Somehow, November 22, 2020 seems like just yesterday and also forever ago. That was the day that we went to the hospital in the middle of the night as a family of two, and came home the next day with a tiny little human who we were meant to take care of.
Now, this tiny human is about to turn two, and thanks to travel restrictions lifting, we’ve realized that as she’s gotten older, our little daughter has her best sleep in a full sized bed versus her crib.
We know that eventually we would be transforming her nursery to a toddler room, but honestly we didn’t think it would be that fast. It’s bittersweet to think that my little baby is now growing into the next chapter of her life.
So once we decided that it was time to transition her nursery, we set out with a plan to update key pieces in this space. Today, I’m sharing the seven considerations and decisions we made as we transform Avia Ocean’s room to a toddler’s dream (pun intended).
in generous partnership with Polysleep Canada
BED
Of course one of the biggest literal changes in the space is flipping out her crib for a bed. We didn’t want to have her in a giant queen bed, so we opted for a “full / double” size which is not quite a twin but not for a full adult either. This style also works well as it has a low profile in case of tossing and turning at night. We loved the simple fabric design of this headboard, and also that it’s removable for easy maintenance.
MATTRESS
When it came to mattress selection, we had no hesitation or discussion before we clicked into Polysleep.ca to browse their full size selections. We had the pleasure of partnering with this Canadian company for our king size mattress in our primary suite when we moved into this house. And when we’re traveling, the only thing we miss about home is this mattress. It’s truly the most comfortable sleep we’ve ever had, so we knew that we had to make sure our child continues to enjoy the that same level of comfort.
BLACKOUT CURTAINS
Another essential we discovered on our travels was the need for darkness to facilitate that healthy deep sleep. We found a set of travel room darkeners that suction to the window which work perfectly well even when you’re not traveling. They ensure a very dark room which is primed for a good night sleep.
MOOD LIGHTING
Lighting is always key when it comes to room design and especially as it relates to sleep. When it comes to toddler rooms, there are so many options for activity specific night lights and alarm clocks. We opted for a simple floor lamp in an organic shape, because we’ve learnt that even the smallest light (say from a humidifier) is distracting for our little one as she falls asleep.
MUSIC
It’s no secret that babies love falling asleep to white noise and good tunes. We designed playlists when Avia was still in the womb, and had very specific music playing during labour and delivery. So naturally, we have a sleeping playlist which we finds instantly sets the mood and also plays a vital cue for avia to know it’s sleeping time.
STUFFIES
It’s widely known that little babies should be in their crib with no blanket and no toys. But toddlers are more aware of their surroundings and we noticed that Avia finds a lot of comfort with a stuffed animal. We have watched her (via the monitor) wake up and reach for her Bear and then fall back asleep. So now for bedtime, we have a dedicated set of soft toys that she can opt for to get cuddly and comfortable.
We left the main elements of the space the same; the colours, the wall hanging, the shelves. But updating these key pieces in the room has completely transformed the space and prepared our little one to begin her new nighttime routine.
P.S. Follow me on Instagram to see all these items in action.
