The perfect baby room

I bet that when she found out she was expecting, she spent weeks and months thinking about her baby's room. She must have fantasised a lot about decorations, colours, plushies, maybe even a theme for the room.

If I had known as much as I do now about children's sleeping habits and needs when I was pregnant, I could have saved a lot of time and money.

The three words that best describe the perfect baby room are:

Dark, pleasantly cool and boring, very boring.

I know how tempting it is to fill your baby's room with fluffy soft toys, cuddly stuffed animals, pictures, and how much fun it will be for your baby to look at them before falling asleep, right?

Well, the answer is no.

I mean, they may appeal to her, but they certainly don't promote a good night's sleep for the same reasons we don't take the iPad to bed. Stimulating and stimulating, they are not conducive to sleep at all. In fact!

So what should the children's room look like?

Let it be dark

I mean totally dark. Blind dark. Some blackout curtains or blinds are a much better investment than a colourful mural. Also, if possible, always keep the baby in the same place, don't move his cot.

Pleasantly cool

It may sound cool at first, but studies show that babies sleep best in a room with a temperature between 18°C and 21°C. Obviously, then, if you find that your baby specifically prefers a warm temperature, you should of course follow your baby's needs. I believe that a warm, comfortable sleeping bag often results in better sleep than a warm blanket.

Comfortable

Babies sleep almost half the day, so a good quality mattress is a good investment. Your baby will spend most of their time in it.

Boring

Music and soft lights, pictures of Disney heroes, swirling colours and little plastic fish - all of them seem to have a calming effect on a baby, but quite the opposite. They are all distracting and stimulating to your little one. (Of course, stimulating little ones is important, but not in the bedroom.) Blank walls and easy access to changing space are the best decor choices for your baby's bedroom.

I know this probably sounds a bit dry to many prospective new parents. But remember, this room serves a vital function in your baby's daily life and it's a quiet, relaxing environment that allows them to get the amount of sleep they need.

Don't worry, there will be plenty of opportunities later on to decorate your child's room as a teenager