Are you worried about your decision of shared bedrooms for your toddler and baby?

Your first born has taken his first steps towards independence, and you’ve decided to welcome another little baby. If your second baby is due while you are still potty training and running after your first, you are allowed to feel overwhelmed.

Decorating the nursery is always a fun experience...as you have the liberty to do what you want with it. However, if the idea is of <b>shared bedrooms for both, your toddler and baby</b>, there will be some key points you need to be aware of.

Relax and ease those palpitations. Decorating a space that is equally appropriate for both baby and toddler can be a wonderful experience. All you need to do is Remember these Three Golden Rules for shared kids room design.

Golden Rule 1: Make the Room Safe

Safe for Baby – If you plan to re-use your first-born’s baby crib, check it for any damages and wear or tear. Invest in a good baby monitor to help you keep track of happenings while you are out of the room. A mosquito net helps keep the bugs out, and stops your toddler from throwing toys in or climbing in himself. Your baby will soon start copying his older sibling. All toys bought for the toddler must be baby safe too.
Safe for Toddler – Whether shopping for a toddler or twin bed for the shared bedrooms, pay special attention to the safety rails. Remember, he can now reach new heights. Even the décor hung or kept at baby safe distance now need to be moved farther away. He can climb onto the rocking chair – keep it away from the windows and keep the windows barred when you leave the room.

 

Golden Rule 2: Make the Room Bright, Cheerful and Lots of Fun

Fun for the Toddler – He has had everything to himself...until now. In the midst of the excitement of the newborn, don’t let him feel neglected. Include him in the decorating process. Make it a fun adventure, buy some new furniture pieces for him – a small table and chair set are a perfect fit. Fun accessories will make the room a place your toddler would love to spend time in...and reduce any resentment towards the new baby.
Fun for the Baby – A soft area rug that defines the baby space (and another for the toddler of course) can be chosen in the theme for the room. Giving the space 2 distinct looks for each of the occupants in the shared bedrooms, gives each a personal sense of belonging – their own private space. To create harmony between the two themes a common kids mural can be painted or stuck on.

 

Golden Rule 3: Solve Conflicts in a Cool but Firm Manner

Calming a Cranky Baby – Babies will cry...especially when they need their sleep. You should talk to your toddler and explain his responsibilities as an older sibling. Don’t expect him to understand and obey at all times though. If he doesn’t sleep on time, either during naptimes or at night, let the baby sleep in your room. Once they are both asleep, shift the baby to his crib.
Calming a Cranky Toddler – Used to being the center of your world, the toddler can get quite irritable when he wants attention but you are busy with the baby. Expect some ups and downs as both kids try to settle down and adapt to the new situation. Keep your cool and keep persevering...the kids will eventually learn to enjoy each other’s company.

 

The trend for young children to share bedrooms (a common trend in many countries around the world) is gaining popularity here in the west. Children not only adapt quickly to each other, they grow closer and enjoy a deep bond that later physical separation also cannot break.

So go ahead and chalk out your plans for that lovely nest to be shared by your toddler and baby...and as the bumps begin to smoothen out, you will see your kids spend more time together and soon leave you in peace (and planning your next baby, perhaps?).

	Bedtime Originals Baby Zoo 4-Piece Baby Crib Bedding Set - Chocolate List Price: $79.99 Sale Price: $66.99
	Baby Zoo 4 Piece Crib Bedding Set from Bedtime Originals by Lambs and Ivy. This nursery set includes a quilted comforter that can also double as a wall hanging, 4-sided crib bumper, fitted crib sheet and dust ruffle...

	Lambs and Ivy Enchanted Forest 6 Pc Baby Crib Bedding Set, Green List Price: $179.99 Sale Price: $140.51
	The Enchanted Forest 6 Piece Baby Crib Bedding Set includes: quilt, bumper, dust ruffle, fitted sheet, window valance and diaper stacker. The quilt measures 35 x 43.5. The bumper is 10 high with single ties in each corner, and 5 sets of double ties along the top and bottom...

