Nursery Blog

Video of Baby's Dream Furniture benefits

Watch and learn more about Baby's Dream products from Jim Lillo, owner of Crib 4 Life stores in Florida.

Plan a Babymoon before baby arrives!

When you got married, you probably took a honeymoon. When you found out you were pregnant, did you think about taking a vacation? I didn't, but I wish I did! My first-born is now over two, and it has been over 4 years since my husband and I have had a real vacation. Now that I'm pregnant with our second, we have talked about taking a Babymoon. There are many factors to consider when thinking of taking a vacation while pregnant.

When to take a Babymoon?

Ultimately, any travel you do will be up to your Obstetrician. Most OBs recommend travel during your second trimester. Your morning sickness has pretty much diminished (if you're lucky) and you are feeling more like your old self in the second trimester. You are also not uncomfortably pregnant like in your third trimester. If you plan on flying, most airlines won't allow travel in the last few weeks before your due date. Some airlines require a doctor's note. It's best to check the policy of the airline you are flying first, and be prepared. Also, consider when your return trip is and make sure you will be OK to fly there and back!

Where to go?

This depends on what your tastes are? Do you want to be a beach bum for a week? Or, are you more of a camper and want to get away from it all in the woods? How about a short but sweet spa weekend? Couples massage, pedicure, facial... sounds blissful to almost any mom-to-be. A good advantage to doing a spa weekend is that only an extra day off is needed; saving precious vacation time for when the baby arrives. You can also search for a place within a short driving distance, think a nearby major city, and stay in a hotel. A budget friendly idea is considering going to visit friends that live somewhere else, that way you can get out of town, but don't have to pay for a hotel.  Wherever you decide to go, make sure you check for local hospitals in case you need medical care.

Who gets to go?

While this seems like an odd question, I am taking a babymoon without my husband. He is in school, working full time and can't take time off. So, my son and I are going to go visit my sister in California. I haven't ever been out West, and traveling with a toddler and an infant will be next to insane if we travel after the baby is born. If you already have kids, you can still take them with you and do a family vacation. I don't know many kids that would turn down a trip to Disney! (Or adults for that matter!) Or, if you have close friends or family that could take turns watching your children, you and your husband could take a vacation for just the two of you.

Why should you go?

Take a babymoon to enjoy your last few moments of peace and quiet with your spouse.  Once the baby arrives, your world will change forever. Even if this is not your first, your family dynamics will be different with a new baby. Many older children remember their last vacation before having a new sibling. It reaffirms to them that they are special to you. If you have the opportunity to take a pre-baby vacation, don't waste it. When you can't recognize your spouse through blurry, sleep deprived eyes, you will be thankful you took a babymoon!

New Product Review: Legendary collection

Announcing the arrival of our newest furniture collection, Legendary.  This collection is now available to view in person in most of our retail locations.  So far, the response has been great, this is going to be a popular group.  Legendary offers two different crib styles to choose from, flat top or curve top.  They both coordinate with the same case pieces, available in either rich Espresso or smooth Cinnamon finish.

Things that make Legendary special include:

• Dovetail drawers: which add extra durability to the drawer joints and ensure they can be used for many years, stuffed with many toys or clothes.
• Metal drawer glides: how smoothly a drawer opens and closes is one important thing to try out when shopping for furniture.  You want to ensure they will pull out and push in smooth and easily.  Our metal glides are screwed onto the bottoms of the drawers. 
• Picture Frame molding: the dressers feature a design on the front that outlines the drawer in a special picture frame style. 
• Solid Wood construction: no MDF, particle board, etc.  This collection is completely solid wood including a very sturdy and strong crib. 
• Hidden Hardware: no visible screws or holes to distract from the beauty of this crib. 
• Convertible Crib: both cribs (curve and flat top) have three mattress levels, to accomodate your growing baby.  Also fully convertible to toddler bed (by removing the front frame and installing the guard rail) and later to full-size bed (front frame and backframe become the headboard and footboard on bed with the addition of the full-size mattress rails).      
• Assembled in USA:  Baby's Dream is a family owned company located in Buena Vista, GA and the Legendary collection is part of our furniture groups that is hand assembled in the USA.  All of the dressers (case pieces) come fully assembled, showing a sign of higher quality.  The only thing you put together is the crib. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This classic design is one that can be for either a boy or a girl and will definitely last for years, it is not a look that will go out of style or fade anytime soon. 

