Sunday, March 24, 2013

Planning a Nursery - The Daisy Baby Experience

Planning a nursery can be extremely overwhelming! What do you need? What is safe? How long does it take to get what you want? And in the smaller homes in the DC area... where will everything fit!? There are some great articles out there on planning a nursery (this one from Pottery Barn comes to mind) but they tend to be about basic considerations of safety and logical placement. Which is really useful, of course! But it doesn't tell you what you'll really need for your situation, and when you'll need to get it. Daisy Baby and Kids wants to make planning your nursery easy and fun for you - we're here to help! So, read on for a basic Daisy Baby Timeline... what to do, and when!

 Remember that most pregnancies last about 41 weeks... but anything after 37 weeks is considered within the realm of normal and full-term. So you probably want your nursery ready by 36-37 weeks, just in case. That's how this guide is set - so your nursery is ready at 35 weeks. If you're running late, no worries! Just come on in and we'll see what we can work out for you!

The shop - friendly and bright! Come visit!

Week 21 - Set up an appointment to look at furniture. Bring the measurements of your room, color swatches of anything already in it, and ideas! **Note: this is a good time to decide on and register for your childbirth class as well. Sometimes they fill up fast, and classes like Bradley can take 12 weeks to complete! Also, this is a good time to find a doula - she can help you through the following weeks! (Birth Options Alliance is a really good tool here!)

Newport Cottages cribs are made in the US - if it's not modern, give it some time to be built!
Week 23 - Finalize the furniture order. If you want something custom, or something from a company that hand-makes their furniture, it will take 8-10 weeks. Start looking at bedding! (Of course, you can start this earlier, but this is a good point - you'll know what style you're leaning toward by the furniture you've chosen.) **Note: This is a good time to make sure your room is set up safely, and to paint it in your chosen color!

Bright modern bedding - pick your colors and patterns, we'll make sure it's just what you want!
Week 25 - Finalize your bedding order - again, custom orders can take up to 8-10 weeks.**Note: if you haven't already, make sure you have sorted out your childcare for postpartum, and definitely make sure you've found your pediatrician!

Week 27 - Set up your registry. Most baby showers are between 30-35 weeks, so this is a good time to have that set! We'll help you decide what you need for your situation, so come on in and let's talk about it. We can make recommendations and help you sort through all the baby items to decide which really are "must haves"! Remember that we can put some of your furniture or bedding on the registry, even if it's a custom order. **Note: check out infant and child CPR and First Aid classes - this is a good time to learn those skills!
Want an awesome stroller? Put it on your registry!
Week 35 - relax! Receive all your fantastic baby items, and bask in them... you'll be using them soon! **Note: You may want to cook and freeze meals for after delivery at this point, or look into something like Momme Meals. This is also a good time to look into a postpartum doula, make sure you know a good IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Counselor), or check out The Breastfeeding Center!

After the baby is born - come on in if you need anything or have any questions. We'll be happy to help you sort out how to use your sling, your stroller, your belly bandit. Be sure to bring your little bundle because we love babies. That's in italics because we really, really do. So show off that cute button nose! Hang out in our comfy chair, nurse the babe, let us know how it's going - and just how much you love your nursery!
Even the Baby K'Tan has a learning curve - if you're struggling, we'll help!


Sunday, March 17, 2013

Wall Letters


Many people like to put their child's name on the nursery wall... because they love it, because they want the child to see it, because it's personalized and fun, or just because it's an excellent design element. There are so many ways to do this! We can help whether you want simple letters hanging from ribbons, a paper plaque, a growth chart... whatever you're after, let us know and we'll help you find it. We have many options from the different companies we work with! Check out a few of them right here...

Custom Wall Art Canvases from Doodlefish
Custom Growth Charts and Night Lights from Oopsy Daisy
Hanging Wooden Letters, hanging Fabric Letters, Wooden Blocks and Monogram Wall Plaques from New Arrivals

Wall Stickers and Canvas Wall art from Alphabet Garden
 The above images represent a few of the companies that make custom wall art with your little one's name - Doodlefish, Oopsy Daisy, New Arrivals, Alphabet Garden... this custom art market is ever-expanding, so if you're looking for something unique to represent your babe's name, now is the time!

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Fairy Tale Nursery

Let's have a little fun, shall we? (Well, really, when do we not have fun at Daisy Baby!?) But this time, let's try something different! Here's a nursery inspired by fairy tales... and an image from an antique Cinderella book! If you're wanting something different for your little princess, look no further... here's some inspiration.

Here's Cinderella at the ball with her Prince Charming!
Inspired by the fanciful surroundings, let's go with Art for Kids - what could be more fanciful?

Four Seasons glider, Dresser in Store, Art for Kids Crib
 Sticking with the cream tones of Cinderella's underskirt, we have an Avery Swivel Glider from Four Seasons, a French Dresser from Art for Kids (this setup is in store, come see!), and a Madison Crib with appliqued moulding, done in a crackled French Versailles Cream, also from Art for Kids.
Momeni Rug, Empress Arts Chandelier, Bella Notte Linens
After all those neutrals, let's start branching into some color... the rug is a Habitat rug in blue from Momeni, along with a Delightful chandelier from Empress Arts. The crib linens are from Bella Notte - which you know means silks, linens, velvet and fun textures!

What else would you add? Maybe some more color? This room would be so fun to have!

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Updating The Nursery

We keep promising to let you in on Dana's fabrics for her nursery and plans for her condo... well, we're finally ready to share some!

Dana will be keeping the gray Stokke Sleepi crib she used for Ever, but updating the linens. Since the room was done in gray and turquoise, she can keep those colors, along with adding pops of hot pink - what a combo!  Along with the fabrics, crib, and her white Monte Designs chair, she'll add a chandelier to make it the ultimate modern girly room. (Remember the new baby will be sharing with Ever - see this post!)

The pink pattern will be a bumper, with the creamy minky inside. The gray and turquoise will be for ties and piping - these are also great accent colors! The Empress Arts Chandelier and Stokke crib fit right in with Dana's modern esthetic.
 Let's not forget that the living room and dining room are getting some changes, too, because of the small space design work going on... the living room will be getting new curtains, and potentially a new chair (Four Seasons, perhaps? Their chairs are so squishy comfy!)
Fabric for new curtains on left, new chandelier for dining room on the right
Dana and family are so excited about all the changes taking place... don't forget to check back, and we'll keep you updated!