Arrange baby furniture in your bedroom to create a relaxing, peaceful environment for parents and baby cohabitation. No matter how big or small your room, you can create a design dynamic that will accommodate everyone sharing the bedroom. The benefits of keeping your baby
in your room include easy night time feedings and having fast access to the baby while she sleeps.
1. Making it Work
It's been just the two of you until now so how do you share your bedroom with the baby? Crib placement is key to maintaining a balance for everyone. Before creating your layout, determine what kind of sleeper you and your partner are. Does light and sound wake you or your partner up, and can both of you return to sleep after nighttime disruptions? You should also decide if you are going to take turns with nighttime feedings, or if it will be primarily you or your partner up at night with the baby. Be sure you and your partner are clear about evening routines, then create your layout.
2. Sketch Furniture Placement
Take stock in your current bedroom furniture design. Do you use every piece in your room or are some pieces only decorative? Eliminate any piece that you aren't currently using, and put it in storage or in another area of your home. Take room measurements, then measure the pieces of furniture you plan to keep in your room from your set. Measure your baby's furniture pieces, and plan your layout on paper. Consider that you'll need room for walkways and easy access to the door.
3. Baby Furniture Needs
You evaluated your furniture, now evaluate your baby's furniture. She will need a crib and possibly a bassinet during those first few months. Other than a place to sleep, determine if you need a dresser and changing table. Base your decision on your room's square footage and the current pieces of furniture in your room. If space is limited, purchase a portable changing pad so you can change the baby's diaper on the floor, or make space for his tiny outfits in a few of your dresser drawers. If you are transitioning to a larger space in the near future, you may want to keep a crib in your room and have the rest of the baby furniture in storage (or hold off ordering it until you move).
4. Crib/Bed Placement
Set the crib up in an area of the room where you and your partner will have quick and easy access. If you are the one who plans to take most of the nighttime feedings, be sure the crib is near your side of the bed so you don't have to travel far to get to the baby. If the baby is sleeping in a bassinet, keep the bassinett next to your side of the bed so all you'll have to do is roll over to get to the baby.
5. Other Baby Furnture Placement
If you have room to include a changing table and dresser for baby, balance the room by placing the dresser on the other side of the room than the crib. Keep the changing table within close proximity to the crib so you have easy access when he wakes up and needs to be changed. Adding more furniture and another person to your room can be tough, but you can make it work with strategic and logical furnture placement. You'll have quick access to the baby during nighttime feedings and changings, which may help everyone sleep a little easier.