The baby should have the very best - beautiful, comfortable and safe. Comfort and practicality are important for a crib, because this is the main element in the life of a newborn, where he spends the first months of his life. Ready-made cribs with all the components (canopy, blanket, mattress, bumpers and pillow) look aesthetically pleasing, but not unique. And by decorating these attributes with your own hands, you will not only receive exclusive items, but also fill the abode of your newborn baby with good positive energy.
Canopy
Yes, it collects a lot of dust and needs regular washing. But in its absence, this dust ends up on the soft objects of the crib, and the baby breathes it. It is advisable to make a canopy for a nursery from natural fabric:
- muslin;
- silk veil;
- cotton voile;
- silk organza;
- chiffon.
The frame for the canopy can be located around the perimeter of the crib or at its head. The design can be floor-standing, resting on the headboard or attached to the ceiling or wall. Such designs are sold separately, but they can be made with your own hands using slats, metal frames, profile cornices, etc.
Outside, you can make a cheerful decor with butterflies from contrasting weightless fabric, ruffles, lace or thermal appliqués.
Musical mobile
These are spinning toys with musical accompaniment, attached above the head of the crib. It is quite difficult to make such a unit with your own hands - you need a motor. But it’s easy to buy ready-made in a store and make a creative design. The decor can be made from funny little animals, stars, snowflakes or any other hand-sewn toys. This is original, interesting and safe (use quality fabric):
- Cotton: fleece;
- satin;
- calico;
- chintz;
- flannel.
Suitable for filling bulky toys:
- Synthetic fluff.
- Sintepon.
- Ordinary or surgical cotton wool.
- Scraps of fabric.
Bed options for boys
Wooden or metal cribs are generally chosen, both in dark and subdued boyish shades such as brown, gray or blue, and in lighter colors of blue, white or green.
Cradles are often equipped with comfortable wheels, soft sides, which are decorated with images of cars or boats, interesting hanging rattles for games and mood, and are also equipped with a musical mobile with airplanes, rockets or funny little animals.
The photo shows a room for a newborn boy with a white crib equipped with wheels.
Bed dress
Blanket and mattress pad
Patchwork quilts will look original, and bright drawings will amuse the baby. Pieces of geometric shapes (stripes, squares, triangles) are sewn into a single motley fabric. When choosing materials for a nursery, you need to focus on natural fabrics:
- chintz;
- calico;
- linen;
- fleece;
- flannel (it is best: soft and hygroscopic, easy to care for).
A waterproof mattress protector is often purchased for a crib mattress, but you can also do it yourself. Cover the oilcloth base with soft flannel, chintz or knitwear, add wide elastic bands at the corners and put it on the mattress.
Volumetric and flat
You can resort to a flat patchwork technique, or you can design volumetric segments. For filling, use the same materials as for toys (except for scraps of fabric). Fill the hollow squares with padding polyester or padding polyester - and an original blanket or mattress cover for the nursery is ready!
Quilted things look interesting. Two fabric sheets are folded, with filler between them. They are stitched along the edges, then decorative stitch markings are applied and sewn on a machine. It is not difficult and original, and it is also possible to make things of non-standard sizes with your own hands.
Pillow
Pillows for newborns and infants should not be bulky - this interferes with the formation of the cervical spine. There are special butterfly pillows: voluminous at the edges and with a recess in the center, they provide soft fixation of the newborn’s head without changing the natural curve of the neck. You can easily make such a pillow with your own hands, using special latex, cotton wool, padding polyester or buckwheat husks for filling. Buckwheat makes a rather pleasant dull rustling sound, but the baby may not like it.
Sides
For soft sides, you can choose to design them with cotton fabric or felt appliqué. The main thing is not to use tiny parts and sew every little thing firmly: rest assured, the baby will try to tear off the applique when he can reach it.
Crib frame
Dye
The decor of the backs of a baby crib provides a wide field for creativity. You can decorate it with an original ornament, a floral pattern, stylized as art deco, or a print of cartoon characters. Adding paint is an easy way to add something interesting to ordinary children's furniture. Decorating with acrylic or silicone paints is harmless: they dry quickly and have virtually no odor.
Applications
The decor looks original with ready-made applications on a self-adhesive base - they are very easy to use and stay on the surface for a long time. Many different print options, from various patterns to everyone’s favorite heroes of domestic and foreign cartoons. You should not use rhinestones and stones: they are quite easy to peel off, tear off and swallow. Children are curious, they want to taste everything, be it iridescent rhinestones or sparkling mother-of-pearl stones.
Bed sheets
Embroidery design is important for him. You should not decorate with textile paints: over time, they begin to peel off and fly around. Handmade embroidery in the corners of pillowcases, sheets and duvet covers has long been used as amulets for children. It can be a simple ethnic pattern or a full-fledged complex embroidery. The main thing is that it does not disturb the baby. Bead embroidery looks impressive, but can injure the baby.
Decorative elements should be practical, harmless and easy to wash. You should refrain from small details for the first four years: glued eyes of homemade toys, small interior parts, buttons and beads. A newborn baby needs natural materials that are hypoallergenic and hygienic, contain a minimum of chemicals and are free of toxicity.
Types of beds for babies
Thanks to the huge variety of models, a nursery for a newborn can be decorated with both a classic cradle and a technologically advanced modern crib.
With pendulum mechanism
A crib with a pendulum mechanism will rock the baby to sleep on its own with a slight push. Modern products can have a programmable pendulum, which allows the mother, using the remote control, to set the desired duration and amplitude of motion sickness.
Bedside
It is a very convenient solution that allows you to place the child’s sleeping place next to the parent’s bed. The possibility of installing the side in the previous position will allow you to turn the model into a classic crib.
The photo shows a white bedside cradle for a newborn in a bedroom interior.
Rocking bed
Perfect for little ones who can't sleep without motion sickness. Such products can also be converted into regular beds with legs.
Transformer
Due to the versatility of the transformable bed and additional elements, it can easily be converted, for example, into a desk with two chairs or a mini-sofa.
Cot-playpen
It is a lightweight portable prefabricated structure, which is distinguished by the presence of a wooden or plastic bottom and high fabric sides with mesh inserts.
With built-in furniture
A functional model, complemented with a changing table, a small chest of drawers for children's clothes or drawers for toys, will significantly save space in a small room.
The photo shows a crib for a newborn, with a built-in chest of drawers and a changing table.
Cradle
Compact and cozy wall-mounted and floor-mounted cradles, decorated from the inside with soft and eco-friendly material, will give a newborn baby a sense of security and are perfect for babies from birth to six months of age.
