When we last left off in the nursery, we had painted the closet door green, but still had a few lingering functional things that we needed (like a changing pad cover, a hamper, and a bin for dirty diapers) as well as a plan for the wall behind the crib that we had been debating.
Update #1. You probably remember when we were considering this fun arrow wallpaper for that spot (among others) but thought it might be a little busy on that side with all the built-ins, so imagine our surprise to find a changing pad cover in the same pattern on Etsy. Teddy loves it. So much, in fact, that he has already peed on it a whole bunch of times. You know, to mark his territory.
We’ve heard a ton of tips (washcloth, wipe, clean diaper) to block the spray, but even with those methods we found that it still managed to run down and pool on the changing pad cover, meaning that we had to strip it off and wash it more times than we hoped in the first few days of being home from the hospital. To the point that even if we had 4 spares we’d still be washing them constantly. We had the same problem with baby Clara (good genes I guess) so we used a wipeable changing pad cover over her cloth changing pad during that phase (it was so much easier to wipe that down than constantly be washing the cover itself).
Which brings us to Update #2. Now that we use that vinyl pad in the car for changes on the go, I thought I’d make one for the house from oilcloth. Here was my process in a nutshell:
1. I grabbed half of a yard of “marine coat vinyl” in white from JoAnn for $6 (they didn’t have white oilcloth), and I actually got two changing pad covers out of that half a yard (so we can use one downstairs when we change Teddy on the ottoman as well)
2. I laid out our existing car pad by Skip Hop (the front is the shiny vinyl part and looks like this, so the black fabric is the back) and traced the shape onto the back of the white marine coat vinyl fabric with a sharpie (twice since there was room for two).
3. Then I just cut them out. Vinyl doesn’t have a fraying edge, so I didn’t even need to hem them or anything
So far it has been awesome. Just look at Teddy modeling his new waterproof cover. He actually peed through his diaper and his onesie while we took this shot. True story. It’s like he wanted to test just how waterproof it was. Thankfully, it worked like a charm. And it has been saving us a little bit of laundry (every little bit helps!) ever since.
Update #3. You can also see the simple white trash can that we grabbed at Ikea for diapers (we’re using disposables until Teddy grows into our cloth ones, just like we did with Clara). So far it’s working well. The lid (with the step-to-open mechanism) keeps smells in, and makes for hands-free opening, which is really convenient.
Update #4. In other “I’ll take all the small conveniences I can get while running on a lot less sleep” category, we also got this adorable navy and white Boppy cover from John’s sister as a baby gift (it was also from Etsy). I know some folks skip the Boppy and just use a pillow or something but I use it so much in these early days when the baby’s so small and nursing all the time. We debated bringing ours to the hospital and I said “nah, that’s overkill” and I actually wished I had it instead of using wadded up blankets and pillows, which surprised me.
Please avert your gaze from my dirty nails and focus on the cute baby.
Update #5. This is a little craft fair item that we bought here in Richmond at the annual Spring Bada Bing event (we’ve blogged about it a few times before). It’s always fun to support small businesses and browse homemade wares – and this one is made by The Little Bandit Shop. It’s an embroidery hoop with discontinued fabric (from Ikea a while back) that she hand-stitched with some cute green vines on each side. We thought it was so charming, and a great idea for a DIY project too.
Update #6. We also realized we needed a clothes hamper, so we grabbed a basket from HomeGoods that’s around the same size as the hamper that we use in Clara’s room and I quickly sewed a little inside-out pillowcase to create a liner. Why inside out? That way when you fold the edges over the side of the basket, they face the right way (and when you look down at the inside of the hamper the patterned side shows). It’s easy to pull out and wash, and I got half a yard of this soft gray ticking fabric at JoAnn for $4.
Update #7. Now for our little plan behind the crib wall, which we didn’t actually do yet – but we think we’re set on this idea. John came up with a repeating pattern of T’s (for Teddy of course). Although this photoshopped version leaves a lot to be desired in the “realistic” department, in our minds it’ll look awesome.