	SoHo Butterfly Meadows Crib Nursery Bedding Set 10 pcs **Reversible Into Morden Pink & Brown Polka Dot Designs !** List Price: $189.95 Sale Price: $75.99
	This Set Fits all Toddler Beds and Cribs (Single or Convertible) (USA, UK, AU, Etc..) The Set includes following 10 pieces: * Hand Embroidery Crib Quilt * Hand Embroidery Crib Bumper * Fitted Sheet * Crib Skirt (Dust Ruffle) * 2 pieces of Window Valances * Diaper Stacker * Toy Bag * Baby Pillow * Baby Bib

	Soho Sage & Brown Suede 10 pcs Baby Crib Bedding Set List Price: $189.95 Sale Price: $54.44
	This Soho Sage and Brown baby bedding set features a complementary color palette of baby brown and sage green. The fresh colors and fun patterns make this perfect for any baby room. The adorable accented rich micro suede give this set a wonderful texture...

	Soho Pink & Brown French Toile 10 Pcs Baby Crib Bedding Set List Price: $189.95 Sale Price: $54.99
	This elegant Vintage Pink and Brown French Toile 10 pieces bedding set is made with 100% Cotton Cream Chenille, Ultra soft Textured Sherpa Gingham, and 100% Cotton Vintage French Pink and Brown Toile Fabric...

	NoJo Jungle Tales 6 Piece Crib Set List Price: $184.99 Sale Price: $139.95
	This 6-piece set includes a Quilt, Bumper, Fitted Crib Sheet, Dust Ruffle, Valance and Diaper Stacker. All items are machine washable for easy care. Quilt: White with colorful jungle animal appliquis...

SoHo A to Z Alphabet Baby Infant Crib Nursery Bedding Set 10 Pieces ** Reversible Into 2 Designs ! ** List Price: $129.99 Sale Price: $49.99

This Set Fits all Toddler Beds and Cribs (Single or Convertible) (USA, UK, AU, Etc..) The Set includes following 10 pieces: * Hand Embroidery Crib Quilt and it is Reversible into Classic Sage and sky blue Argyle Print comforter * Hand Embroidery Crib Bumper and it can also Reversible into Classic Sage and sky blue Argyle Print bumper all 4 sided * Fitted Sheet * Crib Skirt (Dust Ruffle) * 2 pieces of Window Valances * Diaper Stacker * Toy Bag * Baby Pillow * Baby Bib

	SoHo Designs Deep Sea Aquarium Baby Crib Nursery Bedding Set, 10 Piece List Price: $158.86 Sale Price: $59.99
	This Set Fits all Toddler Beds and Cribs (Single or Convertible) (USA, UK, AU, Etc..) The Set includes following 10 pieces: * Hand Embroidery Crib Quilt * Hand Embroidery Crib Bumper * Fitted Sheet * Crib Skirt (Dust Ruffle) * 2 pieces of Window Valances * Diaper Stacker * Toy Bag * Baby Pillow * Baby Bib

	GEENNY Designs Brown Blue Star & Moon 13-PCS CRIB BEDDING SET Sale Price: $89.99
	This listing is for a 13 pcs beautiful GEENNY brand new Crib set with all the bundle you will need. This set is made to fit all standard cribs and toddler beds. The whole set comes with 10-pcs set plus 3 New Wall Art Decor Hangings, which comes out as this total 13-pcs bundle...

	Boutique Beautiful Black White Flower & Dot 13PCS CRIB BEDDING SET List Price: $259.99 Sale Price: $89.99
	Product Description This listing is for a 13 pcs beautiful GEENNY brand new Crib set with all the bundle you will need. This set is made to fit all standard cribs and toddler beds. The whole set comes with 10-pcs set plus 3 New Wall Art Decor Hangings, which comes out as this total 13-pcs bundle...

The risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, is dramatically lower among infants who are given pacifiers while they sleep, according to new research conducted by Kaiser Permanente and the National Institutes of Health. The findings are published in the British Medical Journal.

SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants between the ages of one month and one year, claiming between 2,300 and 2,500 lives every year in the United States.

Other Risk Factors

For the latest study, investigators analyzed 185 cases of babies who died from SIDS in 10 Northern California counties and Los Angeles County from 1997 to 2000. They compared the SIDS infants to 312 normal infants of a similar age and from similar socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds.

"Pacifier use has been linked to lower rates of SIDS for some time, but this is the first study to examine this relationship comprehensively and in the context of its interaction with other risk factors for SIDS," says lead researcher De-Kun Li, MD, PhD, of Kaiser Permanente's Division of Research in Oakland.

