Posted on

Colors and How They Can Affect Your Little One

Color is one of the most noticeable attributes of the world around us. For babies and small children, understanding color is an essential building block they will use for learning in all areas of their life. So when it comes to designing kids’ spaces, color is one of the most important elements to consider!

Not only does color play an important role in the overall aesthetic of a space, it can also impact an individual’s mood, emotional wellbeing, productivity, learning and behavior.

Newborn Age

Research from the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute in San Francisco, amongst others, has shown that in the first few months of life, a newborn baby sees primarily in shades of black, grey and white.

For this reason, a monochrome (different shades of one color), or dark color scheme filled with contrasting patterns and shapes provides a newborn baby with the best form of visual stimulation, without overwhelming them with a “circus” atmosphere. 



Shades of one color, for example: (black-gray-white), used in a nursery in different shapes and patterns can send the strongest visual signals to a baby’s brain without over stimulating, according to the Dr Sears Wellness Institute. They further state that stronger signals mean more brain growth and faster visual development.

As a result, creating a monochrome nursery for the first few months of life provides a beneficial environment that is said to boost your child’s attention span and curiosity, while also improving memory, and nervous system development. 

3-6 Months

By three months of age, experts say most babies are able to see color, with a preference for bright primary colors for brain stimulation.


This is a great time to start implementing toys that contain wide ranges of color.

They toy pictured above is a great option, as well as anything from this website! 

You could also add some color to the nursery, without over stimulating their environment. Here is some more information on how to not overwhelm your little ones environment. 

6-8 Months

Around the age of 6-8 months, a baby’s color vision is well developed. It is during this time that you may want to introduce a different color scheme into your child’s nursery.


This transition can be gradually achieved by the simple placement of a wall art, toys and books. There is no need to change everything, you can easily add color by using your child’s existing toys or books as functional decor items.

One of my favorite colors that I added to my sons nursery was muted green. I found it was a great color to stimulate sensory development in a subtle yet non-obtrusive way.

1-2 Years

A child’s oral language development begins to emerge between one and two years. It is during this time that a child will also begin to differentiate between colors (around 18 months). 

For babies and toddlers of this age, I like to introduce a few more colors to stimulate cognitive development. Add a fun rug, or some brightly colored books. 

Some of my favorite colors to stimulate cognitive development for little one’s aged 1-2 years are: 

Red

– Red is one of the most stimulating colors at first glance. It is rich and highly emotive, red excites and energizes the body, increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration. Red has always been my sons favorite color! 

Pink

– Evokes empathy and femininity and creates a calming atmosphere. 

Yellow 

– Bright and cheery, yellow is associated with happiness and motivation. Soft, subtle yellows promote concentration while brighter shades can stimulate memory and increases metabolism. However, too much yellow can evoke feelings of anger and frustration, resulting in fussy, over-stimulated babies.

Orange

– Friendly and welcoming, orange borrows many of its parents’ positive attributes. Orange has a distinctly social nature, inspiring interpersonal communication and putting people at ease.

3 to 4 years

By approximately three to four years of age, a child will begin to recognize  identify and name basic colors.  

At this point, I believe & research shows that every color is beneficial in one way or another. Colors are also pretty personal. Pick what colors appeal to you and see what excites your little one! 

The simple placement of different colored items such as beanbags, toys or bedding in your child’s room enables you to help strengthen and reinforce basic color recognition skills.

Thanks so much for reading! 

Comment down below your favorite color.

With love,

Kate Emoji

Posted on

Transitioning From a Crib to Toddler Bed

It seems like just yesterday you were cradling your tiny newborn in your arms, rocking them to sleep, and wondering when (if ever!) he/she would sleep through the entire night. Now that your little baby has grown into a full-fledged toddler, you may be thinking about the NEXT exciting sleep phase in their young life: transitioning from the crib to a toddler bed.

The graduation from crib to a toddler bed is exciting and scary all at once. After all, will your kid ever sleep again once she discovers the newfound freedom of a bed without rails? You may have visions of her roaming about the house at night. Eating unlimited amounts of candy from the cabinet. 

Don’t worry — everything you’re feeling is TOTALLY normal and we are right there with you. More importantly, we want you to know that transitioning to a toddler bed is a milestone that’s full of positives. Not only will your child gain new coping skills, she will develop a greater sense of independence.

