One of the first thoughts that come to mind when you're having a baby is setting up the nursery. More like, setting up your dream nursery. But in reality, having an unlimited budget for the nursery is just not in the cards. Of course you want a beautiful and safe space where you can nurture and care for your little one, but how long will this space suit your growing child's needs? What do you do when in a couple years when baby outgrows the crib?
In a recent study by Kids Today Magazine and Mom Central Consulting's 2013 Children's Furniture Survey, the following key findings were garnered to 900 moms:
- 6 out of 10 moms try to plan ahead and by transitional nursery furniture
- 37% of buyers expect all nursery furniture to grow with the child without purchasing new products
- 3% know they will redesign the entire nursery as child ages
So, if you're not in the lucky 3% bracket, purchasing nursery furniture that grows with your child makes perfect 'cents'!
Which nursery furniture items grow with your child? A convertible crib is by far the norm these days. In fact, 8 out of 10 moms purchased a convertible crib last year. You get the convenient option of converting your baby crib into a toddler bed, day bed and sometimes a full size crib (also known as a college crib).
Below is an example of the Hiya 3-in-1 Convertible Crib by Spot on Square. As you can see, the baby crib is quite nice and easily changes into a toddler bed, then daybed. The modern design looks very stylish and would work well with a hip room decor change.
What items should be kept neutral in the nursery? Most moms consider changing the nursery or room theme in 1 year and 15 months and then again at 2 - 2 1/2 years. Your child's physical and cognitive development within the first 5 years rapidly changes as so will his/her room. Thinking long-term, the items to keep neutral (meaning without design or patterns) while your child grows are:
- nursery walls
- dresser
- lamp chair/glider
- any main furniture
What items can be easily changed throughout the years? You can change decor items without have an Extreme Makeover. Some decor items that can be changed throughout the years could be:
- bedding
- wall art
- curtains
- rug
- pillow on glider
Here is a good example of a nursery that has transitioned into a toddler room from One Cute Nursery:
She is using a Graco Convertible Crib with a nautical nursery theme (definitely a timeless classic). The key behind the easy transition is setting a simple and effective stage with just the right notes to allow the theme to grow with your child.
So when planning your nursery, think long term on how easily your nursery can transition into a toddler room. You'll see a common characteristic in that these types of nurseries often stay away from the cutsie-totsie look, and more towards designs that grow. At the end of the day, it?s entirely up to you, but this is how you can really make your hard-earned dollar work for you.
