nursery-decor-ideas

Feeding and Bonding go hand in hand

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:59:15 +0100

Feeding time is a special moment where Mom gets to provide Baby with one of his fundamental needs: nutrition.

It is also a time to cuddle Baby close and to lovingly admire all those little things that make that little human being so special: the curl of the toes, the crinkle of a tiny nose, tiny hands and feet so perfectly proportioned... this is real bonding time!

New Moms are told that having a comfortable chair to sit in while feeding is important to ensure feeding time is a relaxed and soothing activity that both Mommy and Baby will enjoy and benefit from.

There are many chairs that can be adapted as a suitable feeding chair; some rather costly, and others quite affordable.
Whatever your choice, see your feeding chair as an investment that will be utilised not just for Baby number One but for many more years to come. A dual purpose piece of furniture that will suit both the nursery and the home, where it can be moved to a TV room or lounge once it's primary function is complete.

The Rocker Glider chair is just such a chair.
With its 3 adjustable reclining positions, matching gliding Ottoman, solid wood construction and durable, fully washable cushions; it is a sure winner!

This fabulous piece is available in Mahogany, Maple and White. And you have the option of Cream, Coffee or Pink cushions. So once it has done its time in the Nursery it can be easily coordinated in a family room.

Rocking is comforting for Baby, and helps Mom to relax too - especially if Baby is a little cranky :-)
With the Ottoman at the perfect height to ensure Mom's legs are elevated just right, feeding time becomes a time of special bonding and relaxation.

For more information on the Rocker Glider's special features, go to http://rock-a-bye-nursery.co.za/rocker-glider.php

Happy Bonding!
:-)

The importance of layout when decorating a nursery

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 12:13:10 +0100

Decorating a nursery is an exciting time for parents!

There are many factors that should be considered when you start out choosing the furniture and decor for the nursery, and we are going to cover the most important ones here.

Nursery furniture should not only be durable, functional and safe, but must also fit into the room you have chosen as your baby's room.

The size of the room plays a very important role in selecting the right nursery furniture.
As beautiful as large sleigh cots and oversized compactums are, these items are available in smaller sizes, which is far more practical for smaller rooms.

The second most important thing to consider when decorating your nursery is furniture layout.
Your nursery should ideally have a wall that is away from the open doorway, where you will place your baby's cot. This is to ensure that there is no draft on baby while he/she is asleep. Drafts will naturally flow between a window and a door, so make sure to place your baby's cot out of this air flow.

Do not place baby's cot directly in front of a window, as a pane of glass does nothing to keep night chills at bay.
If there is not much available wall area to place your cot squarely in the centre along the wall, then rather stand your cot with the head end against the wall, and place a small table or shelf unit between the cot and the window.
The head end of your baby's cot should preferably not be against an exterior wall, but if this cannot be helped due to the layout of your home and the position of baby's room, then consider having a cot bumper that is higher than the norm, which will help to insulate baby's sleeping space.

Your compactum will be where baby spends most of his/her time undressed, so ensure that if this unit cannot also be against a wall that is out of the door way, that you keep the bedroom door closed while bathing or changing baby.

Do not hang any heavy objects (like shelves or heavy framed pictures) on the wall above the compactum, to prevent any injury in the event such an item may fall.

If you place a table, shelf unit or chest of drawers near baby's cot, remember that your baby will at some stage be standing up in his/her cot and will reach for anything that looks interesting to play with, so do not place any objects that are dangerous within reach of the cot (like lamps, sharp objects or objects that can break or be swallowed).

You may opt for a rocking chair or another form of comfortable feeding chair for your nursery if you have the space available, and again, place this item out of drafts, and in a cozy corner if possible.
Have a small table close at hand for those items you will need while feeding baby: a night light for those late night feeds, a glass of water (breast feeding makes Mommy thirsty! :-) ), tissues, breast pads and nipple lotion etc.
Once baby starts to crawl however, make sure none of the harmful objects are in reach.

Pictures are a lovely way to add colour and to bring a theme together in a nursery, but opt for the kind that does not have a frame with glass, and if you hang any pictures above baby's cot, make sure he cannot reach them when standing up in the cot. The same applies to anything that is hung on the wall - keep out of reach! :-)

The last, and probably most important consideration is electrical plugs - these must be covered with plug plates if not in use, and if they are in use make sure baby cannot access them either from the cot or while playing on the floor.
Place a toy box, table, shelf unit or the like in front of a plug point that is being used so that it is out of baby's curious eye-sight.

