Transitioning Your Child’s Room from Babyhood and Beyond

Transitioning Your Child's Room from Babyhood and Beyond

When you’re expecting a baby, especially your first, it’s always so much fun to pick out the room theme, the furniture and decorative items.  But before you know it, they’re climbing out of that crib & it’s time to move them up to the “big kid” bed.

Planning Your Child’s Room – Crib to Toddler Bed and Beyond:
There are different approaches to planning your infant’s room.  One option is to use a traditional crib and changing table.  

Another option is to pick out your infant’s furniture with a future plan in mind.  Today most cribs convert to toddler daybeds by removing the front gate.   This is a great option because once the crib is converted to the toddler bed, you can still use the crib mattress and keep the child in their fam//iliar surroundings and postpone the purchase of a more expensive mattress. 

As the child approaches 4 or 5 years old, they become too tall for a toddler daybed and must be moved up to a regular size bed.  The good news is that cribs are available that convert to a full-sized bed with the addition of optional adult rails.  However, not all cribs require conversion rails.  Now the decision of which furniture to buy when your child gets older is taken care of!

If you didn’t purchase the type of crib that becomes a full size bed, you have plenty of choices – bunk beds (great for siblings & sleep overs!), beds with storage underneath, trundle beds or the option of a whole new furniture set.  This is a great time to upgrade your set and think of its longevity for future use.

Additional Furniture Pieces:
Once you’ve made your decision on which type crib/bed to buy, consider the other conversion pieces as well.  Instead of the traditional changing table, you might think about a 3 or 4 drawer dresser which features a removable pad to be used as a changing table on the top surface.  Once your infant has outgrown this changing surface, not only do you have a dresser ready to use, you can also add a hutch to the top of the unit to be used as a bookcase or as shelves for additional storage or display.  You might also consider adding another dresser to the room as well as a bookcase and a nightstand.  And later, a desk or hutch for a computer.



Planning the Décor:
Once you’ve made the decision on your furniture, there’s always the room décor to consider.  This is a very personal decision.  Some parents prefer to let their baby be a baby as long as they can while others choose a theme that can easily be carried over to the next phase.  Even the more “babyish” themes can be carried over into the toddler room by adding accessories with the same theme such as a piggy bank, throw pillows, wall hangings or pictures.  Purchase bedding to match the theme & leave the window treatments.  Once you move to the next theme, re-upholstering the fabric or using slipcovers to match this new room can transition even gliders.  

Most importantly, don’t fret over the theme because most children are going to go through several themes before they grow up and leave the house!   Choose your baby’s theme while you still have input! 


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This article supplied courtesy of USA Baby
9380 Prestmont Drive Frisco
972-335-5222

Jungle Babies

Featured in this Shopping Section - Jungle Babies - an online store with an adorable website! ! See below to learn more about them!

 

     http://www.aroundtownkids.com/KSh_ClothingShoes.htm?article_id=527|Jungle Babies| <br>
<b>Owner – Jessica Rothe</b>

Jungle Babies is an online store based out of Plano, Texas, that <b>specializes in high quality, excellent fit apparel for TALL infants & toddlers from newborn to 4 years. </b>  Jungle Babies began in October 2003 and is a proud member of the Plano Chamber of Commerce & Better Business Bureau.

How did the idea for this niche begin?  At home, of course!  Jessica’s own 2 year old son is tall & slim and found it difficult to buy things to fit him.  “So, since I’ve always wanted my own business and believe that there is a true need for my products, I decided to start the company.”

It’s great to have a need and an idea, but some experience and business savvy helps!  Jessica is no newcomer to the field as she has over 13 years retail experience and held several buying positions at Michael’s, wholesale sales for Liz Claiborne and inventory management experience at JC Penney.

In addition to her business background, Jessica designs the clothes & sources all the fabric. She contracts out the grading, cutting and sewing.  Not only are the products Made in America, but as Jessica proudly reveals, they are made here in our own backyard in Garland, Texas!  

<b>Jungle Babies carries a complete line of clothing - playwear, pajamas, special occasion wear and accessories.  </b> Coming in 2005 – clothes for “premies” & petite children as well! Jessica also plans to add a catalog in addition to her online store.

So if your infant or toddler is hard to fit, or you need a gift for a tall infant or toddler, consider Jungle Babies for your next clothing purchase.

SPECIAL: Rompers 2 for $25.00!

Check out their website for more details by clicking on their name above. Or CALL:  (214) 538-9799