Involving Big Brother or Sister in Decorating the Nursery

Having a new baby is a wonderful experience. If this is not your first child, you’ll be excited to include your other children in all aspects of bringing the baby into your family. Decorating the nursery is a fun family project that helps your children to adjust to the idea of a new baby. It also allows them the freedom of adding their personal touch to the baby's nursery and the chance to feel “big” and important.

Your children can be involved in each aspect of decorating the baby’s nursery.

Paint Color: Narrow down your paint choices to two or three colors that you love. Then, allow your children to select the color of paint for the nursery walls from those options. They’ll tell everyone they meet “I picked out the paint color” long after the baby is born.

Bedding: Include your children when picking out the bedding and accessories for the room. If you can narrow down the choices, and are fairly flexible, then allow the children to make some of the final decisions.

Hands on Work: When the actual decorating of the nursery begins, allow the family to help with all the hard work, too. Everyone can work together to clear the room before painting. Children also love to help put anything together that requires assembly. (Just be cautious with children still in the choking hazard stage.)

Little Artists: Want to make your kids’ day? Let them contribute all the artwork for the nursery. This in where your children can really shine. Purchase paints and a blank canvas for each of your children. Encourage your kids to paint art to display on the nursery wall. If your children are a bit too young for paint and canvas, sit down with them and color pictures to frame and place on the walls of the nursery. If you have already chosen a name for your new arrival, draw and decorate the letters of the baby’s name, and hang each letter in its own frame.

Welcoming a new baby is an adjustment for everyone involved. Make it a fun and memorable time leading up to welcoming the newest member of your family. You’ll look around the nursery that was created with love, and tell your new baby how lucky he is to be part of such a special family.