Best Way to Create a Stimulating Environment for Your Baby’s Room

Gradually, your entire home will become child-oriented, but your baby’s room will probably be the most entertaining play area. Babies learn through play, so provide an environment that’s both safe and stimulating. A newborn is only able to focus on objects eight to twelve inches away, but by three months a baby is able to focus on objects a few feet away.

Stimulating Your Baby

Use as much color in your baby’s room as you like (wall paint, curtains, wall hangings, patchwork quilts, printed crib sheets, and so on). Infants see red, yellow, and black-and-white images best, and they love faces, especially ones with prominent eyes. Dress your baby in bright, patterned outfits, and put them on yourself occasionally for fun and to stimulate your baby.

• Decorate a wall with a montage of baby congratulation cards, or frame some cards to hang separately.
• Fasten bright decals on the insides of the bassinet, crib, and stroller. Make sure you remove them before your baby is old enough to pull them off and put them in his mouth.
• Hang pictures of smil­ing babies. Babies seem to recognize and love these faces.
• Hang some cute plastic place mats or other decorative items on the wall.
• Put a colorful poster, kite, or piece of wallpaper on the ceiling above the changing table. Or hang an inflated punch ball balloon.
• Place a small corkboard near the changing table so your baby can enjoy your older child’s artwork.
• Hang your baby’s development calendar near the changing table to record major milestones and other significant moments.
• Keep a music box in your baby’s room, or hang wind chimes outside your baby’s window.
• Put your baby’s infant seat in locations that allow him to see as much of the household activity as possible without being in danger.
• Hang some toys and rattles on your baby’s crib using snap-on shower curtain rings. Or attach the rings to an infant seat or car seat in place of more expensive plastic play links. The rings can be also used to lock cupboard doors when your baby gets mobile.
• Cut off sections of old socks or tights that have multicolored bands, and use them as baby wristbands. As your baby moves his hands, the colorful wristbands will capture his attention.
• Use Velcro strips to attach small stuffed animals to the chang­ing table or horizontal crib bar.
• Decorate your baby’s room with brightly colored potholders. They’re safe and can eventually be used in the kitchen.

• Decorate your baby’s highchair with colorful pictures and decals. Cover them with a clear, protective material (such as Contact paper) to help them last longer.
• Baby mobiles are terrific, but they can be a danger once a child can stand and grab them. After six months or so, move them to ceiling hooks to keep them out of reach.
• Entertain your baby with a wadded ball of transparent tape. Make sure the ball is larger than a toilet-paper tube so your baby can’t swallow it or chew pieces off.