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While many new parents have been there before, be it with their own children or a friends (or relative’s child) parenting classes really can still make a huge difference.

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Most of us, when we dream about having a baby, imagine how we’ll decorate the baby’s room.  Perhaps we’re partial to Winnie-the-Pooh or Noah’s Ark, or even the classic pink-for-girls/blue-for-boys schemes. 

Maybe real life bursts our dream bubble right around then, and we realize that the cost of paint, furniture, wallpaper, and a bajillion diapers really adds up.  For example, DH and I ended up decorating our first baby’s nursery in two complimentary themes.  There was “Can we get a crib in here with all these books?” with accents of “Crap from Grandma’s basement.”

But still, nothing softens our hearts like a pretty little themed room.  Friends of mine did their grandchildren’s room in a wonderful Peter Rabbit theme, and it’s so lovely I don’t know how they allow kids in there.  I could just sit in there (or stand–I wouldn’t want to wrinkle the PR bedpsread).

I have some suggestions for creating a themed nursery, even if money is tight. 

• Choose early, and stick to it.  It’s all in the planning. 
• Choose gender-neutral themes.  Peter Rabbit, Winnie-the Pooh, biblical themes (Noah’s Ark, Good Shepherd, etc), nature, clouds, animals, teddy bears, alphabet are good for both boys and girls.  Avoid pink and blue (after all, ultrasounds can be wrong!)

Make a list.  If you have 7 months between finding out you’re pregnant and putting the baby in the nursery, you have plenty of time.  Count how many paychecks you have coming between now and your due date.  Buy one thing with each paycheck.  Paint, then wallpaper borders, then curtains, then crib sheets, then framed photos, then stencils, then changing table covers, then a lamp… you get the idea.  The whole thing costs a lot, but piece by piece, not so much.

• 

  Penguin lamp

  Register!  Babies-R-Us, Target, Wal-Mart…almost every place has a baby registry, and everyone wants to do a little something for you.  Let them buy the $15 penguin lamp you’re dying to put next to the crib.  Let them buy the framed poster of Lambchop.  They want to, so let them!  Just make sure they know what you want, or who knows what you’ll end up with!

With planning and thought, your baby can have a soothing, stimulating room–one both you and your baby love to spend time in.

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