Tips for Building a Nursery

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For parents expecting their first child, many daunting tasks lay ahead. But even before the baby is born, several things need to be addressed. One of the biggest is creating a room for the child. For many first-time parents, this can be a difficult task, as their home is likely not equipped with a room that's ready for the family's soon-to-be newest addition. However, converting that spare room or office into a child's nursery can be easier than it sounds.

• The walls: One of the first things to address is the walls, and whether or not to paint or wallpaper them. Many parents find painting to be the easier and more flexible option. The flexibility of paint allows the room to be easily redone once the child has reached the toddler stage, when he or she might want a new look. Wallpapering can be a difficult and arduous task, one that you likely won't want to do again any time soon.

• The floors: Chances are, you'll want some insulation on the floor, be it wall-to-wall carpeting or an area rug. Whichever option you choose, make sure it's stain resistant, as kids tend to make a mess. If you already have wall-to-wall carpeting, you can cover certain spots with area rugs to help minimize the amount and effects of potential stains.

• The bottom line: Oftentimes, first-time parents spend lots of money on items for a nursery, such as furniture, that their child will quickly outgrow. Soon thereafter, these expensive items are rendered useless, unless you plan on having another child in the near future. Save yourself some money (you'll need it) and consider purchasing some items secondhand (if they are relatively new and still meet stringent safety requirements). If not secondhand, buy items that can make the transition along with your child from infant to toddler. Instead of a dressing table, buy a larger dresser that can double as a dressing table. The larger dresser can then be used for storage as well, maximizing both the room's space and the furniture's functionality.

• Safety: Arguably the most important thing to consider is the safety of the room. How safe a room is can depend on a number of things, such as positioning of the crib. Kids can be a curious lot, and parents always worry about them climbing out of the crib and risking their safety. Cribs should not be positioned near windows, where window cords are easily accessible and where parents run the risk of having their children possibly climb out the window.

Another safety concern is any items, such as a dirty diaper basket or toy box, that have lids. Should a child climb into such an item, they could be trapped inside if the lid closes. In general, keep items with lids out of the room until the child is big enough to not climb into them.