Neon is hot! Energizing, bright colors are the trend, and neon has made its way into baby clothes and nursery decoration. Trendy parents-to-be have started adding fluorescent pops of colour to their basic palette. When planning your baby’s nursery, how will you go about choosing nursery colors?

Research has been done on how color affects mood, and you can use this information to plan a nursery to best suit your needs. Your baby may not even notice the red walls, but they may be too distracting for you. Blue walls, though, might be calming when you’re in the room for nighttime nursings. Here’s what a rainbow of colors can do for you:

Red is passionate, bold, exciting and it attracts a lot of attention. Use it as an accent color rather than a wall color, as it might pull out your baby’s volatile side.

Orange is warm and cozy. It inspires comfort and closeness. An orange accent wall may be just what your nursery needs.

Yellow is cheerful and energetic. Tired in the morning after the 3am feeding interrupted your sleep. Maybe yellow nursery walls will energize you to get your day started. Too much yellow, though, can cause agitation – tone it down or use it as an accent.

Green is calming. It’s refreshing and serene, and promotes concentration and thinking. You can’t go wrong with this color from nature.

Blue can be soothing and cooling, but can also be depressing. So choose shades with less gray and more yellow or white.

Purple can be the color of royalty (if dark), or can be a shade that is more calming and serene (if pastel). Whichever you choose, it’s a luxurious choice.

White signals innocence – but remember it has to be clean. Maybe not the best choice for baby. Consider white as a base color.

Black is powerful, and signals strength. But it’s also very dark and should be limited to accents in a room with lots of natural light.

So what are you going to do? Decorate your nursery with neon coloured children’s wall stickers? Or brighten up your crib or cot with some soothing light green fabric? Maybe you’ve already started knitting some little yellow socks to inspire energy and cheer?

Let us know what you think!

Written by Team Health & Parenting 

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

If you are like many people – having a baby changes your living arrangements quite a bit. So many people find out that their family will be growing and immediately jump the gun and start looking for a bigger home or a bigger car in order to accommodate having a baby. Is this really necessary?  If you live in a one room apartment does your baby need a nursery? Is your two-door car suddenly too small for a baby?

Long gone are the days when young parents would make do with what they had and work towards the bigger and better things in life as their children grew older. Today, it is typical for expectant couples to get a new car or buy a new house because they think that they will NEED these things when the baby arrives. The reality is that your baby needs very little in the first year with the exception of TLC.

Your baby will not notice that they don’t have a room, and they certainly won’t recognize the new car smell or be mobile enough to enjoy a playroom all of their own. Heck, most babies don’t even need a closet and can get by with a dresser during the first few months of life. Plus, there’s a good chance that even if your baby had a room of his or her own – they might be sleeping in the corner of yours anyways.

Jumping the gun and adding expenditures and bills to your life will only make things more stressful in the long run. It is completely possible to renovate a one bedroom apartment to give your baby ample space for a crib or place of their own. Plus, you may decide once you have a baby that you don’t want to rush back to work – yet if you have a big new house and new car, you will not have a choice but to do so. Having a baby changes many things.  And certainly the mark of a good parent is not the size of the house that you live in nor the kind of car that you drive. If you are worried about school districts – remember that you have several years to ponder that question as well.

My advice to you is to make things as simple as possible. The first year will go so fast! If you can ensure that you enjoy getting to know your baby and realize that things are not important to a newborn, you will certainly make better memories for yourself.

There may come a day when you outgrow your home, or your car. When that time comes, deal with it. But until then keep your life as simple as possible and cherish the moments you have together.

Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @Momspirational

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

It’s safe to say, we’re all a little bit more aware of our impact on the planet these days. From the methane created by farming cows, to the air miles used in the production of our new dress, we spend a lot of time feeling guilty. If you’ve ever worked out your carbon footprint, you’ll be surprised how much it increases once you add children into the mix.

In fact, while you’re running about buying baby baths, onesies and bibs, your unborn child is running up a quite substantial carbon footprint of their own. And they’re not even walking yet. If you’re hoping to raise an environmentally conscious child, you can start now by leading a good example. When choosing items for your baby’s nursery, follow the steps below to create an eco nursery for your baby (and his teeny tiny carbon footprint) to enjoy.