The protective effect of the pacifier seemed evident even for those infants who were in an adverse sleep environment, such as sleeping face down or on the side, sleeping with a mother who smoked, or sleeping on soft bedding, the researchers found.

Another Strategy

Pacifiers may help protect an infant because the bulky handle stops the baby from accidentally suffocating in heavy blankets or soft bedding, says Li. Also, the pacifier handle may alter an infant's sleep environment by changing the configuration of the airway passage surrounding the nose and mouth, he notes.

In the early 1990s, a broad campaign urging parents to put their babies to sleep on their backs helped reduce the number of SIDS deaths by more than 50 percent.

"We believe that pacifier use may be another strategy for further reducing the risk of SIDS," says Diana B. Petitti, MD, MPH, the lead researcher for Kaiser Permanente's Southern California study site, the Department of Research and Evaluation in Pasadena.

	The First Years Newborn Pacifiers - 2 Pack List Price: $4.79 Sale Price: $3.94
	The First Years Soothie Newborn Pacifier, Packs of 2 (Pack of 4)

	The First Years Soothie Newborn (0-3 months) Pacifiers, Girl List Price: $4.99 Sale Price: $3.75
	The number-one pacifier used in over 2,000 hospitals nationwide--over half the hospitals in the coutnry! Over 2.5 million pacifiers are distributed to newborns each year--this means that more than half the babies born go home from the hospital with a Soothie Pacifier...

	Philips Avent BPA Free Contemporary Freeflow Pacifier, 0-6 Months,Colors and Designs May Vary List Price: $5.99 Sale Price: $5.99
	Philips Avent Contemporary Freeflow Pacifier (0-6 Mo's)

	NUK Silicone Animal Faces BPA Free Pacifier, Size 2, 2 Pack, Colors May Vary List Price: $4.59 Sale Price: $4.59

	Gerber First Essentials Soft Center Latex Pacifier Helps Reduce the Risk of Sids 0M+ #76099 Sale Price: $2.80
	Gerber Soft Center Pacifiers - 1 Pack

	Philips Avent BPA Free Translucent Pacifier, 0-3 Months, Clear List Price: $5.99 Sale Price: $5.99
	ICY Couture Swarovski crystal pacifiers are custom made per your request in any color you wish! Impress everyone with this unique and thoughtful baby bling ;)

	Philips Avent BPA Free Night Time Pacifier, 6-18 Months List Price: $4.99 Sale Price: $3.99
	Philips Avent Nighttime Toddler (6-18 Mo's)

	Gerber NaturalFlex Silicone Pacifier - Pink-green Sale Price: $4.99
	Gerber NaturalFlex Silicone is the only pacifier that flexes like mother's nipple during breastfeeding. Features: Baglet has natural flexing action that is most like mom Flexible shield feels soft and more like mom on baby's face Shield is vented for better air circulation, preventing skin irritation Sized for breastfeeding or weaning babies Includes 2 silicone pacifiers per pack Age: birth +

	Natursutten BPA-Free Natural Rubber Pacifier, Orthodontic, 0-6 Months List Price: $8.95 Sale Price: $7.95
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	NUK Classic Silicone BPA Free Fashion Pacifier, Size 1, 2 Pack, Colors May Vary List Price: $4.59 Sale Price: $2.09

When you go to a baby’s clothing store, blue and pink are not the only options anymore. There are so many clothes to choose from that it might make your head spin trying to find one or two cute outfits. If you’re shopping for a baby shower, finding a set of onesies can be tough if you don’t know the baby’s gender. Some parents want to be surprised while other parents don’t want to pigeonhole their children.

Some mommies-to-be aren’t too keen on the idea of dressing their little girls in completely pink and the same goes for boys and blue colors. There are safe paths you can take when buying clothing, accessories or other items for babies.

1. Clothes: Go for bright solid colors when getting baby clothes. These are gender specific colors. You can get yellow, red or green. These colors shouldn’t offend anyone and babies will look magical as they are strolled down the block in their new outfits.