A nice functional piece available with the Legendary collection is the Bookcase.  Bookcases are great additions to nurseries because your baby is bound to get a lot of books and toys as gifts, and you can setup your baby's own reading nook in his/her room.

Conversion to Full-Size Adult Bed:

Here is the Wrap up: 

	Baby's Dream Legendary®  crib
Price	MSRP: crib starting at $499
Safety	JPMA Certified Solid wood construction
Conversion to toddler bed	YES Toddler bed Conversion Guard Rail: $79
Conversion to Adult Bed	YES Adult Wooden Conversion Rails: $119
Sustainable Forests	YES
Color options	(2) Cinnamon Espresso

Pre-baby Bucket List

My Pregnancy Buck List... Top 10 things to do before the baby arrives!

At the halfway mark in my pregnancy I am starting to think of all the things, big and small, that need to get done before the baby comes. Some things should get done sooner rather than later, others could possibly wait until after the arrival. But, it all makes my head spin once I start to think about it.

 

 

 

My Pregnancy Bucket List:

 

 

1) Refinish a piece of furniture for the nursery: I have picked out and purchased my crib and dresser (future blog post to come), see a sneak peak of what I choose below. I'm very excited about the furniture, however I wanted to add a personal and unique touch to the nursery by getting an older antique piece and refurbishing it to add a bit of uniqueness to the room. I hope to find a vanity/desk that I am going to use at first as a changing table and later my little daughter will have somewhere to sit and do her makeup. Since we're not in yard sale season yet, I'm going to rummage around the local Peddlers Mall.

2) Make Crib Bedding: Another crafty thing I want to do is make the crib bedding myself. I have found the perfect fabrics, but need to determine how many yards are needed. Before the end of February, I plan on getting together with my mom to plan out how much I need and go buy it! I am buying sheets however, so I also have to find some of those too.

3) Make Window Coverings: #2 needs to be done first, but I'm going to use the same fabric to make, window drapes, a bed skirt, and a blanket, which I hope to get done in the next few months.

4) Paint the Nursery: A trip to Lowe's is in order by April! We need to pick out the paint colors and get the room painted a few months before my due date. Even with low or no-VOC paint, I want to give the room some time to air out before bringing the baby home in July!

5) Learn how to make homemade Baby Food: I want to learn how to make and store baby food. Since having my first, we're eating healthier and I'm cooking more than ever before. So, I would love to learn how to turn food from our meals that I'm already cooking into food I can give the baby. I plan on my food processor being my best friend.

6) Create a Safe Play Room: Probably the biggest item on my list is to organize the basement into a safer play area. It's slightly set up as one now... but a lot of childproofing and rearranging is in order to optimize the L-shaped space.

7) Make Space: While I'm thinking about re-arranging, I really want to move the computer desk out of the living room! The computer will probably migrate to a smaller/unused corner of the living room and the desk will go into storage. The space that my pretty, but large, desk is taking up needs to be devoted to some baby gear for a while. The swing or exersaucer will require a nook so the dogs don't run the baby over on their way through the living room.

8) Pick a name! Thankfully, I have quite a few more weeks to come to a final decision on this one. My husband and I can't figure out what middle name to use... we have narrowed it down to six options.

9)  Start exercising! OK, I laugh a little even while writing this. I can't walk on the treadmill inside with my toddler running around me. So, give me Spring, and we'll walk down the street again. I just have no motivation during winter.

10) Make a growth chart: I bought one with my first, but I have since found directions online to make one myself.

Now, so I don't feel so unaccomplished, here's what I have done so far:

• Purchased the nursery furniture! Should arrive any time now!

Cocoon 4000 Series convertible crib and 6-drawer dresser. 