1. Use eco paints – the average paint (even water based) contain volatile organic compounds, chemicals and fungicides. It hardly sounds like something you want to house your baby in, does it? Eco paints are made with natural ingredients. Some eco paints are greener than others, so do some research to find the most sustainable paints before you buy. Eco paints come in a variety of colours, and are just as durable as conventional paint.

2. Furnish with love – when choosing your furniture, look for solid wood. Veneers and laminates are likely to contain a number of harmful chemicals that may be released over time. Reuse and recycle are important core messages of eco living, so consider using second hand furniture in the nursery. Your friends or family may have a chest of drawers you can have, or you might pick up a bargain at your local second hand shop. Second hand furniture can be sanded down and repainted (with eco paint) to make it look as good as new. Wear protective gear when sanding, and be sure any hand-me-down pieces meet today’s safety standards.

3. Go organic – when choosing a mattress for your baby, choose organic. Your baby will spend around 14 hours a day on the mattress, and non-organic ones contain chemicals and toxins that may be harmful for your baby to breathe in. Once you’ve selected an organic mattress, it makes sense to use organic bedding too. You should be able to find organic bedding for around the same price as non-organic bedding, so there’s really no excuse not to buy it.

4. Eco toys – you’ll probably want some toys to fill the nursery, but these don’t have to be the battery powered plastic toys that seem to flood the market. These toys often have a relatively short life cycle, and soon end up in landfill. By choosing wooden eco toys, you can give your baby toys that will last. From organic cuddly animals, to wooden instruments, your baby won’t be missing out by owning eco toys. You can find lots of great baby toys at your local charity or thrift shop too, so keep your eyes open for a great find.

5. Keep it clean – once you’ve spent time and money creating the perfect eco-bubble for your precious bundle, there’s no point coating it in harmful chemicals in the name of cleaning. Track down some organic cleaning products to use in the nursery, not only are these better for the environment but they will protect your child from coming into contact with potentially harmful chemicals.

No one is expecting you to do it all, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a few eco purchases. Every eco decision, no matter how small, will have a positive impact on your family’s carbon footprint and, ultimately, the planet.

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Enrolling your child in daycare is a pretty huge parenting milestone. It is quite often one fraught with worry and anxiety, as you try to find the right daycare for your child. You may feel nervous about leaving your baby with strangers, and feel worried about how your baby (and you!) will cope with the separation.

Daycare can be an enriching, engaging and exciting environment for babies and toddlers. The range of activities on offer, regular routine and abundance of other children to play with mean many young children love daycare. Many babies and toddlers form strong bonds with their daycare key workers, allowing them to enjoy a strong attachment with an adult outside of the family.

Picking a daycare for your child may not be easy. Some parents just ‘know’ as soon as they walk into the right setting, but for others it can take months of deliberation to settle on the perfect daycare. However you decide to approach this decision, here are five important things you should consider:

1. First impressions

First impressions are important. As a parent, you’ve probably gotten quite good at trusting your gut instinct. Sometimes it’s not quite possible to put your finger on why something doesn’t feel right, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore that bad feeling in the pit of your stomach. Think about your first impression. Does it seem like a happy place? Do you feel welcomed? Do you like the staff? It’s not just your first impressions that matter, think about how your baby reacts too. Does he seem happy and content in the new environment? Does he respond well to the staff members during your visit?

2. Observations

Pay attention during your visit, you can learn a lot about a place by simply observing what’s going on around you. What are the children doing during your visit, do they look happy and engaged? How are the staff responding to upset or clingy children? Are they looking after the children in the way you would like them to take care of your own baby? Are the children being properly supervised? How are staff handling undesirable behaviour?

3. The basics

It would be lovely to choose the daycare based solely on whether you love it, but in reality, there are other things to consider. Costs can add up, so you’ll need to do your sums and work out whether the daycare you like is within budget. Find out whether meals and diapers are provided, or whether you’ll need to buy these yourself, as this may affect the total cost. Do the daycare hours fit well with your work schedule? What happens if you’re late for pick up because of bad traffic or a late running train? Is the daycare easy to get to? These may not be the most glamorous of questions, but it’s important to consider them when making your decision.

