As a part of the adoption process, we have to set up a nursery before we have our profile ready for the birthmothers. The idea is that they will see that we are ready for their baby to come home and live with us if we have something already started. The hard part is setting up the nursery for a baby that has no gender.
I know that this has been done time and time again by those who love the surprise in the moment of delivery... you know that "It's a BOY!" or "It's a GIRL!" moment. Well, can I just say that I'm not that person? If I had the option - I would have found out the moment that they could have told me - just so that I could plan the perfect nursery based on their gender... no dice on this one.
So with the idea that I am probably going to borrow some bedding from a friend for the photo - I have no idea what it looks like, but our friends that just adopted used it... and no longer need it... and hey, maybe we can consider it lucky?
But other than that... what would tell you that we're ready? What sorts of things would you put in there for this photo op?
I'm thinking:
Crib
Changing Table
Dresser?
Bedding
1 pack Wipes
1 pack Diapers?
1 set of baby bath products
1 small pack of bottles
Anything else?
Should I paint it? Or wait until I know what the final bedding will look like?
What would you do in this situation?
Did anyone out there set up their nursery completely without knowing their baby's gender?
Decisions, decisions... HELP!
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As you know we have a boy and a girl so our nursery was pretty neutral. We went with an ABC theme and bright primary colors. We had bumpers and dust ruffles on the cribs. I got some wooden letters and numbers and painted them the primary colors and hung them on the wall. I found a curtain that had primary stripes in it for the window. There are lots of neutral themes you could do I especially love yellow, black and white. My cousin recently did that in her nursery. I am sure what ever you do it will look great and ready for baby.
ReplyDeleteI get the idea, but it seems kind of cruel to have you guys set up a nursery in anticipation... to kind of live with a nursery that's just hanging out and waiting for a while seems weird. But hey, this is all new to me! I guess you'll need to decide if you're going to re-do the nursery once you know the gender. If you're definitely going to paint a gender-specific color, then obviously wait. But you can keep the walls neutral no matter what the sex! I already know how we're going to decorate--mostly black and white, and then we'll do accents in either pink or blue. I could do the whole nursery without knowing the sex by doing green for an accent or something, so I guess it depends on how gender-specific you want the decor to be when all is said and done. :)
ReplyDeleteI would put in a rocking chair if you have one and if you wanted to put anything on the walls you could use removable wall art like uppercase living stuff. I am so with you on having a hard time doing gender neutral stuff. I can't wait to see pictures. Good luck!!!
ReplyDeleteI somewhat agree with Meghan, but I get what they're trying to do.
ReplyDeleteEven though I knew Cass was a girl, I still went with a neutral theme, thinking we would have another down the road.
Mine is a jungle theme -- all pastels. Could go either way for a boy or a girl. I will email you some pics, if you'd like :)
We were still in our apartment when Cassie arrived, so it was very neutral; we couldn't paint.
Donna
I would paint because to me a room doesn't look done until it is painted. And repainting a room, if you choose to do so is easy. We are doing the twins in a brown and green jungle theme. To be honest, I am awful tired of Kiera's pink room. Too much of one gender specific color can get old.
ReplyDeleteYou really just need a diaper changing table with drawers and forego the dresser (unless you have little to no closet space). I love the rocking chair idea. I would also suggest a rug and some baskets full of toys and books. I think a basket full of the necessities on the changing table (bottles, diapers, wipes, and bibs) would show a potential birth mother that you are ready for it all...not just the cutesy part.
I can loan you anything you need for picture purposes..I know it will be hard to see that room day in and day out...but it may just be the place you enjoy sitting and praying.
i just got chillbumps. this means that this is real. kimmy bean. omg. i love you so much and i definitely think you should borrow bedding and then do it up when you know the gender.
ReplyDeleteand i will be down to help you decorate it, if you want!?
xoxoxo
If you think about it, every mom-to-be planned a gender-neutral nursery 30 years ago :) I'd go with a green and yellow room if I were you. That way, you can add blue or pink once you know the gender. Your list of nursery items sound good. I would perhaps add a few baby toys, maybe a stuffed animal or two and some books. Just so it looks more homey.
ReplyDeleteWe also did gender neutral with our first because we didn't know if she was going to be a she or a he. We did a buttery yellow on the wall and then blue ceiling with white clouds. The bedding was yellow, green and blue and then when she was born, family went out and got a bunch of pink (but the beding stayed gender neutral).
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of a rocking chair, another thing is a cd player and one of those small night-lightish lamps. And a baby monitor.
Maybe a bookshelf with a few books and some stuffed animals.
It is difficult because I know that a small package of bottles isn't going to be enough BUT I am sure you will end up having a baby shower and will be getting more. Same with the diapers. You will want a swing but that won't necessarily go in the nursery.
If you are planning on going ahead and getting furniture, you might want to do one of those dresser/changing table combos.
Oh, man this is hard. I can't think of anything else right now. It would be easier to tell what you would need/really want when you bring the baby home than what you need in the pictures.
I know several other people have said it, but a rocking chair is a good addition to your list. A diaper-disposal would be good too. You could add some soft-looking blankets, over the chair's arm/etc., and a small pillow, to bring warmth to the photos. Maybe a mobile above the crib, as well.
ReplyDeleteOne of my friends is a new mom, and she posted some lovely pictures of her son's room:
http://elizabethcarroll.wordpress.com/2009/06/12/judes-room-finished/
You could make the mobile too, if you're creatively inclined. :-) That's what my friend did as well:
http://elizabethcarroll.wordpress.com/2009/10/29/origami-fish-mobile/
I'm very encouraged how you guys are stepping out in faith - it's wonderful to see God's hand in your life!
I know several other people have said it, but a rocking chair is a good addition to your list. A diaper-disposal would be good too. You could add some soft-looking blankets, over the chair's arm/etc., and a small pillow, to bring warmth to the photos. Maybe a mobile above the crib, as well.
ReplyDeleteOne of my friends is a new mom, and she posted some lovely pictures of her son's room:
http://elizabethcarroll.wordpress.com/2009/06/12/judes-room-finished/
You could make the mobile too, if you're creatively inclined. :-) That's what my friend did as well:
http://elizabethcarroll.wordpress.com/2009/10/29/origami-fish-mobile/
I'm very encouraged how you guys are stepping out in faith - it's wonderful to see God's hand in your life!
I had this delimea with my unisex nursery for l&B. We kep the walls tan and I used the Baby Safari bedding by kimberly grant. It is in storage if you want to borrow. Or, you could just get a nice white sheet and dustruffle and then change up the accessories when you find out what the baby is. You barely use the bedding at all. :)
ReplyDelete