It’s subtle and sweet enough for both of us to like it best of all the other options we’ve considered, so now we’re just debating if we’ll end up making a stencil to paint the T’s on the wall like Clara’s raindrops, or if we’ll use contact paper or some other method to add them. Will keep you posted!
Oh and I finally remembered to snap a picture of the fourth wall of the room (it briefly flashed by in this video tour, but I don’t think I ever took a photo of that angle). Right now there’s just a floor lamp for function (it works on the wall switch, so we can flip it on when we enter the room) but eventually we’d love an overhead light on a dimmer and we think we’ll use that wall to make a fun little play area once Teddy’s a little older, like we did on this wall in Clara’s room.
Are you rallying to add a flurry of small things to a space that’s mostly complete? Buying anything fun from Etsy or at a local craft show? Peeing on changing pads, just for fun?
Psst- To read about all of the nursery updates from the beginning, here’s how we painted all the pink trim, laid new hardwood floors, got a rug, painted the walls & ceiling, added built-ins, tackled some baby bedding, hung extra thick crown molding, filled up the built-ins, added a storage cabinet/changing table, made a mobile, and made art & painted the closet door green.
mary ellen kiehne says
I am a pediatric nurse and the trick we use to prevent wetting thru is to make sure the equipment in pointing down between the legs when you diaper. This channels the urine to the most absorbent part of the diaper and helps to prevent major soaks.
Good luck he is adorable, and I have seen thousands.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, thanks Mary Ellen!
xo
s
Tiffany says
I was going to right a comment and say that with boys you have to point ‘it’ down or you’ll have pee coming out everywhere haha. Just a thought :)
Britiney says
I was going to post the same comment, but couldn’t figure out how to say it as nicely as Mary Ellen did. As a mom of 3 boys – this is a game changer. Teddy is spectacular. Hugest congrats!
Amy P says
Yay! Love all of the updates. I have a boy on the way (August 8th!!) and it’s fun for me to see all of your cute boy things. I almost bought that same boppy cover but we ended up with a little airplane one from etsy instead. Where did you get that blanket in the picture with the boppy? I’m having the worst time finding cute baby boy blankets!!
YoungHouseLove says
That was a gift from a friend of mine (thanks Christi!) but she got it at Nordstrom and it says Bella Tunno on the tag.
xo
s
Becky says
I found that vinyl always ended up cracking, so for my three kids (one girl and two boys, the youngest of whom is now 14!), I used wonderful change pads — several at home, and one in the diaper at bag — which were handmade in Canada in a variety of sizes (but I’m sure someone must make them in the US as well, and quite possibly on Etsy). This is the current incarnation,
http://www.kidalog.com/products/Change-Pad.html
Something like this is a genuine lifesaver, esp in the early months! Though I have to admit, I went for the practical vs. the aesthetics!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Becky!
xo
s
Joanna @ thenestbook says
Hi guys! I love That subtle “T” idea. Another option could be to make the pattern into wall decals… We used them in my baby’s room and they are awesome because if we want to get rid of them we can just easily peel them off. You can see it here: http://www.thenestbook.com/2014/04/28/room-tour-jacks-nursery/
Teddy looks so tiny on that changing pad! So cute!
YoungHouseLove says
So cool!
xo
s
Stacy says
Just an FYI – Gotta be careful with the wall decals though because they can peel the paint off the wall if not removed exactly as directed and sadly, even when removed that way they can still peel the paint. We had that issue in my daughters room before we got ready to put our house in the market. We had a Winnie the Pooh themed nursery and when I went to remove them from the wall it took much of paint off as well as the decal. I ended up having a professional come in to fix all the peeling paint. I’m not 100% sure if this would have happened if we lived in a house with better insulation but I just wanted to give you a heads up that it can happen.
elaine - Visual Meringue says
I love Teddy’s nursery! It’s so charming – you guys did a really, really great job! And of course the pee-mesiter himself is absolutely adorable too :)
Sarah @ Sarah's Daybook says
Oh, and what is your thought on organizing books on bookshelves? Height, author, random, color? I can never figure out what looks best.
