The first five – and especially the first three years – of a child’s life are the most important. They shape the brain’s organisation, development, and functioning throughout life. There are things you can do right now to amplify it, and it all starts in the child’s bedroom & nursery.
From the moment they are born, babies are constantly absorbing information around them in which visual stimuli is an essential part to this process. A baby’s retina may not be fully formed at birth, but, from the moment they open their eyes their brain begins to absorb this information like a sponge. According to Dr Amanda Gummer, an authority on the likes of child development, play and parenting, 80% of the information their brain receives at this early age comes from their vision. This puts a high emphasis on visual stimulation.
“Surround a baby with soft pastel colours, and you might as well be blindfolding him,” says renowned paediatrician Dr. William Sear
One of the most stimulating contrasts in is fact black and white. It was found that babies looked twice as long at the patterned black and white pictures as they did to solid-coloured ones. This is because these high contrasts register powerfully on a baby’s retina and send the strongest visual signals to the brain – stronger signals mean more brain growth and faster development.
“Researchers have repeatedly shown that newborns prefer to look at black and white geometric shapes, rather than bright colours or pastels.”
“There is much evidence [however] that infants thrive in an atmosphere with bolder colours and striking designs. You can constantly hit a satisfied equilibrium by painting the room in the colours you like and then adding a wall border, mural or some pictures which include black and white designs or strong geometrics that are pleasing and stimulating to the baby”
By just adding a few simple pieces of art to the wall, your nursery can have a blank canvas transformed into a stimulating learning environment, full of exploration.Vinyl decals are a great and safe way to decorate your nursery. Unlike wall hangings, there’s no risk of anything falling on the crib and you can truly transform a room. Whether it’s a jungle scene, owls in trees or a sunken pirate ship, a vinyl sticker can say so much more than a hung picture.
Make it cozy. Kids love to cuddle, so fill your child's room with items she can use to self-soothe, like a large stuffed animal or body pillow to lounge on, or a soft blanket with enough weight to feel like a hug. Bedding, pillows, and rugs should be soft to the touch, of course, so "test-drive" all materials before bringing them into the room.
Natural, simple, pared back. It’s a decorating style that’s catching on as an antidote to our super-busy lives and one that’s made for the nursery. If you want to create a nursery with a sense of calm for baby, keep it simple with a range of natural materials.
Nursery furniture and decor items crafted from wood, wool, and rattan are all widely available in the shops. When mixed with a neutral colour pallet of whites, browns and soft greys it creates a wonderfully calming space, perfect for settling tired little bubs.