• Picked the general color scheme for the nursery.
• Purchased a mini blender to aid in my homemade baby food quest.
• Cleaned all the toys out of the nursery... it used to be my toddler's playroom.
• Pulled out all the gender neutral clothing from my first and have them organized by size in the closet.
• Divided up all the boy clothes into boxes by age so I can sell them or give them away once this baby arrives.
• Bought and started filling in the Baby Memory Book.
• Narrowed down the first name to two choices!

What is the biggest thing on your Pregnancy bucket list? Do you have a plan on how you will accomplish everything, or at least try to? Please share.

Advice and Resources for Baby Names

After I found out I was pregnant with my first, my husband and I bought a Baby Names book. Probably one of the worst decisions we could have made. You see, this book had 50,001+ names. Half of which we couldn't even pronounce. However, we still spent many nights staying up way too late reading through the book. I wish I could say it helped us pick a name, but it didn't. I did like that I could look up the meaning of names I thought of quickly. With baby number two, I have found a better way. The internet!!

If you are concerned about your child being one of ten "Jennifer's" in her class, check out the Social Security's website: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/babynames/. You can track how popular the name you like has been over the years. See how many babies were named that in your state. Or, get ideas of names that are common... but, not too common by looking below the top 50 names.

Here are a few other websites I have found very useful in creating a name list.

http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/ allows me to search by syllables, so if I come up with a first name and think only a one syllable name sounds good with it; I can find all the names that might work. I can also save the names I like to a list, which is much easier than thumbing through a book over and over again.

http://www.babynamewizard.com/ has great search options. I can enter my son's name and get ideas of sibling names. I can enter any name and find its popularity in my state. I can run a search by popularity, style (traditional/contemporary), syllables. This is a site that is really helpful when you want a somewhat popular, traditional name, which starts with "M".

Just a few tips in deciding a name:

• Be aware of your child's initials

Genevieve Abigail Smith will not want an LLBean backpack (or anything else monogrammed) with her initials "GAS"

• Consider the names meaning

While your child probably won't be teased for the meaning, when Damian looks up the meaning and discovers it means "Demon", he might not be too pleased with your choice.

• Nicknames

Not necessary, but it is nice to look at possible nicknames. Not only for childhood teasing (Richard=Dick) but to give your child options. If you like a popular name, choose one with a couple nicknames so your child can go by something else in case there are a few other "Isabella's" in her class.

• Say the name out loud... a lot.

Does it flow? Do you have a hard time even getting it out? Try not only the first and last name, but all three together. The middle name isn't used often, but will be used on special occasions: like when your child graduates from a school. Will a stranger be able to pronounce the whole name?

To Share, or Not to Share? 

Once you have found the name, the next question is: "To share, or not to share?" With my first son, I shared his name with our family. The more that people used the name, the less I liked it. I think this had something to do with the fact that there wasn't a face to put with the name yet. Also, I don't call my bump by the name we decide on until the baby is born. We use a nickname, like peanut, until the baby arrives. Now, not everyone is like me. There are many people who have no problem sharing the name, using the name, etc. But, before you share the name, think about which person you are. It might save you from changing the name two weeks before your child is born, like I did.

How long does it take? 

Thankfully, most parents have at least six months to search for a name. For some, it comes down to the wire; others knew the name they wanted when they were 16. Good luck finding a name; it's a daunting and overwhelming task. If you really get stuck, I'm sure your family and friends won't mind offering their ideas.

The Top 10 Baby Names in America for 2008:

 

	Boy	Girl
1	Jacob	Emma
2	Michael	Isabella
3	Ethan	Emily
4	Joshua	Madison
5	Daniel	Ava
6	Alexander	Olivia
7	Anthony	Sophia
8	William	Abigail
9	Christopher	Elizabeth
10	Matthew	Chloe

Baby Shower Planning

One of the most enjoyable days of your pregnancy is when a bunch of the women in your life get together to celebrate your baby. Whether it's ten or thirty people, there is a lot of time and thought that goes into preparing for a Baby Shower.