Sarah
http://www.sarahsdaybook.wordpress.com
YoungHouseLove says
I do all sorts of things. Sometimes I do horizontal stacks by size, on the nursery bookcases I did by color just for fun. I just try a few things and go with whatever looks best for that space.
xo
s
Bree says
Now, I didn’t have the ways, but here’s my tip for getting them to Pee before you change their diaper.
Take a wipe and the first thing wipe their feet all over. Then you can blow on them or just wait a couple minutes while you get your diaper ready. The cold on their feet makes them pee. And you don’t get a wet surprise while you’re changing!
YoungHouseLove says
You guys are full of great tips! Thanks to everyone for sharing!
xo
s
Bethany says
This is based on very little since I don’t have kids yet, but I always heard that WARM water made babies pee? That’s why sometimes (always? I have no idea) they will pee in the bathtub. Maybe it’s just water in general! Either way, I will file all these tips away for the future.
C. Faust says
I want to share a laundry hamper tip that saved me from the laundry monster after I had my second baby. The dilemma of course is that you only have time to throw in a load during naptime and inevitably the dirty laundry was trapped in the baby’s room. The solution is I moved both laundry hampers into the hall between their bedrooms (throwing distance from the changing table – 2 points if you make it). I even got my 3 yo to sort her own lights and darks!
YoungHouseLove says
So cute!
xo
s
Kate says
Must… avert eyes…. from…. baby….. He’s so cute!
Our living room is fairly complete, but this weekend I made a very quick table for between the back of the couch and the wall so that we can get the lamps, magazines, remotes, etc farther out of our 14 month old’s reach. It was super quick (bought the wood Saturday around lunch, it was in our living room by Sunday evening) and only cost $10 out of pocket for wood (used some scrap wood to brace underneith, used some stain and other supplies I had on hand). It’s not perfect, but I love it!
And like any good home project, I then ended up rearranging the side tables, shifting the bookshelf, deciding that a mirror would look lovely in this one certain spot, etc. :)
Tracie J. says
The nursery is beautiful. It’s so bright and fun. We have the same Ikea trash can for diapers and it’s great. It really does keep the smells out and you can’t beat the convenience.
Lauren says
I love the room, but does he sleep ok with such a bright, light room? We have blackout blinds plus heavy velvet drapes because otherwise, my 2 yo and 1yo just won’t sleep!
He is so so beautiful. I want one!
YoungHouseLove says
We have faux wood blinds in all of the upstairs bedrooms, and when they’re closed they’re light blocking, so we close those each night. In Clara’s room we also have blackout fabric behind her curtains, which we might add to Teddy’s if he needs it, but so far his room is plenty dark just by closing the wood blinds.
xo
s
Sara says
I am just oogling over pictures of that adorable babe! Well done, Petersiks!
April says
Teddy is just precious and looks so tiny on the changing pad! He will be taking up much more room before you can blink your eyes. I will be hoping and praying for more sleep for you all very soon!
Amanda B. says
Before my son was born when we installed the changing pad I remember thinking, “Why is this thing so huge? No way my baby will need all this space!” And sure enough, my 6-lb newborn looked so tiny there but now my 90%-percentile-for-height 11-month-old is hanging off the ends of it! Oh, how fast they grow!
Lisa says
Diaper changing tip that saved our lives: Place new diaper under baby like your gonna put it on over the old diaper then remove old diaper. So simple…so easy…should be in every baby book! :-)
Megan says
On that forth wall, I see you have an air return. We have one in my baby’s room too and have been wanting to change it out somehow, since the metal slits are soo tempting for a crawling baby and can cut their fingers. It’s a couple months away for you guys but wanted to put a bug in your ear :)
Liz KW says
Congrats on Teddy and his room! I just wanted to throw out another option for the “T” behind his crib. We just moved our toddler into her big girl room since the nursery will be needed this summer, and I wanted to do a polka dot wall. My husband did not want to have the raised edges paint would innevitably leave behind, so I cut the circles out of fabric using pinking shears and attached them to the wall with a cornstarch paste. Worked like a charm, is totally removable, and allowed my big girl to help (we went with a random/confetti pattern for the dots.) Just a thought!
