The pink walls and blue borders of our own childhoods have given way to sage greens and dove greys in recent years, but it seems we’re still wide of the mark when choosing the perfect colours for a nursery.
In fact, the latest expert advice is that a baby’s bedroom should be painted exclusively in black and white until it is three months old.
Scientists believe monochrome furnishings and accessories help to visually stimulate infants, improving brain growth and development.
According to the Dr Sears Wellness Institute, visual input during the early months “may have the most profound effect on baby’s developing nervous system.”
Here’s why:
“At birth, the nerve cells in baby’s brain are disorganised and not well connected. While baby grows, the brain receives input from all five senses. This input causes nerve cells to multiply and form a multitude of connections with other nerve cells. This is why visual stimulation is so crucial.
For example, if a baby is kept blindfolded the visual center in his brain would never develop, the optic nerve would shrivel up, and baby would never develop vision. On the other hand, if you provide continuous visual input into baby’s eyes, the retina thrives, the optic nerve grows, and the visual part of baby’s brain thrives and develops by leaps and bounds.”
Their advice?
1. Surround your baby’s bed with stripes – buy sheets, blankets, pillowcases and wallpaper featuring dark and light stripes.
2. Surround baby’s play area with stripes. Why? So the visual stimulation continues as they play. “Place a black and white striped book, picture, or toy about eight to 12 inches from baby’s face. Watch your baby fix on this and stare almost glued to it.” says Dr Sears.
3. Choose black and white or light and dark contrasting toys – resist the pretty pale blue and green rattle and go for the black, white and red one!
4. Dress the part – wear striped shirts as often as you can. Your baby’s eyes will thank you.