Baby Registry

Before you start to plan your baby shower, you will want to complete a baby registry. This is the fun part where you get to make your wish list of all the baby items that you want for your friends and family to buy from.  You will need this information to include with the invitations.  Gift registries can be made everywhere from large to small stores, don't forget to ask your local baby speciality store if they have a registry program, you can typically find a lot more unique and high quality items that can't be found elsewhere. Most registries are also able to be viewed online, that way, if important people live out of town, they still have the option of purchasing what you really want. Also, if guests are not able to attend, they can have a gift shipped to your home.

Themes

While a theme isn't necessary, it certainly adds something special to the event. There are lots of directions revolving around themes. Use anything from the nursery décor to the location as inspiration for a theme. Is it spring? Throw an outdoor garden party. Is it Summer? Have a faux barbeque. (Works great for co-ed showers too) Is it winter? Decorate with snowflakes, ornaments and play holiday music. If the location you're going to use has a fireplace, then that could pull it together even more! The possibilities are endless when it comes to themes; if you are running low on inspiration then Google will become your best friend.

A recent shower I attended had a ladybug theme due to the nursery décor choice. The hosts made centerpieces for the tables using mirrors, white candles with ladybugs, a hurricane shade, and ladybug ribbon. The result was a very whimsical and cute centerpiece. Also, scattered around the shade was candy for the guests. Since it was so close to Valentine 's Day, the hosts found lots of pink candies; Hersey's Kisses wrapped in shades of pink and red, little baggies full of girly colored M&Ms. The cake was even a ladybug! It all tied together to make a very adorable shower.

Favors

When it comes to favors, edible is a great option. I don't know many women that would turn down a little bit of chocolate to munch on later. You can also tie the favor into the party.

If you're throwing a garden party, you can give personalized flower seed packets or make birdseed ornaments for guests to hang on a tree in their yard. Also, in today's society, you can't go wrong with hand sanitizer as a favor; you could even get sticker paper and print your own label for the miniature bottles.

 

 

Food

A good baby shower requires yummy food. The key to pleasing everyone is to go simple. At my baby shower, we had little party sandwiches (Ham and Turkey) and everyone got to choose their cheese and condiments. There were cocktail shrimp (yum) and the fan favorite, taco dip. At my sister-in-laws baby shower, her family made amazing chicken salad sandwiches that I've never stopped thinking about.

Next to mini-sandwiches, fruit salad is also standard for showers. You can dress it up by making a baby carriage out of a watermelon if they're in season. We have all dug through a fruit salad for more strawberries, or in my case, blackberries. So, instead of a mixed salad, make a platter with all the fruit separated, which allows for guests to choose what they like most.

An assortment of drinks is also important. You can make punch to coordinate with the theme or gender. If it's a girl, use raspberry sherbet. For a boy, use blue Kool-Aide. If you are doing a summer themed party, you don't have to skip the wonderful frozen drinks! Most cocktails can be turned non-alcoholic with just a little research.

Games

Finally, what every guest dreads, baby shower games!! Personally, I love them but maybe I'm an oddball. For each game your guests play, have a small prize for the winner. If there is a tie, have them play "paper, rock, scissors" to decide the ultimate winner. Soaps, lotions, and hand sanitizer, are all great options for gifts that don't have to be expensive. Here are some of my favorite baby shower games:

• Safety Pin Game

Choose a word that is forbidden for the shower, such as baby, and tell each guest as they arrive that if someone says the word, they can take their safety pin.

Another variation is to not allow leg crossing. You can also use clothes pins instead.

• Dirty Diaper Game

Take real diapers and melt miniature chocolate bars in them. You can mush the diaper after it's melted to make guessing a little more difficult for the guests.

• How big is the Belly?

Every guest gets to decide how big the mommy's belly is and the closest one wins!

You can use all sorts of mediums for the measurement. Toilet paper works for large groups because you don't have to cut it. String or ribbon can work for smaller showers.

• Baby Bingo for gift opening

This game works best with larger showers. If the shower is large, the gifts will take a long time to open. So, this will keep the guests entertained while the mom is opening all the generously given gifts.

