Most expectant moms agree: decorating a nursery is one of the highlights of pregnancy. You can decorate using the ancient art and science of Feng Shui, the arrangement of objects within a space to maximize the flow of chi. Not only will you create more comfortable quarters for your little one, you may even set the stage for a lifetime of success.

Our daughter’s nursery is the smallest room in the house, yet it also has the most positive energy. This is because we decorated keeping the rules of Feng Shui in mind.

Feng Shui deals with the flow of energy, or chi, through a space. When you place furniture, such as the changing table, crib, rocking chair, and dresser in the room, make sure there is space for the energy to flow freely. A rule of thumb: If you have trouble navigating a room, so will the chi.

Dresser drawers and closet doors should open easily, with no obstructions. There should be space in front of the changing table for you to dress a wiggling baby, with the diaper pail and all the necessities—diapers, wipes and creams—at arms’ length but out of the grasp of a fidgety baby. To provide a sense of security, do not hang heavy pictures or shelves over the changing table or crib. Stickers are okay, but the images should be uplifting.

The crib should be placed in the command position of the room. To be in the command position, the crib should be in view of the door, but not directly in front of it. The optimal location is on the wall diagonal to the door. Celebrity Feng Shui consultant Ken Lauher illustrates three possible command positions in his article, The Placement of a Bed.

Trundle drawers are very common in cribs, and a great, space-saving storage solution. Lauher says, “It’s okay to place soft objects such as sheets, blankets or clothing in the drawer, but avoid storing anything metal underneath the crib.”

It’s okay to bend some Feng Shui rules in a child’s room. For instance, Feng Shui conventions advise against mirrors in an adult’s bedroom, especially if they are in view of the bed. But Lauher says, “A child-safe mirror in the crib when the baby is two to three months old can help with motor skills and development.”

It is also acceptable to hang photos of loved ones in a baby’s room. Babies love looking at photos of people and especially other babies! For optimal placement, hang photos against the right hand wall, the Family segment of the room, if you are looking toward the door. You can activate other areas of the room –and your child’s life–by decorating with the rest of the Bagua in mind, too.

Lauher recommends light colors and multiple colors in a nursery to soothe and stimulate an infant. Light colors will also make a smaller room appear larger. Light green is very soothing, to promote rest, and because it represents hope and freshness, is ideal for the newest member of your family!

Living elements are always a good addition to any space. Keep plants on high shelves or select hanging plants to keep them away from tiny hands and mouths. And always select non-poisonous plants to grow around your house and in your yard if you have children.

When you are finished decorating the nursery, step back and think about how you feel in the room. Is it a happy, positive place to be? If it is, congratulations! You’ve made Feng Shui work for you!

I grew up as the youngest of four children and my mom really believed she had parenting all figured out. One day, she and I went to visit a neighbor down the street. As we approached the door, we noticed a note taped to the doorbell. Something like, “Please do not ring the bell. Baby is sleeping.” My mom huffed condescendingly. She would never have tiptoed around her babies. “They need to learn to sleep anywhere,” she declared to me whenever an appropriate circumstance arose. I learned that my oldest sister slept in the living room because their apartment was so tiny, yet they would go on with their business as usual throughout the day and evening, and she slept anyway. It was a distinct point of maternal pride for my mom.

So when my oldest was born, that made sense to me. You don’t tiptoe around a baby; he has to learn to sleep anywhere. And he did. In general, he could fall asleep anywhere, and even today, you could run a freight train through his room (as my mom would smirk with satisfaction) and he wouldn’t wake up. But my daughter is different.

Now, mind you, I had great difficulty waking her up to eat as a newborn. She would sleep until her blood sugar dropped dangerously low and then I couldn’t wake her. But she’s WAY over that stage of her life. When she first came home from the hospital it was convenient for many reasons that her crib be placed in my own bedroom. But soon, it was clear that my husband was waking her up in the morning when he got ready for work. Although we had intended to keep her in our room for at least a year, I thought it was best if we moved her out at about 4 months.

The baby’s now nearly 9 months old and she sleeps very predictably, as long as she’s in her own little room with perfect silence in the house. She won’t sleep anywhere but home. Forget napping at grandma’s house. And even at home, if my son turns on the faucet full blast in the kitchen, it wakes her up. I don’t run the dryer while she’s sleeping, because the signal at the end of the cycle wakes her up. Thankfully, my doorbell is broken! Because I would be one of the neurotic moms with a sign on the button.