YoungHouseLove says
Such a cute idea! Love all the tips guys.
xo
s
Carrie says
We found these changing pad liners to be super useful in those early little boy diaper days….
http://www.amazon.com/Boppy-Changing-Pad-Liners-3-Pack/dp/B001CDFPY0
I think I had six of them and changed them constantly without having to pull the whole changing pad cover and wash it. They have a waterproof vinyl backing. Just another potential solution… still lots of laundry, but they helped make clean up easier.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks!
xo
s
Tara says
The room looks so adorable!! For the back wall, check out Nalle’s House blog – she recently did an updated mudroom with washi tape and it might be what you have in mind. Great blog, too! And, I am so glad you have some time to just be HOME and snuggle with your little ones, esp after your whirlwind schedule the last few months. Your pace seemed frantic and I feel like I, too, am taking a deep breath with you as you slow down a bit. We all love your house tweaks and your sharing baby snuggles, Clara updates, Burger sitings. Congrats again on your beautiful family!
Barbara says
LOVE the nursery and he is so adorable! I am huge lover of stripes (and polka dots) so I was pulling for stripes behind the crib but now that I see the T’s, I think I like that better…such a great idea!! Also not sure if anyone gave you this hint yet but for boys, if you point his little manly part (haha how else do you describe that on the internet?!) down in the diaper, it might help with leaks.
Jolene says
Love the diaper cover and the crib wall idea! Both are perfect and the room has turned out so cute! Also love seeing more pics of Teddy – congrats again!
Christina says
I’m not sure if someone already suggested this or if your already doing it but I have a little tip that really helped when I had my son. He kept peeing thru his diapers and his clothes until someone suggested I make sure his little peepee was pointing down into the diaper instead of pointing up towards his belly button. I had never been around little boy babies and never thought of it until it was mentioned to me. Hope it helps. He’s adorable! Congrats!!!
Devorah says
Hi,
i love this room. its so clean and has great textures and colors.
what happened to the Moroccan table??
YoungHouseLove says
That’s probably going to end up in the living room (that room needs some serious attention).
xo
s
Melissa Gonzalez says
Hello Petersick family and congratulations on your new addition! I realize these are about as environmentally friendly as disposable diapers but we used small puppy potty-training pads on top of our pretty fabric cover in the early days of diapering our newborn. They worked great to catch any leaks or overspray.
You can also find similar disposable and reusable hospital pads, etc. online. Happy diapering :-)
Katy @ The Non-Consumer Advocate says
You probably already know this, but make sure that Teddy’s penis is pointing down when you diaper him. This I know, as the mother to two boys and a labor and delivery nurse.
Katy
P.S. Adorable nursery, but the real star is that darling baby!
Bonnie C says
SO. CUTE. The nursery, too. ;p
My firstborn (a girl) was a stealth pee-er. You’d lay her down on the pad for a change and get your bidniss done only to find sopping wet jammies and an unrepentant grin for your trouble. Honestly, it was the lack of regard for my hard work I found most frustrating… Anyhoo. We finally got smart and foiled her antics with puppy training pads. Not the greenest solution but we were desperate. And they were infused with eau de grass, too. Ahem. With our subsequent 2 boys, I got smarter (ha!) and bought a twin size bed liner thing, chopped it into sixths, stitched the open edges closed and voila! Same protection, less green grass scent. :)
Also, we got a boppy with our first (because everyone said we HAD to have it) and the cats used it more than I did, ditto for the second, The third was a C-section and damn me if that boppy didn’t save.my.life. It’s also awesome for naps if you’re a side sleeper. FYI. ;p
Good luck being broken in by your new boy!
Kiley says
Super cute updates! And even cuter baby:) Are those anchor diapers???? If so, where can i get some?!
YoungHouseLove says
They’re made by Honest. Really cute!
xo
s
Diane says
Teddy looks so adorable in his pictures.He looks so tiny laying on his changing pad.You must spend a lot of time just hugging that little guy!!