Take blank bingo cards, you can make or buy them, and have all the guests fill in the boxes with specific items they think the mom will receive. Instead of just "pacifier", have them write the brand of pacifier too. Or, instead of just "blanket" have the guests write the color too. First one to get bingo wins! (You can also print off cards already filled in)

Craft Time 

If the host or mom-to-be is anti-games, you can involve the guests in other ways. You could buy different sized onesies or bibs and craft paint or fabric markers. Then have guests decorate one for the new baby however they choose. At the end, the guest of honor can pick out her favorite and give that person a little gift. You could also have each guest write a word of advice for the mom-to-be to keep in a keepsake box or photo album.

Non-Traditional

Now, if the mom to be is anti-baby-shower by all means, throw her a non-traditional party! These are becoming very popular. Games are thrown out, cutesy baby shower decorations are omitted, and pink and blue colors are no where insight. These showers usually involve co-eds, barbeques, and alcohol. Instead of doing a lunch shower with mini sandwiches, you could throw a brunch and even offer bellinis or mimosas. Don't forget to have "mocktails" for the mom-to-be. If the couple is a huge sports fan, you could throw a sports party with beer, pizza, and wings. Just make sure you inform your guests ahead of time on what to expect; which is done best with the invitation.

Second-time-mom "Baby Sprinkle"

Also, baby showers aren't just for first time moms anymore. Even with a second or third child, there is still reason to celebrate the new life! Therefore, "Baby Sprinkles" are becoming very popular. Since the parents have most of the baby gear already, gifts are small and normally kept to diapers, wipes and books.

Whatever you do, remember to assign someone to take lots of pictures. I've looked through the photo album my sister made for me a million times. It is nice to look back a few years later and see all the special people that came to celebrate my child and help prepare me for his arrival. I don't know what I would have done without the generosity of all my family and friends.

Save Money with Used Baby Items

With all the expenses of having a baby, wouldn't it nice to save some money by buying used baby gear? Buying used is a great way to lower the cost and still get quality items. I have searched Craigslist.com for years and have scored some awesome deals. My dad often brags about his daughters spectacular finds. However, there are things that you should never buy used, some that take a little research first, and others that are just too good to hesitate on!

The Never Buy Used Items:

• Breast Pumps

They are expensive, so you would think that buying a used one is a great deal. However, unless it is a hospital grade pump, it is not meant to be used by more than one person. It is like buying a used toothbrush, just not healthy.

• Crib Mattresses

Unlike clothing, you cannot wash a mattress. Think of the throw up, pee and poop that could have leeched its way into the mattress. Not to mention the possibility of mold and other "bed bugs". This goes back to a health issue, it's just not safe.

• Car Seats

Yes, you are probably disappointed reading that one. The best car seats are very expensive; however, if it has ever been in an accident, it should not be reused. Can you really trust a total stranger to tell you the whole truth? The only exception to this rule is if it comes from someone who cares about your child's life as much as you do.

Furthermore, if a friend or family member offers to give you a car seat (or any baby item) that is more than six years old, politely decline.

• Baby Slings

There have been so many recalls on infant slings that you should stay far, far away from buying them. I was even going to sell one that I bought and never used, until I found out about the infant deaths it has caused. Needless to say, it is going in the trash.

• Baby Shoes

Do not buy used shoes. "If you use a hand-me-down pair of shoes, you are forcing your child's foot into a shoe that has already molded to the shape of someone else's foot, which means your toddler could end up with blisters." Read More Here

Be Cautious Items:

• Portable Play Yards

Older models have had issues with the top bars collapsing and children have suffocated in the fold of the dropped side.

Keep within the past six years and the more recent the better. Make sure you can set it up, there are no holes in the mesh, the rail locking mechanism works, and there are no recalls on it.

One thing that people need to be aware of is that selling a recalled item is now illegal. However, most people do not know this and they do not check before selling something. Do not count on the seller to know, instead ask for the model and serial number and check for yourself.