Crib to Toddler Bed: Timing

Some parents make the switch out of necessity to make space for a baby on the way, while others do it as a safety measure. Once your child learns to climb out of the crib… AHH!

Outside of crib jumping, when should you consider moving your child from her crib to a toddler bed?

Is your kiddo mature enough to handle the responsibility of such freedom? Kids feel safe in their cribs — it’s familiar, cozy and snug. When they move to a toddler bed, they no longer feel “protected” by the space and safe confines of their crib slats. What’s more, they have a better view of their big room and all the fun stuff that’s now within arm’s reach. Resisting the temptation to play with all the toys – or worse, leaving the bedroom – is overwhelming.

An article was recently published in the journal of Sleep Medicine, which states that when parents wait to move their kids into a big kid bed until they’re 3 years old, everyone — parents and toddlers alike — get better sleep.

All in all, it seems that 3-year-old kiddos tend to be less resistant at bedtime, have fewer night awakenings and sleep for longer periods of time. Not to mention, a 3-year-old is more likely to be able to understand the “staying in bed at night” rules. That’s why most sleep experts agree: don’t rush it. Some kids seem ready at 18 months while others not until age 4. But if your child doesn’t show any interest in getting out of the crib, it’s okay to keep him/her there until they are ready to make the transition. Bottom line: there is no hurry.

What to Transition to? 

My child is not yet big enough to transition to a toddler bed, but I am so glad that I decided to go with the Milk Street crib that can transition into a toddler bed. 

The great thing about this is that I can keep the same crib sized mattress. Not switching mattresses can also help with the toddler bed transition process! There is no worry about a child falling out of the bed, and no large room configurations need to be done to fit new furniture. The child will also have the same smells, tactile experience. 

In addition, toddler beds are designed with the needs of toddlers in mind.  The rails help them feel safe. Toddler-size beds are lower to the floor than single beds, so if your child rolls out of bed, they are less likely to be hurt.

I went with Milk Street because their style can work with any décor. Unlike many cribs on the market Milk Street designs all of their furniture to be gender neutral, and transitional. It works with any color palette, it has a design that is amazing in a newborn space , but also a “big kid” room. Does not look “Babyish.” Sophisticated baby is what they definitely bring to the market! 

Their furniture also continues to add value to my initial investment. A piece of furniture that is built and finished to get better with age.

Hope you enjoyed this post! 

Be sure to check out our other blog posts. Ranging from all things mental health, to colors in the nursery. 

With love,

Kate Emoji

Posted on

What Sets Milk Street Apart- Construction & Finishing

As a quality baby furniture company, Milk Street is on a mission to create the best work possible. Quality is always top of mind and the most important consideration. While perfecting their craft, Milk Street has come up with new ways to create beautiful projects consistently.

Milk Street prides themselves on adding a cedar panel under the bottom drawer of every dresser, chest and nightstand.

Even though cedar is a soft wood, its durability, affordability, beautiful colors and natural resistance to rot and decay make it a prime candidate for fine furniture. It resists changes in temperature and moisture, making it less prone to expanding or contracting. 

Cedar is prized for:

-It’s natural ability to repel microbes and other pests that are unseen by the naked eye. 

-It has a fresh aroma; keeps clothes smelling fresh without the use of unnecessary, potentially harmful sprays, sachets or fresheners, many of which are not sage to use around small children. 

-It has natural dehumidifying properties, it removes moisture from the air; keeping your clothes free from developing mildew. 

-Cedar is durable, it can withstand many conditions. 

-Also, cedar is sound resistant! It is a porous wood, which gives it the ability to absorb noise.

Cedar is a stable and strong wood. It’s the natural oils in cedar wood that provide its scent. The oils help preserve the wood and they repel insects and the growth of fungus. This is why you can be safe from concern when storing cloth heirlooms and linens in cedar chests. They store safely with cedar to protect them. 

FACT: Modern science confirms that cedar is an antifungal agent,

unequalled in the natural world (it is also a potent antibacterial and

antioxidant.) Red Cedar is rich in the same antioxidants that give green

tea its good name. Cedar wood has been used for treating fevers, sore

throats, coughs, colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, and fungal skin infections.

FACT: Alexander the Great used cedar wood to build his naval ships simply

because this particular wood was notorious for having magical properties.

 FACT: Natives knew that fallen cedars could rest upon the forest floor

for generations without rotting, a property they attributed to its spiritual nature.

