Babies need environments that are emotinionally nurturing to thrive. Their sense of wellbeing is enhanced when they have access to ‘interesting and challenging play materials in well-designed and prepared spaces, indoors and out’, according to Julia Manning-Morton, author of From Birth to Three: An Early Years Educator’s Handbook. But at the heart of effective provision is the quality of the relationship between practitioner and the infant.
Three key design principles to consider when setting up a baby room are: space to move; sensory stimulation; and conducive environments for sleep.
Is there adequate floor space for babies to crawl, wriggle, roll and stretch? Are there sensorily stimulating resources to support early brain development, fine motor skills development and communication skills? Are there quiet, safe, contained spaces where infants can go to rest and sleep?
Mandy Cuttler, head of pedagogy, learning and development at London Early Years Foundation (LEYF), says that when designing baby rooms, staff are also mindful that the layout facilitates schematic play and the furniture is positioned to enable babies to cruise safely. They also ensure that there are heuristic play resources for sensory exploration and critical thinking.
‘Getting the environment right is key,’ says Cuttler. ‘Take time to get down on the floor and view the space from a baby’s perspective. Provide low-level stools for teachers to sit on while remaining at children’s eye level; ensure that there are low-level mirrors to support baby’s developing self-awareness. Look at the cosy areas and ensure that they have plenty of books and tactile soft furnishing. And don’t underestimate the importance of a leather sofa or armchair, or a cosy space where a child can sit with an adult for a cuddle.’
CALM AND CONNECTED
The baby room should be one of the ‘calmest rooms in the nursery’, says consultant Jo Caswell, who runs Peachwell Early Years Consultancy with her colleague Kate Peach. ‘It should be organised so sleep arrangements, nappy-change and feeding routines do not result in staff frequently leaving the room and reducing the numbers of staff directly available to care for babies.’
Although a separate room for sleep is not a requirement in the EYFS, there ‘must be an area that is calm and conducive to rest’, says Caswell. ‘Dim lighting, calming music and white noise can all be used to create a peaceful environment and one which babies associate with sleep and rest,’ she adds. ‘We particularly love the hand-crafted Bunkcots from Fafunia – the unique design means that if space is limited, babies can still sleep soundly in comfortable, cosy cots.’
Sarah Flory, day care co-ordinator at Rowland Hill Nursery School and Children’s Centre in Tottenham, north London, says the Community Playthings’ Evacuation Cots are an ‘essential buy’ for the baby room. ‘Not only are they extremely effective for an evacuation but they also have drop-down sides, which allows the adult to get close to babies, offering them comfort at sleep times,’ she explains.
Creating a homely environment is also key. Different shades of colour should be visible – in soft furnishings and in the range of toys and resources available. ‘Colour is an essential tool for a baby to recognise objects and make sense of the world around them,’ Caswell says. ‘While we do not advocate the use of bright, over-stimulating environments, we must strike a careful balance to ensure that our baby rooms are not bland and under-stimulating.’
SAFE SPACES
Environments need to be ‘clean and uncluttered’, allowing babies to move around freely, reducing the risk of trips and slips, explains Flory.
The baby room at Rowland Hill Nursery School has a clear open space for movement and plenty of natural light and ventilation. It is on one level, with direct access to the outdoors, allowing for a free-flow approach, which supports babies to be autonomous in their choices.
‘We have a range of Community Playthings units that are used to separate the baby nest from the main room,’ Flory says. ‘Babies are able to hold onto the furniture and cruise around the setting freely. Babies are also able to see out into the larger environment through clear panels, which lends itself to some fantastic interactions between the youngest and older children.
‘In our baby nest we have different types of flooring, from deep-pile rugs to artificial grass. One of our best buys is the Community Playthings Activity Floor Tray, which is accessible to walkers and crawlers and is big enough to have four babies at the edges exploring sensory activities while all facing and focusing on the same thing.’
ROOM TO MOVE
Babies benefit from different types of movement. This includes opportunities for rolling, pulling themselves up, cruising, balancing, pushing and pulling, crawling and learning to stand unaided before attempting to walk and climb.
‘The choice of furniture and resources are important,’ explains consultant Kate Peach, who also owns Each Peach Childcare in Hove, East Sussex. ‘We always select furniture with low-level mirrors so that when babies successfully pull themselves up to standing, they delight in seeing their reflection. One of our favourite pieces of equipment is the Millhouse Role Play Island Kitchen, which allows for outward-facing play, supporting meaningful interactions between practitioners and babies. The horse-shoe-shaped low-level tables are also the perfect design for staff members to clearly see babies sitting the other side.’
As more babies join nurseries at a younger age as a result of the expansion of the funded hours, Caswell adds it is ‘essential’ that settings ensure that the ‘significant differences’ in the developmental needs of a nine-month-old compared with children who are almost two are taken into account.
Big buys – baby room indoor equipment and resources
Sleep: TTS’s stackable Bamboo Eco Beds, £164.99, have sufficient air circulation between the layers when stored. Babies can access Community Playthings’ Dream Coracle, £365, independently, or try its Evaluation Cot, £540. Other popular choices include Bunkcots from Fafunia, from £570.
Movement: The Baby Shelf, £305, from Community Playthings is great for babies learning to walk, or try its Up and Over Nursery Gym, £1,552. Ministry of Outdoor Education’s (MOE) Kinder Crawl ramp, £485.99, with sensory rainbow arch supports gross motor development, or try its First Steps Kinder Gym with roof, £1,419.99. TTS’s Nursery Climbing Set Pastel Grey, £479.96, is ideal for developing confidence.
Furniture: Community Playthings’ Baby Safe Area, £1,765, can be used in a corner, and its Changing Table with Steps, £1,505, means no more lifting. Toddlers can make their own way to the top of TTS’s Grey Walk-Up Changing Unit, £620. The Millhouse Semi Circle Height Adjustable Table, £351.99, from Hope Education is great for mealtimes. Or try Cosy’s Baby Cruise Circle, £249, or its Lipped Low Rookie, £159, toddler station. Use it with Cosy’s Rookie Tinkler Trays, £62.99. See also the Nursery Sofa, £950, from Community Playthings, and its Stacking Stool, from £72.
Play equipment: Try MOE’s low-height Play Tray Activity Tables, £259.99, TTS’s Wooden Creative Low Toddler Table, £279.99, or the Community Playthings Activity Floor Tray, £206. Try the Soft Play Bump & Hill from Hope Education, £159.99, or its Soft Play Sensory Stacking Tables, £122.99. Cosy’s Mini Rafiki Indoor Archway Reader, £155, is a cosy cave, while MOE’s Magical Mirror Den, £652.99, contains tactile elements.
FURTHER INFORMATION
- Rowland Hill Nursery School: http://www.rowlandhill.haringey.sch.uk/Under-Two-s
- Each Peach Childcare: https://eachpeachchildcare.co.uk
- LEYF: https://www.leyf.org.uk
- From Birth to Three: An Early Years Educator’s Handbook by Julia Manning Morton, £24.99: https://amzn.to/3xZhxCs
- Peachwell Consultancy: https://www.peachwellconsultancy.co.uk
