Research shows that holding, rocking, singing, feeding, gazing, kissing and other caregiving nurturing behaviors are crucial to the normal brain development of babies. Without early nurturing it is difficult for a child to become a healthy, happy, and productive person. The Rocking Chair Project works with healthcare professional training programs and healthcare organizations. TLC Family Resource Center in Claremont was chosen as one of the partner sites. Pregnant moms who are enrolled in one the local home visiting programs provided by the family resource center may be eligible to receive a free chair. Executive Director Maggie Monroe-Cassel explains: “Our parent educators visit the mom and new baby in the home and assemble the new chair together. After the donation, the parent educator continues to work with the new mom on parenting skills for up to three years.” Montana Hurd was the first local recipient of a free rocking chair. She helped build the chair with her parent educator Sandy Gassett.
She did not have a rocking chair to soothe her new son who was a week old when she received the chair. The Rocking Chair Project is a non-profit, 5O1C3 organization that was founded in 2001 by Trish Magee, an early childhood educator, and her husband, Mike Magee, a physician. That year, they purchased a glider rocking chair for their daughter-in-law, Susanna, a Family Medicine resident at Brown Medical School, who was expecting their first grandchild. Having raised four children of their own, they recognized the importance of having a comfortable rocking chair to sit in and nurture newborn babies. For the parents and children, the gift of a rocking chair is a concrete expression that people care about them. Every new mother and baby, and especially those experiencing the pressures of poverty, needs time and space for nurturing. Giving a glider rocking chair to a mother will help her nurture her baby. TLC Family Resource Center is one of 35 agencies across New Hampshire that are members of Family Support New Hampshire, a coalition of non-profit family resource centers (FRC) and family support programs (FSP) that are designed to meet the needs of the communities they serve.
Programs and services provided by FRC and FSP vary, but they all seek to strengthen families by promoting health, wellbeing, self-sufficiency, and positive parenting through support and education. TLC serves families in Sullivan County and Lower Grafton County. Edit ArticleHow to Design a Baby Nursery Five Parts:Focusing on the essentialsDesigning the nurseryAdding design elementsAdding the nursery furnitureChoosing final touchesCommunity Q&A Decorating a nursery (the baby's bedroom) doesn't need to be costly, difficult or picture-perfect. While there are many decisions to make, they're all very manageable and simple. This is a time of life when you're about to welcome a new and wonderful life into the house and it is important to view creating the nursery as a fun creative process that is totally yours to control rather than imposing any harsh expectations on yourself. Baby will love whatever you do! Give yourself time and freedom. If it's possible, try to plan well before the birth.
This luxury isn't open to every new parent but if you do have time, starting early can ease your concerns about having too much to do. In terms of freedom, realize that there is no one right way to design a nursery other than ensuring that it is safe, warm and healthy. Decorative elements are completely up to you and you can have as much or as little in the nursery as you wish. While it's fun to use sites like Pinterest to create a dreamboard nursery, be realistic. Time, financial and space constraints will end up dictating a lot of what you're able to do in the end; use your photos as general inspiration rather than absolute must-haves. Consider childproofing needs throughout the design and assembling process. This is the primary concern and the one thing on which you cannot compromise.It's easy to want the best for the baby, and for some parents that may include providing a beautiful, new, well-coordinated nursery, but remember that it won't matter to the baby whether the area rug matches with the curtains.
Stains are a fact of life, so focus on buying things that are functional first, beautiful second. When the baby spits up and has accidents, you want to focus on the child, not on how those sheets you spent so much money on are ruined. Bear in mind that baby is only a baby for a short space of time. It may not feel like it now, but over-blowing the budget on baby gear and gadgets isn't really the best idea. Save your pennies for the growing child, who will cost you considerably more than baby. In this same vein, do not be ashamed to accept heirlooms and hand-me-downs. For example, a crib that gets passed around the family is great, provided it has been checked for safety prior to each use. Measure the room and write the measurements on a small card you can carry in your wallet. You will need these measurements when you go shopping for furniture, paint, etc. And if you happen to see something nice at a flea market you did not expect to visit, you can reach into your pocket for the measurement information.
Consider putting the crib close to the entrance so that you don't have to walk around things or risk tripping over something when you come for the baby in the middle of the night. Avoid putting the crib right next to the window, where there might be drafts. Never place a crib near anything that dangles, like curtain or blind trimmings, as the baby can get caught up in these and choke. Put the changing table close to the crib. When the baby has wet accidents, you don't want to carry him or her across the room. If there is a window, think about putting the rocking chair or glider next to it so you can look outside. You could also get yourself a nice comfortable rocking recliner. By this window, make sure to get some contrasting curtains that go with the wall color to protect the baby from any bright light. Add a block out blind to help your baby sleep well during the day if the sun shines directly into the window. Estimate how much storage you'll need, and create twice as much.
The baby will accumulate more items than you may think. Do not place any shelving above the crib, where either the shelving or the things on the shelves might jostle and fall onto the baby. Choose the near-bedtime lighting. Work out a color scheme. Select a baby crib. Find baby nursery furniture to complement your crib.It's time for that great baby nursery shopping spree you've been waiting for. Choose a mural, picture, and bedding. Buy stuff, sew stuff, glue stuff. Assemble the furniture in the nursery, if possible, so you don't have any issues with large items not fitting through the doorway. Let the room come alive. Remember to add essential equipment to your baby nursery: A baby monitor to know when your baby gets upset. Diapers, wipes, ointment, burp cloths, receiving blankets, backup outfits, and a toy or two in or near the changing table. Garbage can (or a diaper disposal system that minimizes the smell) next to the changing table. Beginning toys to play with, like rattles, teddy bears, or a mobile.
If you have a choice between several rooms in your house for the nursery, choose the one that is closest to yours so that you don't have to walk across the house in the the middle of the night. Anything that is fabric should be washed a few times before using with a baby due to the use of formaldehyde. Cover any electric outlets with plastic fasteners as a safety precaution. Carefully research second-hand baby cribs. Safety standards are much more stringent today than they were years ago. Using a second-hand crib may put your baby's life in danger, but on many models you can determine if there are risks by checking for recall notices, and knowing the basics of crib safety, some of which are mentioned above. Take your decorating project one step at at a time to avoid stress and anxiety. Decorating your baby room should be fun! Keep in mind that some of the things you see when shopping may not be useful for very long. For example, a mobile for the baby will look very attractive to you, but might soon be ignored by the baby, so you can avoid those extras if you like.