Set up your baby's nursery for sleep success

[cs_content][cs_section parallax="false" style="margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;"][cs_row inner_container="true" marginless_columns="false" style="margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;"][cs_column fade="false" fade_animation="in" fade_animation_offset="45px" fade_duration="750" type="1/1" style="padding: 0px;"][cs_text]In the months leading up to my baby’s birth, I wasn’t on board with getting the nursery ready. I couldn’t make the mental connection between the baby living in my belly and one that would require a place to play and sleep.So I stalled and, after the doctor put me on bed rest, freaked out that I had a baby coming and he didn’t have a place to sleep. (We already had a bassinet set up in our room, but I didn’t think about that). In a frenzy, I went online to order a crib, rocking chair and every nursery accessory imaginable. As the boxes started to arrive, I realized that there’s no way I needed all of this. How much stuff could a tiny human require!?Turns out, they don’t require much. But that doesn’t stop most parents from wanting to design a nice-looking, comfortable nursery for their little one.Here are my top tips for setting up your nursery to facilitate better sleep:- Triple check that your crib is safety-approved. (The mattress should be too).- Position the crib away from any drapes or blinds with cords, which can pose a strangulation risk. Also avoid placing any framed pictures or shelves on the wall above the crib.- Consider sound: if you live on a busy city street or you have thin walls, then I urge you to use white noise from the get-go. It doesn’t have to be a fancy device, you could use a fan, a radio set on static, or one of the many white noise apps for your smartphone. Trust me on this: white noise is almost always a good choice.- Consider the lighting: you want to create a pitch-black environment when your baby sleeps. If your blinds or curtains aren’t sufficient, I highly recommend investing in blackout curtains. (Pottery Barn has some cute options).- Rethink the mobile. Yes, they're cute. But when your baby is in his crib, you want it to be a stimuli-free environment so he'll sleep more easily. If you do want one, choose a mobile without any music or electric lights--something zen and simple is best.- Need some style inspiration? Lay Baby Lay has gorgeous style boards for every budget and personality.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][/cs_content]