The Right Window Treatments Can Help Your Baby Sleep

While it should go without saying that the right window treatment can help you sleep better, did you know the same can be said for babies? Babies have different sleep needs than we do — we have to train them to sleep during the night and take regular naps during the day, which means it’s essential to control the light in the room, as well as the sound level. 

Babies and toddlers should be exposed to different light levels when they sleep (depending on their age). The nursery’s window treatments have to be up to this task!

The Right Window Treatments for Sleep Training 

Sleep training looks different at different ages. When we sleep, we naturally go through different cycles, including cycles of waking up at night. As adults, we’re able to get back to sleep without any problem and usually don’t even remember waking up. Babies and toddlers are a different story. 

Babies don’t usually put themselves back to sleep. They are often startled by environmental changes too, so if they fall asleep in the car and wake up in their crib, then they may panic and cry. Sleep training teaches babies how to fall asleep and transition through these sleep cycles unassisted

Formal sleep training doesn’t typically begin until after your baby is about 4 months old, but you should always be thinking about the future when your baby is this young.

The Right Window Treatment for Nurseries Block Light

Newborns and babies under the age of 6-7 months usually need dark rooms to fully complete their sleep training. They will begin to associate darkness with night and sleeping, and light with morning and awakeness. 

However, this can be a hindrance for later in life, as you’re training their brain that only darkness means sleep. If you want a kid who can nap during the day or in car rides, it may be best to diffuse the light in their nursery during the day for naps after they can sleep without much fuss, and give them total darkness at night. This can be done with unattached blackout liners/shades, paired with roller shades, or roller shades paired with blackout curtains (this strategy is used after they are 6-7 months old, not the newborn phase, so it’s good to think ahead!) 

We recommend using cellular shades and cordless curtains, or an unattached blackout liner behind them that you can raise and lower separately. Cellular shades are both insulating and noise dampening, meaning they can keep the humidity and heat/coolness in the nursery (instead of it escaping out the window) when they are closed, and help reduce outside noise. Children can sleep with some noise. Your child doesn’t need an absolutely silent room to sleep. But it’s easier for your child to go to sleep when noise levels are kept consistent

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Best Option for Nurseries is...

The first thing to think about when choosing the right window treatments for a nursery is cord safety. Window treatment cords can be a strangulation hazard, so we always recommend choosing a cordless or motorized lift, or shutters or curtains, which don’t have cords. 

Blackout Curtains

Another great choice for blocking light in nurseries is blackout curtains. They can be used alone, or layered on top of existing blinds or shades. For safety, be sure that curtain rods are installed securely with drywall anchors or into studs, in case little ones decide to pull on them.

Shutters

Shutters won't give you a can't-see-your-hand blackout, but they do significantly darken a room.. Shutters are great for homes with kids because they're durable, have no cords, and our composite shutters are super easy to clean.

On top of all that, shutters are very difficult for a baby to mess with. They’re heavier, don’t dangle, and are often flush with the window, meaning your baby is likely too small to reach them. Just make sure they are securely installed (like with any window treatment), as shutters are pretty heavy! 

The Right Window Treatment for Nurseries Reduce Distractions

Our last tip is to eliminate anything that could distract your baby while they're in sleep training.  Many parents try to make the nursery a fun environment by putting toys in the crib, hanging mobiles for babies to look at or even using light projectors that shine on the ceiling. However, all of these things can keep your baby awake longer.

So ditch the dangling cords, mobiles, projectors, and sparkly toys (keep them out of their eyesight, at the very least). 

That’s why cellular shades with a blackout liner are great options. They not only help block out sound, but they totally block out light as well. You can also use shutters, as they are too heavy to be moved by your A/C! 

If you want to look into the right window treatment options for your nursery or child’s room, give us a call at Budget Blinds of Tempe, (623) 303-4515. Our design experts are ready to help and we even offer a free consultation!