I really do appreciate the sentiment that a baby needs to learn to sleep in all conditions. But I am a tiptoer. I would rather limit my activities during naptime than suffer a miserable afternoon because I woke her up from a nap. Now that we are anticipating a Christmas trip out of town, I’ve been slowly conditioning her since Thanksgiving. First I started putting her in a pack & play for her morning nap, in her own room. Once she did that predictably, I began moving the pack & play to different parts of the house (all quiet rooms, mind you). I think she’s getting used to it. Last night she slept in it, too! Progress.

Maybe some of it is me—she hasn’t learned to sleep with background noise because she hasn’t needed to. But I really think a lot of it is just my baby’s personality. I didn’t train my son to sleep like a bear; he just does.

So, what do you think? Did you ever tiptoe around a sleeping baby? Did your kids have such drastically different sleep styles as mine? Am I just making it harder on myself in the long run by “allowing” her to need a quiet room for sleep?

The decision to move your child from his or her crib to a ‘big kid’ bed is a big one. I’ve known people who move their children to a bed before their child turns a year old, or others who make the transition right before the arrival of a younger sibling. Still others keep their children in the crib as long as possible. For some parents, the transition to a ‘big kid’ bed means purchasing a toddler bed frame that can be used with a crib mattress. Other parents prefer to move their child from the crib to a regular bed. As with almost all parenting issues, there is no right or wrong answer.

Personally, I keep my children in the crib as long as possible! When they are able to crawl out of the crib, I’ll move the mattress down to the lowest rung on the crib to try to delay the inevitable. I’ve found that the crib tents and other items designed to keep your baby from ‘escaping’ the crib really don’t work. When your child is making a regular effort to get out of the crib, it’s time to make the move to a big kid bed, mostly I feel for safety reasons.

I’ve found that making the transition from crib to bed because of the impending birth of a sibling isn’t a good idea. The idea of sharing mom and dad can be a stressful change for some kids; adding more changes is not such a good thing. Then again, your youngster may be excited to make the transition. If that is the case, take your opportunity when it presents itself!

My son is so active and he gets into everything! Frankly, I worry at this point about making the transition to a bed mostly for safety issues. Just thinking about all the things he could get into after I put him to bed and before he goes to sleep really stresses me out. I usually transitioned my children to a toddler bed when they were around 3, but I am wondering if this is a good plan for my son or not. I transitioned the children again to a regular bed when they were around 4 to 5 years old.

My son is very, very different from his four older siblings, all of whom happen to all be girls. He’s much more active and perhaps because he’s the youngest of 5, he is really focused on being a ‘big boy’ and doing ‘big boy’ things. Nevertheless, he hasn’t made a regular habit of escaping from his crib just yet and so my husband and I have decided to let well enough alone. Perhaps he’ll spend a little while longer in his crib, or perhaps we’ll be making that transition to a big boy bed very soon. Only time will tell!

Infant Death Prompts Recall of Convertible Cribs by Playkids USA; Crib Poses Entrapment and Suffocation Hazards

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Playkids U.S.A. of Brooklyn, N.Y. is announcing today a voluntary recall of about 2,000 convertible cribs. The sides of the convertible crib are made of a mesh that expands, creating a gap between the mattress and the side through which an infant can slip. This poses suffocation and entrapment hazards for young children.

CPSC is aware of the death of a 5-month-old child on August 31, 2008 in Brooklyn, N.Y. The child became entrapped between the mattress and the drop side rail of the convertible crib and suffocated.

This recall involves the Playkids U.S.A. convertible crib/playpen/bassinet/bed with model number PLK-909. ?Playkids U.S.A.? can be found on the packaging and on a label sewn into the side of the crib. The model number can be found on the packaging. The convertible cribs have a drop side rail, a stationary side rail, a canopy assembly, and a bassinet. The sides of the convertible crib, the mattress support, the bassinet, the canopy and the bedskirt are covered in fabric and mesh. The fabric and the mesh come in a variety of colors and patterns.

The convertible cribs, which were made in China, were sold in juvenile product retailers in New York from March 2007 through September 2008 for about $100.

Consumers should stop using the recalled convertible cribs immediately and contact Playkids USA to receive a full refund.

For additional information, consumers should contact Playkids USA collect at (718) 797-0302 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.

High heels for a baby? Yes, really it is true.

Today I discovered a company called Heelarious, which manufactures tiny shoes with heels. The shoes have been created in the United States by two childhood friends, Britta Bacon and Hayden Porter, and are ’specifically designed for babies.’ I was wondering what that really means. How exactly does one design a pair of high heels specifically for a baby?