Baby Items I highly Recommend Buying Used:

• Toys/Games/Puzzles

I found a used Radio Flyer Pathfinder wagon for $30; it looked brand new, had all the seatbelts and functioned great. I saved $70 on this one!

I purchased 2 Fisher Price Doodle Pros for $15 off EBay.

I have purchased a used set of wooden puzzles and an organizer for them for $20. Ended up being about a dollar per puzzle, and that's not including the organizer.

• Baby Clothes

I cannot count how many bags of used clothes I have bought for my son. When children are young, clothes will get dirty and stained, so why not buy used? You then have some things that you won't worry about getting messed up and can be used as play clothes. You can also find very gently used clothing that looks like new.

• Strollers

I have purchased a great used Bell bicycle trailer for $15 ($100new) at a yard sale. It also converts to a jogging stroller.

• High chairs/booster seats

I have purchased three different feeding chairs for my son. One I kept in the car, it folds up nice and compact and attaches to almost any chair for $5 instead of $25 new. This also became a booster seat once my son outgrew his traditional high chair. I found a Fisher Price Space Saver high chair for $25 ($65 new) to keep at my dad's house. The last high chair I purchased was for my mom's house, this one I found for $10.

• Little Tikes

One of the most sought after products on Craigslist; Little Tikes gets a category all by itself. They make outstanding plastic kid products that can withstand YEARS of wear and still look new.

I basically stole a table and chairs for $5, it is $55 new! I only had to use some elbow grease and a couple Magic Erasers to get all the crayon marks off of it. It now looks brand new!

I have purchased 2 Little Tikes Cube Slides. One for $25 had no sun fading and stays indoors at my house and another one for $20 that was sun faded and stays outside at my moms.

I snagged a Little Tikes Castle slide at a garage sale for $25! This was another outstanding find, it costs $350 new. It was missing the doors on it, but my son never knew they were supposed to be there.

The key to scoring used deals on Craigslist, EBay, or at a garage sale is time and knowledge. You need to know what you want and how much it costs new. If you are patient enough, you will find a STEAL. When you finally see a great deal, do not hesitate! My sister-in-law missed out on the best deal for a Little Tikes Playground I have ever seen by waiting to discuss it with her husband.

Real Nursery Photos that impressed us!

One of our favorite things is to check out how people create the nursery of their dreams with our furniture.  All of our customers are encouraged to upload their Real Nursery Photos once the room is complete.  We know how many hours are spent preparing this special space for the baby, so we like to give you the opportunity to show it off!   

Here are some of our favorite Real Baby's Dream Nurseries:

Grayson's Room

Melinda hit the nail on the head with her color scheme choice! She created a modern space that looks great

Baby's Dream Generation Next crib shown here.

Charlotte's Room

Charlotte has chosen beautiful wall colors that aren't too girly. The bold pop of aqua over the serene green look great together, especially when you add the punch of pink from the bedding!

Baby's Dream Generation Next crib shown here.

Jennifer's Baby Boy's Room

Jennifer picked a bold color scheme that looks great! The patterns on the linens are traditional but fuses with the colors to give a modern twist.  This room is a very sophisticated space that will definitely grow with the child.

Baby's Dream Serenity crib shown here.

Share pictures of your Real Nursery here.

Favorite Nursery Themes

The Bold and The Beautiful. No, I'm not talking about the long running soap opera, but nursery rooms! The days of whimsical characters and pastels are long gone. They've been replaced by bold, graphic, chic, sophisticated styling. I must admit, I didn't get the memo two years ago with my first. However, this time around, I'm dreaming bold and beautiful!

The biggest colors for furniture right now are dark brown and white. Personally, I'm normally a fan of maple, but the espresso finish is REALLY growing on me! I can't wait to find out the sex of baby#2 so I can finally decide on white or dark brown furniture!

I've been attracted to more of the bold colors used in nurseries today. Turquoise, bright pink, and chocolate brown are some of my favorites. However, there are also more serene colors that look beautiful and can create a bold space when paired with bright accents.

