quick clicks

iparenting canada articles

iparenting canada q&a

message boards

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Make Way for Baby

Ideas to Create More Space for Your Newest Addition

By Shel Franco

Having a baby is all about making room: Your body makes room for your uterus; your heart makes room for more love; and your family makes room for a new member. All of these changes seem to happen without thought. Too bad making room for the masses of baby gear isn't that easy.

"Whether you're in a three-bedroom house or a one-bedroom apartment, clutter happens," says Derek Groves, a designer at Guenther's in Milwaukee, Wis.

"While few people can afford to buy bigger or add on, they can learn to make the most of the space they have," says Groves. To help your family find order and make room to enjoy Baby, try the following space-creating tips.

You don't have to devote an entire bedroom to such a tiny creature. In fact, your baby could care less whether or not she has her own room. That leaves you with two choices: Baby shares your bedroom or Baby shares a sibling's bedroom. Either way, you'll want to carve out a baby-sized portion of individual space. "Use folding screens covered in great fabrics or tall bookcases to separate the baby from the older child if a bedroom is shared," Groves suggests. "You could also use this technique in the master bedroom if the baby will sleep there."

By separating the room into sleeping areas, you open the door to creative decorating, says Groves. "While it's nice to work with the same color scheme, you can always upholster Big Brother's side of the screen with cowboys and Baby's side with Mother Goose," he says. "At first glance, no one will be the wiser."

Elizabeth Ferree of Yuma, Ariz., found that decorating a shared sleep space wasn't as hard as it seemed. "We put nails in the wall and hung up some stuffed animals around the crib," Ferree says. What could be seen as an unusual sleeping arrangement turned out to have some unforeseen benefits: "Very snug and comfy," she says.

Want to see more?

• Home Style Expert Answers
• Dressing Ceilings to Dazzle
• Clear the Clutter Before Baby Arrives
• Starting the Baby's Room
• Finishing the Baby's Room
• Talk about it!

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.