4. Recommendations

One of the best ways to find out what a childcare setting is really like, is to speak to other parents. A personal recommendation is worth a lot, so find out what other parents think about the daycare. If you don’t have any friends with children at the daycare. you could wait outside at drop off or pick up time and see if any of the parents can spare five minutes to tell you what they think. This way, you’ll get an unbiased opinion based on experience, which will give you something to go off when deciding where to send your child.

5. The day to day

Facilities and activities can vary greatly between different childcare settings. Some may have amazing outdoor spaces, whereas others may invest more time and effort in trips outside the daycare gates. Newer settings may have better equipment, and some settings focus more on structured activities than others. Which of these matters most to you will depend upon what you think is most important (and more enjoyable) to your child. Find out how much time the children spend outside, and the sorts of activities the children engage with during a typical day. Are they free to play as they wish, or is there an element of structure within the day? How is undesirable behaviour dealt with, and does the answer compliment your parenting style?

Have you chosen a daycare setting for your child? And if so, what were the most important aspects to consider when making the decision?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

The average cost to raise a child is thought to be around $250,000, but you’ll be relieved to hear you don’t need to spend all of that on the nursery. In fact, you can create a stylish nursery without blowing your budget. That’ll leave you plenty of money for the shiny red bicycles, family holidays and college tuition of the future. You may have had the nursery finished since before you even gave birth, but if you decided to wait until your baby was ready for his own room, these handy hints might come in useful. Here are five tips to help you create the nursery of your dreams without breaking the bank:

1. Go timeless

The key to good decorating is longevity. If you choose a style that is timeless, you’ll get to enjoy it for longer and won’t be in any hurry to redecorate. In a nursery, this means choosing a design that will grow with your child. You might be surprised at just how quickly your child can outgrow cartoon animal decorations. One way round this is to use temporary decorations such as wall stickers which can be easily updated as and when you want a new look. Use wall stickers, decorative knobs and wall prints to add the details to your baby’s bedroom. These can be easily updated when necessary and you won’t have to strip wallpaper or repaint for a fresh look.

2. Value practicality

There is an overwhelming urge to create the most beautiful nursery the world has ever seen, but you need to make sure it’s practical as well. While your Pinterest board may be filled with breath-taking nurseries, the rooms themselves may not really be the easiest to live in. During the design process, it’s important to imagine how the room will be used. If you’re planning to have your diaper station in there, you’ll need wipes, diapers and a diaper bin all within easy reach. If you’re planning to breastfeed in there, you’ll need a comfy chair and some form of entertainment at hand to keep you awake during those 3am feeds.

3. Wait and see

With six months of parenting under your belt, you’re probably well acquainted with the fact that you don’t need to own every baby product on the market. In fact, you probably already have a cupboard full of seemingly pointless baby products you never quite got round to using. To avoid spending more money on pointless junk, take a wait and see approach to the nursery. Don’t buy the things you think you should buy, instead buy the things you actually need. Wait and see whether you really do need something before forking out your hard earned money on it.

4. Shop second hand

Buying second hand items for the nursery can save you a small fortune. Many baby products are only used for a short time and so can be picked up second hand in really good condition. You can buy pretty much anything second hand, though there are certain baby products (such as car seats and cot mattresses) that need to be brand new for safety reasons. Look on local selling sites, in thrift stores and at car boot sales to see how much you could save. To save even more, try borrowing items from friends and family members. This way, you won’t have to spend any money and will be able to return the items when you’re done, saving you plenty of space in the loft!

5. It’s all about organization

As you may be aware, kid’s bedrooms can get messy real quickly. While you may look at your adorable six month old baby and think that’s unlikely, it won’t be long until the baby grows into a toddler. And toddlers, you may have heard, are pretty good at wreaking havoc. They’re good at emptying drawers, tipping up toy baskets and throwing soft toys around the room. The key to preventing a disaster zone is organization. Make sure everything has a place and that everything is easy to tidy away. Toy baskets and storage buckets are good ideas for the nursery and will allow your child to find what she wants to play with.

Is your nursery primed and ready to go or are you still putting together the finishing touches?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.