In nurseries, there are two major themes present today, jungle and modern. I'm more drawn to the modern side because I think jungle will only last so far before a young child is tired of it and a major redo is in order. In today's world, we look for longevity. That's why we buy convertible nursery furniture! So, why not make the décor match the furniture as something that will grow with the baby.

I'm a big fan of our local Homearama, where you get to wander though beautifully decorated homes. I have gotten a lot of inspiration for my nursery-to-be from a room that I saw at a Homearama.

Photo from: Homearama

The room is bright, chic, traditional and modern! Switch the bed out for a crib and you can imagine how a space will look good as a nursery and grow with a child.

As illustrated above, graphics on the walls are replacing murals of characters. From stripes, to polka dots, to geometric designs, there are many options. Some treatments can be as simple as vinyl wall appliqués, while others as complex as hand drawn masterpieces.

Here are some of my favorite rooms:

Brown & Teal Nursery

 

Noah's Nursery on Rate my Space using furniture by Cocoon.

The brown, blue, and white color scheme is extremely trendy right now. And I love how all the walls are painted a different color, but tie together with accessories and the dots.  Polka dots aren't just for girls anymore!

Modern Nursery

 

Photos from Ohdeedoh.

This design on the wall shows a way to bring in letters that will transition with a growing child. The owners of a graphic design studio did this room for their son by projecting the letters on the wall to trace and then paint them.  Again, notice the brown, blue, and white color scheme? With the many shades of blue, you can get a completely different vibe from the same general color scheme.

Pink & Brown Nursery

Lilly's Room on Rate my Space

Similar to the rooms above, brown, pink, and white are very popular for a girl. Keep in mind; you don't have to do a bold color or graphics on the walls to get a breathtaking space. Bringing in bright colors through bedding and accessories will give you a similar feel. Also, popular with girl rooms are chandeliers. I love them! Most girls' nurseries are going traditional yet modern, and very chic.

Jungle Chic Nursery

 

 

Sawyer's Safari on Rate my Space

OK, I added a jungle room. It's seriously a popular theme right now, so it was hard not to find one that I felt could transition very well into a young child or teen room. Uneven stripes are also a big trend.  

If you design smart, and think long term, your child will have a stylish room that others will envy. Choose colors that are bold yet calming, barely there colors just don't cut it anymore. It's all about meshing modern design and chic styling to create an awe-inspiring room. Most of which can be done on a budget and a do-it-yourself mentality!

List of Pregnancy Planning Resources

We understand the overwhelming feeling of needing to learn so much about your new baby and your pregnancy all within a short 9 months.  These are a few resources that will help get you on the right track.    

The following books have been very helpful to me during my pregnancies and in raising my son.

Great Expectations by Jones and Jones

This was the pregnancy book I used with my first. It seemed there wasn't anything that I encountered that I could not find in that book.

 

 

 

 

 

Your Baby's First Year Week By Week by Curtis and Schuler

A friend found this book very helpful and gave it to me after she was done having babies. I also used this book with my first, and then passed it on to my sister-in-law.

 

 

 

 

 

Caring For Your Baby and Young Child by Shelov and Hannemann

A different friend gave me this book after her daughter turned 6 and it has been very helpful in raising my son. There is a wealth of knowledge in this book. I would recommend getting a newer edition for the updated safety guidelines on furniture and baby equipment.

 

 

 

 

 

Online Resources

• http://www.consumerreports.org/ This is a very helpful website. However, you need a subscription. It's $5.95 per month, or $26 for a year. If you only plan to research baby items for a month or two, go with the per month plan. However, you will find that you will look up everything you are about to purchase on this website and a couple months might not be enough.
• http://www.about.com/ Almost every major baby product I have thought about buying has a review or article on this website. Also, a great resource when you have a question about... well, anything.
• http://www.parents.com/ From advice, to baby names, to recalls; you could spend hours browsing through this website.
• http://www.babycenter.com/ I used this site a lot when I had questions during pregnancy. It's better than most user comment websites because they actually have "expert answers" as well.

Let us know of any great resources you have found for pregnancy and baby planning in the comments.  Thanks!