Amy@TheBlissfulBee says
First of all, LOVE this room. SO fun and tasteful for your sweet baby boy! Looking at that floor lamp (which is also fab by the way), you should totally spray paint the cord the green that you used in the rest of the room. That could be such a fun little unexpected pop of color! xo, amy
YoungHouseLove says
CUTE!
xo
s
Kara says
Cute idea! Another idea instead of paint, is to continue the washi tape idea from earlier, and wrap it up in green or whatever else catches your eyes. That way it isn’t permanent, paint won’t crack off, and you can experiment with difference colors/patterns/ideas!
Audra says
Congratulations on your new little man! I found these to be a lifesaver with our newest addition! :)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001CDFPY0?pc_redir=1398714247&robot_redir=1
Jules says
Cute wall idea! For wall decals, craft stores sell Cricut brand vinyl (which you can cut by hand, if you don’t have a Cricut) and it is easier to remove than contact paper. I’ve had contact paper peel off a layer of paint when I tried to remove it.
For on the go diaper changes I always loved using those blue disposable puppy training pads (that you can buy at the pet store). It’s much easier than packing up your soaking wet change pad, and carrying it around all day.
YoungHouseLove says
Love this tip Jules, thanks!
xo
s
Elissa says
The room looks great! Are you still planning on turning the drapes into blackout drapes? I need to do this in my nursery and was waiting to see how you did it so that I don’t mess up. :) But didn’t know if you were still going to do that. Thanks!!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, I’m thinking about doing that (even have the blackout fabric ready). The white faux wood blinds are blocking the light well right now though (the room’s pretty darn dark) so I might not get around to it for a while (Clara loves it pitch black, so we use it in her room).
xo
s
Michelle says
Have you considered a Sharpie paint pen for the T’s? I did it after seeing a tutorial from Vintage Revivals and it was the fastest, easiest, least-messy project ever.
Sara says
Have you thought about putting the arrow wallpaper on that 4th empty wall?
The nursery is adorable, and so is Teddy! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for all the ideas and suggestions guys!
xo
s
Beverley says
The room looks great! I absolutely love the greens in it and see that you got the burp cloths…hope they have been helpful!
Bev
YoungHouseLove says
YES BEV, they’re AWESOME! I have a giant thank you list that is staring at me right now, but you’re on it. We are so grateful! Teddy loves them. Haha!
xo
s
Erin says
Hey ya’ll! LOVE the nursery. Your chair reminded me of something I pinned, where they turned the same chair (I think?)into a rocker. Seems like a super simple project. Would you ever consider it? Here’s the link I found:
http://interiorsbykenz.com/ikea-hack-strandmon-rocker-diy-wingback-rocking-chair/
YoungHouseLove says
Really cool! I think we prefer a stationery chair, but that’s so smart!
xo
s
Jane says
What a cutie that lil boy is.Do you guys remember to point his umm “Peepee” down when you out his diaper on. That was a rookie mistake for us and his pee would leak a lot. Once we learnt that , there were no leaks.
Courtney Leigh says
Love the T’s on the wall! I think you should make just one of them green. I love when there is just that one pop of color for an accent like that.
Good luck with the sleep! I know it will get better, but I hope that better comes sooner rather than later. :)
YoungHouseLove says
That’s such a sweet idea!
xo
s
sherri says
I had the SAME problem with our son & came up with a very similar solution (I actually put it under the cover). Finally, a wipe warmer lessened the spraying. Little boys!
Beckie says
Funny story I thought I’d share since you mentioned that nothing really seems to stop the little guys from peeing everywhere :) I grew up with lots of babies around so even though it was our first son (already had a 2 yr old daughter) I was well aware of the extra precautions you need to take when changing a boy. The first day home from the hospital I decided to change my son’d diaper before all my coworkers came by to visit. I covered him, of course while I got him all cleaned up but as i lifted him legs a bit to slip the new diaper underneath the cover slipped off and of course right then he peed…right into his own ear! I laughed so hard I cried. Luckily I got him cleaned up just before our company arrived but I still had tears running down my face. I felt so bad laughing but I really couldn’t help it.
