In the summer of last year I wrote an article highlighting some points to consider in your home if you are looking to conceive or are pregnant. (You can read that blog here.) It makes sense to also consider what happens when your efforts with this are successful. So here are a few tips to help you get your new person sleeping like a baby! (Coincidentally that blog was written almost nine months ago.)
With a first baby (or babies – I had twins) it’s a steep learning curve and anything that makes life easier and less fraught is important. Sleep becomes almost an obsession because one thing is clear – if the baby doesn’t sleep, neither do you!
Where to sleep?
Traditional Feng Shui can define the quality of energy in a room. For example, if a room has active energy then it isn’t great for sleeping but is good for working or playing. If a room has quiet energy, then it is ideal for relaxation and sleep. If you’ve have had a Feng Shui consultation, you know that your new arrival is getting the calmest space to sleep. The most supportive direction for sleep and health is calculated too. This creates a much stronger a starting point.
If you have your newborn in a separate room to you, then you should consider the size of the room. Generally, babies and young children feel more comfortable in small rooms. They’ve been in tight accommodation for 40 weeks, and they won’t feel secure in a large, airy space.
Room Layout
The position of the cot is also key. You want to be able to reach the baby as quickly as possible so the cot is often positioned just inside the room, in line with the door. However, this creates a path of direct energy from the door to the cot. This is too much for a baby who won’t sleep easily as a result.
It’s best to tuck the bed behind the door or at least place the cot so that the baby’s head is away from the door. You could position furniture between the cot and the door. This will slow down the energy and help create a protected space.
If the room is large, then it’s a good idea to section off a space to achieve a cosy nook.
It’s also best not to place the cot underneath a window as this isn’t sheltered.
If your baby is sharing your room, position the cot or bassinet on the side of the bed furthest away from the door. Take care that it is out of line of any mirrored wardrobes. (Mirrors stimulate energy, so this will be unhelpful when it comes to sleeping.)
Decoration
It’s tempting to create an exciting room to stimulate a baby’s imagination. However, the colour scheme in a nursery or child’s bedroom shouldn’t be too vibrant as this will work against your efforts to get them to sleep. For this reason, soft neutral colours are best for walls.
It’s a good idea to define/separate sleep spaces from play areas so that babies and young children don’t get mixed messages.
Lighting
Lighting shouldn’t be too harsh. Obviously, you need task lighting. You don’t want to change a nappy without being able to see what you’re doing but very bright lighting isn’t suitable for the whole room.
Personally, I found that some of the rotating lanterns were too fast for my small people. They did the opposite of lulling them off to sleep. I’d recommend caution when choosing gadgets for the nursery.
If you want to chat through any layout issues or send me some feedback on using these tips, please drop me a line: maria@dynamicspaces.co.uk
There are lots of other lovely gentle ways to help babies with sleep including massage and aromatherapy. Jo Kellett at From the Seed would be a good source of advice on this: http://www.fromtheseed.co.uk/
The earlier Pregnancy and Conception blog is found here: https://dynamicspaces.co.uk/2017/10/492/