Whatever the theme or design of your nursery, bear these health and safety factors in mind when starting out on your exciting nursery decorating project.

Themed Mosquito nets on promotion

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 17:47:04 +0100

Summer is here and with those warm balmy nights comes the invasion of the Summer nuisance. The mosquito!

Not only does the mosquito’s incessant buzzing interfere with a good night’s sleep; but their bite leaves an itchy, irritating welt long after these little blood suckers have had their fill.

Babies in particular are more vulnerable to these pests, as they do not have the satisfaction of scratching an itchy bite, which can leave Baby irritable and niggly.

A mosquito net over Baby’s cot is a sure way to keep those pesky mosquitoes at bay, and will ensure your precious Prince or Princess enjoys a peaceful night’s sleep

.

Our themed mosquito nets compliment all of our adorable themed baby linen (or opt for a custom-made net*)… the perfect compliment to your baby’s nursery: offering both a charming, aesthetic appeal and keeping Baby safe from biting menaces that go buzz in the night.

At R799 a themed mosquito net is a must have for Summer.

Sweet dreams :-)

(*Custom made nets may be priced differently depending on the design)

Wall murals for a nursery

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 20:18:30 +0100

Spring is such a special time for me :-)
It is as though the world is waking from a long hibernation and shedding it's drab coat.

It's a season of new beginnings, sunshine, blossoms and grassy meadows.
Your Spring nursery can represent all these wonderful fresh elements too.

My favourite colour for walls is green - soft, fresh and reminiscent of rolling hills and dewy knowles.
Add to this backdrop two or three frolicking little lamb murals, or some budding branches of a painted tree in one corner, and you have the basis for the perfect Spring nursery.

Wall murals for a nursery are a great way to create visual stimulation for Baby, while bringing a wonderfully whimsical element into the space.
And what better way to bring your favourite fairy tale characters to life! :-)

Wall murals are also a wonderful way to bring the outdoors in - creating a gorgeous garden setting that can be decorated around.
With your favourite fairytale mural splashed across the walls of your nursery, like the Peter Rabbit theme above, decor can be kept to a minimum, and linen is best suited in plains rather than themed, as this could become too busy.

And if wall murals are not your thing, then you can opt for two or three good sized painted canvasses (45cmx45cm at least) hung side by side depicting your favourite characters from your nursery theme.

Remember to take photos of your wall mural before you paint over it with a room revamp, or move house so that you can look back with fondness to the nursery that once was Baby's world.

Themed nursery vs neutral nursery

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:58:57 +0100

When it comes to decorating your nursery, it is really all about personal preference, and not to much about what the current decor trends are.

A nursery is not just a place where your baby will sleep, it is also the space that you will spend most of your time in, with bathing, dressing, feeding, play and relaxing.
So take this into consideration too, when deciding on the theme and colour scheme of your nursery.

If you love the traditional blue for boys, pink for girls, then go with this, as you have to feel just as comfortable and content this space as baby does.

When choosing a specific theme there are so many beautiful designs available, and you will be able to create a nursery that looks like it was decorated by a pro!

Appliquéd linen is a wonderful way to create your themed nursery. From Farmyard themes, to Zoo animal themes, to Nautical, Bugs, Transport and Teddy themes.
Coordinating your appliquéd linen with a few functional decor accessories in the same theme will finish off your nursery beautifully. Items like dustbins, compactum caddies and lamps.

There are other stunning nursery decor accessories that you can add, that will compliment your themed nursery - themed mosquito nets with adorable hanging mobiles, wall paper borders depicting the characters of the theme you are creating, and hand painted canvasses. Not to mention height charts, treasure boxes and coat racks.

Themed nurseries are perfect if you know the gender of your baby, and you want to create a gender specific nursery.
Most of the animal themes are also available in neutral colour ways, which is a safe bet if you don't know your baby's gender, or if you want a nursery that you can use again for the next baby, regardless of gender.

A neutral nursery would be one that has no specific theme; this can be a nursery that makes use of colour schemes that are suitable for either a boy or a girl, or a nursery that is neutral in colour.
You can still opt for predominantly white for a clean fresh look, and then incorporate this with accent colours of your choice.

Popular nursery colour combinations are blue and brown, green and brown, pink and brown, and stone and brown.