A check on the company’s website reveals that they have 6 designs in various styles and colors including pink, black, and leopard print. The shoes are intended for babies up to 6 months of age and are ‘extremely funny, completely soft, fully functional high heel crib shoes for babies.’ Each pair of shoes costs $35 and can be purchased at a limited amount of retailers in the United States, Canada and Switzerland. They can also be purchased online.

The high heeled shoes are not intended for walking as the ‘heel will collapse with weight’ and are intended to be worn in the crib only. The website claims that the shoes were actually created as a joke product one day when one of the designers thought, while on the way to a party, about what fun it would be to bring her daughter to the event in high heels.

Perhaps I am old, or prudish. I don’t really see anything funny about high heels on a baby. I certainly don’t see anything even remotely amusing about buying a pair of $35 shoes for my child that aren’t intended to actually even be used as shoes. That’s just me though.

What do you think? Would you buy high heels for your infant? Do you think that $35 for a pair of shoes which aren’t actually usable is a good deal? Would you buy a pair for your infant daughter?

Bassettbaby Cribs Recalled Due to Entrapment Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Babies “R” Us

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Wendy Bellissimo Hidden Hills Collection Cribs

Units: About 550

Importer: Bassettbaby, of Bassett, Va.

Hazard: The space between the spindles on some cribs can fail to meet federal standards and can pose an entrapment hazard to infants.

Incidents/Injuries: Bassettbaby has received no reports of incidents or injuries.

Description: This recall involves a full-size crib from the Wendy Bellissimo Hidden Hills collection, model number 5446-0521. The model number is located on the bottom rail of the headboard. The crib was sold in a Navajo Pine finish.

Sold by: Babies “R” Us stores nationwide from November 2007 through February 2008 for about $500.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the crib immediately and contact Bassettbaby to schedule an in-home inspection of the crib. Recalled cribs will be replaced. The firm has contacted consumers directly.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Bassettbaby at (866) 618-5446 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Sunday.

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Wendy Bellissimo Hidden Hills Collection Drop-Side Cribs

Units: 18

Importer: , of Bassett, Va.

Hazard: Spindles on the drop-side of the crib could loosen creating a gap that poses an entrapment and strangulation hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Bassettbaby has received three reports of spindles coming loose. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves a full-size, drop-side crib from the Wendy Bellissimo Hidden Hills collection, model number 5446-0504. The model number is located on the bottom rail of the headboard. The crib was sold in a Navajo Pine finish. No other models are included in this recall.

Sold at: Babies “R” Us stores nationwide from November 2007 through January 2008 for about $400.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the crib immediately and contact Bassettbaby for a free replacement or a full refund. The firm has contacted consumers directly.

Consumer Contact:For additional information, contact Bassettbaby toll-free at (800) 308-7485 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm?s Web site at www.bassettbaby.com

From now March 1 save 66% on Must Haves for Infants & Toddlers including cribs, strollers, car seats, toys and more!

Only at Amazon.com until 03-01-08

Aaah, the many illusions I had before I became a mother. One of them was that the baby would arrive, and would seamlessly transition her from bassinet, to crib, to toddler bed. Hubby and I would preserve the sanctity of our bedroom, and teach her independence by having her sleep in her own room. I had never heard of attachment parenting or “Ferberizing” one’s baby. This was just my own preference. The preference of a clueless mother.

As soon as baby arrived, all previous convictions flew out the window. Mina didn’t like her bassinet or being alone in her room? Well then, move over hubby, she’s coming right between us! Eventually her Daddy went from sleeping on the edge of the bed, to sleeping on the floor, to taking over the room that was supposed to be hers.

Fast forward five months later and she’s still in bed with me. Whaa? What happened to the sanctity of the bedroom? Bewildered, coming out of our new-parents daze, we agreed it was time to transition her to the crib.

So last weekend, we did just that. We bought a crib, and we began to assemble it in her room. Until hubby turns to me halfway and remarks that we should really ease her into the crib by having her in our room first. I agreed.

Crib assembled in the Master bedroom, we settle in for the night. Woody and I giddily cozy up next to each other while Mina slumbers peacefully in her new bed. We drift off too until Daddy starts to snore. What?! He’s never snored before! Mina cries, rudely awakened by the snore. I try to pat her to sleep, then bring her to bed as she looks like she needs to nurse. I nurse her, nudge her Dad and tell him to stop snoring. Mina starts falling asleep, in my arms as I fall asleep as well and…Daddy starts to snore again! The irritated look Mina gives him will forever be embedded in my memory.

By the end of the night, Mina is in bed with me, Daddy finally relents and moves to the spare room again. The crib we bought? It sits at the foot of our bed, empty.

Sigh. I guess we get to keep trying.