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Planning Ahead

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You probably have a lot of ideas for your baby's nursery. If you know the sex of your child, you might be considering painting the room pink or blue. But it is really a good idea to avoid too much of a "baby" feel in this room. Keep in mind that this will most likely be your child's room for several years. Even though it's not fun to think about it, your baby won't be a baby forever! You have to think ahead to what might seem "babyish" to your child when he or she is in grade school. Try to choose furniture and decorations that are appropriate for any age. You can use inexpensive accessories to give the room a "baby" feel. While you're at it, make sure there's plenty of room for a bed when it's time for that. Look for furniture that can be used for a long time to maximize its value. There are several pieces on the market today that are convertible; you can buy a crib that converts into a kids' bed or a changing table that converts into a dresser.

Light is another consideration for the nursery. Before you place the furniture in the room, check out the light it gets at different times of day. For instance, you won't want to put the crib where it will get direct sunlight in the morning, or in a place where a streetlight shines on it at night. This could hinder your baby's sleep schedule. Another idea is to avoid wall-to-wall carpeting, if possible. Not only is carpet hard to clean, it is hard to replace and it can cause allergy problems with the dust it contains. A better option is an area rug on a hard floor.

Storage space is very important in a nursery. It might not seem like you need much at first, since the baby's clothes are so tiny. But as your child gets older, he or she will collect more and more toys, clothes, and shoes. One more thing to plan for is a place for you to sit. You'll spend plenty of time in the nursery yourself, as this will be a comforting room for your baby. You will use this room to read bedtime stories, to rock baby to sleep, and maybe even to breast feed. So make sure you choose a comfortable chair for yourself.

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