Whatever your preference, there are many different options available in both linen and decor accessories that will help you create the perfect space where baby can sleep, play and grow in.

Happy decorating!
:-)

Gift Hamper Competition

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:19:38 +0100

Hi Mommies and Mommies-to-be (and Daddies and Daddies-to-be too!)

Our gift hamper competition closes on the 30th September, so if you have not yet entered, please do so.

More details here: http://rock-a-bye-nursery.co.za/competition.php

It is a beautiful day in Cape Town today, and I believe in JHB too :-) So get out there and embrace this little respite from the recent winter chill.

Just don't forget the sun block :-)

Chat soon, and happy weekend all!

Yvette

You can also find us on Face Book at : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rock-a-Bye-Nursery/102268246495348
Or follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/RockaByeNursery

Fresh decor ideas for Nurseries

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:25:22 +0100

As endearing as the traditional pastel colours are for a baby nursery, bright and bold is fun and is sure to see Baby's room through to toddler years and even beyond.
Using green on large areas like walls is the perfect palette to create a bright and uplifting nursery for both a boy and a girl.

Chartreuse is a lovely shade of green that speaks of fresh meadows and sunny days, and will be beautifully complimented with any of the hues in the warmer spectrums (orange, red, yellow) for a nursery that requires a bit of "warmth" (South facing rooms or rooms that do not get a lot of natural light).

Blend the cooler hues (blues and greens) to create serenity and a cool feel to a nursery that gets a lot of natural light and is warm (North facing).

With your palette colour and secondary colour schemes decided, you can now start introducing other elements to bring your nursery to life.

Cot linen is not only a focal point in your nursery, but must be practical too, as this will be where your baby spends most of his sleeping time.

It is advisable to have at least 2 sets of cot linen - one in the wash, one in the cot.

Here you can play with design and implement a theme that will then be carried throughout in your decor accessories and wall art.

Now days there are so many different cot linen themes to choose from, it is really just a matter of personal choice and preference.

Have fun with your nursery and experiment with paint colours on your walls before making the final decision.

Keep lighting soft and warm, and introduce decor that will be not just pleasing to the eye but stimulating for Baby as he begins to explore his new environment with his eyes.

Window dressing should be practical and decorative and opting for block out lining is a good idea as it is functional in that it helps keep the warmth in the cold out, as well as offering enough darkness in the room for those day time naps when baby is a little excitable from the day's events.

Swaddling your baby

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 22:26:19 +0100

When I had my first baby (who is now 23 years old :-) ) I was shown by the sisters at the maternity home how to swaddle her.
This process at first looked to me like some kind of restraining method, and I wanted my baby to be free to kick and enjoy her new found open space... but I soon realised the purpose of swaddling and it became a favoured bed time ritual for all my babies right up until they were 3 months old.

Swaddling your baby has a number of benefits, the most important one being that it helps Baby regulate his/her body temperature.
A new born baby is not able to regulate her temperature, and especially for babies born in the cooler months, this will lead to Baby becoming cranky due to feeling cold.
During night s that are very cold, cover your swaddled baby with a folded cellular blanket - the kind they use in hospitals. This is made from 100% cotton and is therefore warm in winter and cool in summer.

Swaddling also acts as a cocoon for Baby who has just emerged form the closeness and safety of the womb, and is now faced with a lot of open space which can be very strartling. Swaddling will help Baby feel secure and will help her to sleep better and be comforted more quickly should she wake.
Swaddling also prevents Baby from scratching her face (something that new born babies tend to do quite a lot!) as her hands will be tucked into the swaddle cocoon.

Once your baby is starting to roll (2-3 months), or if she is getting frustrated with her cocoon, it is best to either loosen the swaddling or to forgo it all together.
The danger with rolling over is that Baby can roll onto her tummy and may suffocate of she is not able to lift her face off the mattress.

How to swaddle:

Swaddling a Baby - Step 1

Place your swaddle blanket on a flat surface in front of you so that it looks like a diamond. The fabric is woven so that it will stretch correctly when you use this diamond position. Fold the top corner down about 6 inches. Place your baby onto the center of the blanket with her head just above the fold.

Swaddling a Baby - Step 2

Pull the blanket corner on your left across your baby's arms on her chest. Tuck the corner snugly underneath your baby.

Swaddling a Baby - Step 3

Lift the bottom corner of the swaddle blanket up over your baby's body and left shoulder, tucking it under her left shoulder.