You can coordinate clothing by buying onesies in similar colors. If you get a green outfit, pick out a lighter green onesie. These clothes will look absolutely adorable on anyone. You can even pick clothing with great designs such as animals or toys. Try not to pick anything with lace and ribbons unless you know it’s a girl and mommy is going to dress her kid in one of these outfits The frilly lace is cute, but not practical. Babies will get their hands on anything and could ruin the delicate fabric.

Look for stripes or polka dotted outfits. Babies look good when they are showing off something different. There aren’t many who can pull off unique styles, but babies look adorable no matter they are wearing.

2. Bedding: There are different choices when it comes to bedding as well. No one says you have to get the cabbage patch collection motif for a girl or a baseball themed-bedding for a boy. There are many neutral crib accessories on the market. Look at the different comforters and sheets to see what can go with any baby. You might look at solid colors such as ivory or cream. These colors go with any baby in any type of room. Check out different themes that are gender neutral such Noah’s Ark or teddy bears. Babies will get a kick out of all of these things.

3. What not to get: Avoid pastels. Many people are drawn to these colors because they are calm and soothing. However, there aren’t many babies that match the aura of pastel colors. In addition, babies love bright and loud colors. Their senses respond better to brighter colors.

If you unsure of the child’s gender, don’t go out on a limb and get them a gender specific item because you are hoping.

If you are ever get lost or don’t know what to get, try getting items that can work for any baby. Babies need so much and not just clothing or bedding. Look at bottles, stuffed animals, towels, toys and everything else. Baby stores are a great place to look around and find what’s out there.

If you're the proud parent of a newborn child, you're aware how many hours a day your child sleeps - but did you know it's roughly 70% of their first year? This is an incredible amount of time indeed. And that being the case, it makes a lot of sense to research your baby nursery bedding... and for that matter, all your baby nursery items for quality and safety.

Don't just assume the products supplied by large retailers are screened for safety before being sold. Recent news has been circulating about how several large retailers have been stocking and selling baby nursery products containing formaldehyde, an outdoor air pollutant. In fact, formaldehyde and other chemicals are used by many companies to keep their fabric products from wrinkling prematurely. Meanwhile it's been proven that these substances can aggravate allergies and other respiratory functions, which can eventually lead to headaches, rashes among other health issues.

Safety regulators usually only test for geometric safety concerns (such as size and distance between pieces, etc) when evaluating baby furnishings, they don't test for chemical or toxic substances. Testing for chemicals isn't part of their safety protocols. The Environment California Research & Policy Center found half a dozen out of 21 nursery furnishings it tested emitted formaldehyde at levels high enough to trigger allergy and asthma attacks in children.

Here are some of the brands that were tested:

Child Craft Oak Crib

Bridget 4-in-1 Crib by Delta

Kala II Changing Table by Storkcraft

Berkeley Changing Table by Jardine Enterprises

Country Style Changing Table by South Shore Furniture

Rochester Cognac Crib by Storkcraft

Be careful if you own one of these high-emission cribs made of composite wood, especially if you live in a smaller apartment/space, because the air contamination level just doubles and guarantees that your child will have asthma. Chronic formaldehyde exposure can also cause cancer in the long term because it is a known human carcinogen.

So what's the solution to all these baby safety concerns? One option is organic baby nursery bedding. What is organic baby nursery bedding you ask? Basically, it means the fabrics were made with cotton that was grown organically, and not exposed to chemical fertilizers or sprayed with additional chemicals during the it's growth. Cotton isn't the only substance used when manufacturing organic bedding though, other fabrics include bamboo and wool, which are also great alternatives to non-organically grown cotton. Bamboo fibers are also found in many organic clothes. Many times the bamboo fibers are mixed with organic cotton to produce clothes and other organic fabric products.

If I haven't scared you away by now, you may be wondering where you can get organic baby nursery bedding. Many online retailers are available, and offer a wide range of options for parents with concerns for their child's health while sleeping. Look for products made with 100% certified organic fabrics made from cotton, wool or bamboo that hasn't been treated with chemicals, formaldehyde or chlorine bleach. This will ensure your baby's health and protect his or her soft, beautiful skin.

I'm looking for crib bedding set for a girl to match the Graco- Mulberry set from Target having a hard time finding a crib set that matches the mulberry set and or the colors running out of ideas and time any help would be greatly appreciated. Does anyone know if or where to find the fabric that matches somewhere so I could have a set made? Have a Blessed Day!