Your Teddy is adorable and I so enjoy all the pictures you share. I am actually quite glad you will be adding more family posts on here along with all the projects. I love them all :)
Marlena says
Love the “T” idea – perfect!
Camille says
We used blue chux pads (like in the hospital/puppy pads) on top of the changing pad cover for the first few months after my son was born to cut down on the changing pad washing. Your version is much more green but these were cheap & great to have on hand especially for the really messy stuff.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FD2AX2/ref=oh_details_o00_s04_i05?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Alexis says
When you eventually get to the overhead light with a dimmer, I highly recommend the Lutron dimmer with remote control (we got ours at Home Depot). We installed one in my son’s nursery and it is wonderfull to be able to dim (or turn off) the lights from the nursing chair. Baby falls asleep (or we’re nursing before bed) and I can turn down/off the lights without getting up and disturbing him. Here’s the link to the manufacturer’s site: http://www.lutron.com/en-US/Products/Pages/StandAloneControls/Dimmers-Switches/MaestroIRDimmer/Overview.aspx
Kate C says
While I find your solution genius, has no one ever introduced you to lap pads? I wish I’d had them with my daughter and now give them to everyone at showers. They have a waterproof back and fabric on top, so they absorb just enough to keep the pee from spilling around. http://www.amazon.com/Carters-Keep-Flannel-Pads-Ecru/dp/B002UD65ZE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398787758&sr=8-1&keywords=lap+pads
YoungHouseLove says
Love all the tips guys, thanks!
xo
s
Marie H says
Do you have a friend that has a Cricut? You can out out lots of Ts to use on your wall. They have vinyl just for that. Also, you would be able to try out may different fonts. Or you can make your stencil with the Cricut as well.
YoungHouseLove says
Good tip!
xo
s
Marghee says
Hi! I have searched several of your posts on the nursery and even your daughters nursery back in the day… but I can’t find where the super cool gray arm chair was purchased from… can you please share? My nursery is a light gray and I am loving a chair like this for the room.
YoungHouseLove says
It’s from Joss & Main a few years ago.
xo
s
Lindsay Jenson says
I love Teddy’s room, but I am REALLY loving your idea for the wall behind his crib. It’s perfect! It has meaning, is simple and is subtle. Great idea!
LibraDesignEye says
To a T!!! That terrific graphic designer of a daddy has done it in spades.
So, i know about marine grade vinyl – once it off-gasses it isn’t dangerous. If it was really smelly because it had never been unwrapped, then I’d worry. Since it doesn’t move very fast at Joanns, it probably has offgassed pretty good before you got it. Don’t fret. Your nose will know! If it is stinky (in a vinyl kind of way) then give it a week in the sun and air and go back to it. It isn’t like you’ve put Teddy’s nose in it anyway . . . #dogtrainingdoesn’tworkforbabies
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Libra!
xo
s
Valerie says
We use two changing pad covers on rotation and in between each we place two waterproof,washable pads. So it’s changing pad, first cover, two waterproof pads spread out, next changing pad. So if we get a leak we just strip off the first pad and remove the two waterproof pads and the next pad is ready to go while we wash the dirty one. We rotated a lot in the beginning and less so now. But it is fail proof! We also do this with crib sheets and waterproof mattress liners. We keep three sheets on the crib at all times and just strip as needed. My husband thought this was overkill until we striped the sheets twice in one night!
Sara says
Firstly, wicked congratulations on that gorgeous little boy! I’d love to ask about that little fabric dragon!….where, oh where, did you find that gem?
YoungHouseLove says
That box is made by 3Sprouts on amazon.com! Love that thing, and it fits into all Expedits.
xo
s
Jess says
I love the 3 sprout boxes! They have so many cute animals to choose from! I found the best deal on them from Overstock.
Jen R. says
Love the “T” idea for the wall behind the crib. Wasn’t ever sold on any of the other ideas, this is perfect. Good lesson of just waiting until the right idea comes along! Congrats on the adorable little barnacle!