When Should You Start Building the Nursery?

by Kim Neyer | More from this Blogger

11 Dec 2010 09:13 PM

There are three types of parents in this world: those that build a nursery when they build a house (before they conceive), those that build a nursery during pregnancy, and those that build a nursery after the baby comes home. Maybe that is not a fair way to categorize parents, but I have seen all three scenarios. In my humble opinion, setting up a nursery before you conceive is either setting yourself up for heart break when you don't conceive (right away or ever), or it's a waste of a perfectly good room in your house (unless it doubles as a guest room, of course). Waiting until you get home from the hospital isn't going to kill you, but it will stress you out a little. I once watched a design show where a family scrambled to finish the baby's room while the mom and baby were at the hospital. They finished just in time. I wouldn't recommend doing this unless you are going to hire a design team. The perfect time to build your nursery is while you are pregnant, but let's narrow it down even further.

First Trimester Pros: By starting the nursery early, you are giving yourself plenty of time to finish. It is easier to move around and do stuff before you grow that big belly.

First Trimester Cons: You may be suffering from morning sickness, which may prevent you from getting much done. Fatigue also sets in during the first trimester for many moms. You won't know the gender yet, so you'll be limited in what you can accomplish right away, or you will have to go with a neutral color scheme and design.

Second Trimester Pros: It's likely you know the gender by now, so you can pick out a design and color scheme that fits your child. Your morning sickness has most likely passed. You probably have the most energy at this point in your pregnancy.

Second Trimester Cons: Are there any?

Third Trimester Pros: By now you have received most of your shower gifts, so you know exactly how much storage you need. You are likely in full nesting mode, which gives you the ambition and drive you need to really work on the nursery.

Third Trimester Cons: You're bigger than ever, which means you need help doing just about everything. You are under a time crunch, which can be stressful. You may be sore and experience fatigue like you did in the first trimester.

Learn more about Kim Neyer

Kim is a freelance writer, photographer and stay at home mom to her one-year-old son, Micah. She has been married to her husband, Eric, since 2006.

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