Swaddling a Baby - Step 4

Take the swaddle blanket corner on your right across your baby's front, around her back and up over the left shoulder. Tuck the corner into the folded blanket by her left shoulder, securing the swaddle.

Your swaddle should be snug but not overly tight. Always avoid loose blankets in bed with your baby and be sure the blanket does not touch her cheek, which can stimulate his rooting response and wake her

Swaddling blankets are available in all our Nursery linen themes.

Stunning new Nursery Collections

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:02:34 +0100

We have just launched our gorgeous new Nursery collections!

Appliqued cot linen, soft furnishings and decor accessories all coordinated to create the Nursery of your dreams.

Adorable themes for boys and girls: Baby Bugs, Boys Toys, Little Farmyard, Row your Boat, Tatty Ted and Zoo Babies.

We look forward to your visit :-)

Soothing Your Colicky Baby

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 08:13:13 +0100

Hi Moms

I thought I'd share this fabulous info with you all.

Although I was fortunate not to have colicky babies - all 4 of them! - I know that these techniques would have been just the thing for my youngest (Gabby), who was one of those cranky, restless babies.

"Colic" - the word is just about enough to make every mom "aah" with either personal experience, or sympathy for friends who have suffered alongside their babies during those early evening and night-time episodes of inconsolable crying. And what causes it is still somewhat of a mystery. Doctors have it at a guess that it is related to winds possibly caused by an immature digestive tract.

But whatever the cause, there is one vitally important factor that is paramount to how you and Baby cope during these times of distress: Your health and your calm.
You cannot console your colicky Baby if you aren't relaxed. If you need time away form Baby for a little while - take it. Those few minutes or hours to take time to see to your own needs (a good meal, a nice nap, a long relaxed bath) are paramount to your ability to cope with the stress of a baby whose non-stop crying will take its toll on anyone.
And know this: You are NOT the cause of your Baby's crying.

When Baby starts getting cranky (and this applies to any form of distress, not only colic), keep Baby close to you. Your Baby spent 9 months cocooned in the warmth of your body, hearing the beating of your heart and the lull of your voice - and these are the things that he/she will need when tiredness, illness or discomfort step in and create distress. Swaddling Baby in a tightly wrapped blanket can also help him/her feel safe and calm (remember to use a breathable, light weight receiver for this, as over- heating can also cause discomfort).

And if all else fails, then I strongly recommend the following massage techniques - to soothe Baby and calm his/her digestive tract.
The best time to do these is whilst Baby is relaxed, and not in the middle of a crying spell.

Adapted from Acupoint and Trigger Point Therapy for Babies and Children by Donna Finando,
L.Ac., L.M.T. (Healing Arts Press, 2008).

1. Start by gently stroking your baby’s forehead from the midpoint of the eyebrows up toward the hairline.

2. Press very lightly on the point that lies between the eyebrows.

3. Stroke around the ears starting at the temples and working around to the back of the head.

4. Gently massage the midline of the body from the breastbone down through the stomach and into the abdomen.
Do this several times, using slow, gentle movements.

5. Gently massage the upper stomach, beginning just underneath the breastbone and ending just below the belly button.

6. Massage the muscle on both sides of the belly button, working toward the lower belly.
You might find that there are tiny areas of tight muscle in that region.

7. With the baby’s hand turned palm up, massage the pinky and pinky side of the palm of the hand and the side of the upper wrist.

8. With the baby’s hand turned palm up, massage the area 1 inch or so above the wrist fold in the center of the arm.

9. With the baby’s hand turned palm down, massage the area 1 inch or so above the wrist fold in the center of the lower arm.

10. Gently massage the web between the thumb and the index finger.

11. Massage a couple of inches below the knee on the outside of the lower leg.

12. Gently massage the space between the long bones connecting the first and second toes to
the foot.

13. Gently massage between the second and third toes and the long bones that connect the toes
to the foot.

14. Gently massage the baby’s back in a downward direction on both sides of the spine, from just below the shoulder blades to the sacrum, the flat bone at the bottom of the spine.

Massage has been used for centuries to induce soothing, calming and healing. The Human touch
has a very powerful effect when used in this way, and I have no doubt you and Baby will benefit from
these techniques.

I'd love to hear back from you, so please drop me a line and let me know how it's going - and if
you've bought the book, then share your wins with me too - I'll post your comments so that other
Moms can benefit from your positive experiences.

Best of luck and love to you and Baby.

x