things, but alas, there I found myself endlessly mulling over an issue like sleep options: Should we get a crib? A Montessori-style floor bed? What about co-sleeping?
All of these are valid choices, and what would be most suitable for you will hinge on your situation and preferences. Weighing out all the pros and cons, a Moses basket for the first months followed by a floor bed was the option we chose for our family. We liked the idea of a Moses basket because it was secure, mobile, and had a natural feel. We also liked the idea of a floor bed because if we purchased a large enough mattress (we ended up going with a queen-sized Avocado mattress), our son could stick with it as he aged, and we could even share it with our son early on if we so chose. Initially, I was nervous about the possibility of our son rolling out of the bed, but after doing some research, it appeared to be a surmountable issue.
Our arrangement has worked well for us so far. We decided to sleep in his floor bed with his Moses basket next to us until he outgrew the Moses basket — a point he is now very near. It has been convenient to be so near to him, particularly when he wakes up in the middle of the night to feed.
Now that we are at the point where our son has all but outgrown his Moses basket, we find ourselves at a crossroad again. While it makes sense to transition him to his floor bed, we’ve found ourselves nervous about the possibility of him rolling out again, especially since the mattress we bought is thicker (and therefore taller) than a normal floor bed. We’ve been researching options from bumpers to other alternative sleep options in the interim–we’ll keep you posted once we make our decision!
Outside of sleeping arrangements, we chose to keep the room minimal with neutral colors so that we could add items as he grew. This way, I don’t have to worry about a re-decorating project in 3 years. I will only have to add items based on his age year by year. Pinterest and Instagram have been a great resource for design inspiration. I’ve loved picking and choosing elements from websites and other people’s designs.
Now if self-directed design is not in your toolbox, outsourcing to an expert or even an interior designer is an option. Although some people may not feel comfortable with people inside of their home because of the pandemic, virtual consultations are also an option — ask whoever you choose if they offer this type of service. An outside professional can provide a great perspective on opportunities for your baby’s room that can grow with your child, providing both savings and long-term options for your child.
I connected with KV Harper Principal and founder of Kex Design + Build and talked with her about curating a room and creating features that can grow with your baby. Below are the top three points I took away from our conversation:
This is the time to use color.
Color in a baby’s room can be fun and stimulating. I love the idea of a custom mural to really make the room feel special. New Orleans is filled with local artists that would be happy to create a mural for your nursery.
Storage
Storage is so important for toys, clothes, books, etc. You don’t have to spend a lot on storage. Several retailers make great storage bins that you can have easily accessible but without getting too much in the way.
Clothing Racks
This may be a bit nontraditional but I love a clothing rack for children. You can hang the items they wear most on the rack making it easy to change them in no time. Plus it’s a great decorating accessory for the room with all their most comfortable clothes.
I look forward to hearing about your projects and sharing updates about the room that is going to grow with my son.
