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A Man's Touch

Designing the Nursery with the Dad-to-be

By Teri Brown

Wilson believes another reason it is important for the future dad to be involved in designing a nursery is because the room needs to work for him as well as for Mom. "Men think differently than women, so with that said, we need to ask husband some questions," she says. "One question might be, if it's your turn to get up in the middle of the night to change Baby, then settle him/her down to go back to sleep, what's going to help you with that task? For some men that may be a large enough rocker for him to sit in, or having the trash bucket next to the changing table."

Because this is a time when all of the attention is put onto mom and the new baby, dads are almost forgotten. Wilson feels it is imperative that men be involved in the decision making from the beginning.

"If he gets no say about the nursery, he will feel left out from the beginning, and that's definitely not smart," Wilson says. "Women need to train their husbands how to function in the 'baby world', starting with diaper changes, feeding, burping, playing, taking Baby for a walk so they can have some down time!"

Dr. Frank Sindoni, department head of Obstetrics and Gynecology for Shore Memorial Hospital in Somers Point, N.J., says that having the home ready can greatly reduce the stress a mom may feel when the birth day is approaching. "In pregnancy, generally around the sixth or seventh month, the nesting instinct can set in and have an impact on behavior," he says. "The act of nesting and arranging last-minute details helps the mom feel as if she is in control and ready for labor."

Want to see more?

• Brush in Hand: A New Dad's Painting and Decorating Primer
• Decorating a Baby Nursery: No Need to Break the Bank
• Nursery Safety Checklist: Tips for Designing Baby's Room
• Check out our Article Library.
• Talk about it!

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