Milk Street is on a mission to create beautiful nursery furniture that doesn’t sacrifice safety for design. Milk Street strives to design truly transitional baby furniture that can transcend the age old design boundaries. Their furniture can be traditional, modern, casual or contemporary. They blur the lines, giving you the ultimate freedom to design the nursery of your dreams.

With love,

Kate Emoji

Posted on

Greenguard Gold Finishes

Greenguard Gold Finish might not be something that pops into your head frequently, but at Milk Street Baby it is what we craft our finishes around. 

If you are unsure what Greenguard Gold Finish means, a quick google search will show, “When a finish bears Greenguard certification, it meets strict chemical emissions limits and has been tested for more than 10,000 chemicals. Greenguard certifications indicate that a product is safe for indoor use” (Spruce.com). 

Did you know that the air indoors is two to five times more polluted than outside air? This is a major issue, since the average person spends 85% of their time indoors. Poor indoor air can make an impact on your baby’s health. 

According to the Greenguard Environmental Institute, airborne chemicals from furniture, building materials, and mold dirty up the atmosphere, and poor ventilation adds to the problem.

The idea is to produce healthier interiors free from harmful emissions. Companies that have Greenguard certification can claim greater credibility when they make sustainability claims.

To achieve this certification, products must meet field-validated and performance-based standards, and for products and materials to qualify, they must demonstrate the use of low chemical and particle emissions for indoor use—but that is not enough. To maintain Greenguard certification, all products are then required to be tested annually for more than 10,000 individual volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.The certification process is not just for furniture and other interior products. Architects, builders, designers, and specifiers identify products and materials that must also meet stringent standards for chemical emissions when looking for a Greenguard certification logo.

More than 200 manufacturers voluntarily participate in the program, and more than 200,000 products are represented in the Greenguard program. All the products are tested in a regulated dynamic environmental chamber that’s temperature- and humidity-controlled. The products sit in these chambers anywhere from one day to two weeks to determine how many chemicals are gassed off.

Milk Street prides themselves on finishing.  

We believe in open communication and transparency with regards to our materials and finishes. We strive to educate new parents about specific details of finishing, test results, and the chemical contents of our coatings, metal parts, and even our packaging. Each finish we use is Greenguard Gold Certified. Our pigments and top coats have been developed exclusively for Milk Street by the incredible team of artists and color specialists at AkzoNobel. All our finishes have minimum phthalates and a low VOC. Even on our imported products, we meet the EPA guidelines for emissions. 

Get your baby furniture that you can trust. 

Hope you enjoyed reading! Comment down below any questions you have regarding Greenguard Gold Finishes, or our process! 

Love,

Milk Street

Posted on

Your Baby Registry Must-Haves

Building a baby registry is serious business. Alot goes into taking care of a baby and it can be difficult to navigate all the options out there in terms of baby gear, clothing, and essentials. Expectant mamas want to be prepared but are often left wondering if they have everything they need on their baby registry.

I vividly remember how I felt the first time I walked into a big box baby store to build my registry. I had my registry gun in hand, and had ZERO idea what I was doing. I ended up having to leave the store and go home to do research before I could make any decisions.

I am here to make sure that doesn’t happen to you! I have built the ultimate baby registry checklist. Plus, I’ve done a ton of research on the easiest ways to build your baby registry as well!

If you have not already started your baby registry, you can do so TODAY at many stories! Basically any store that sells baby items. I have noticed that Amazon & Walmart have THE largest selection of baby items and their online system makes it easy to build and manage your registry. Plus, they have great tools to help you make sure you have all the essentials added to your list. 

 Let’s jump into the essential items needed to build your baby registry!

 Baby Clothes

This is probably the thing I was most excited about buying when I first found out I was pregnant! But it was probably also the area I went most overboard in. When it comes to a newborn, they do not need much in terms of clothing. Sleepers are the most used item (and always go with zip up options, buttons are a pain!). 

I suggest having 6 onesies, 6 pants, 6 shirts, socks, hats and mittens on hand. Of course, if you live somewhere colder, you may need more weather appropriate clothing.  Having various sizes on hand is wise as well. Most babies move out of the Newborn size clothing quickly.

 I like to have clothing up to 6 month on hand when bringing home baby. My son was in 6 month clothing by the time he was 3 months!

 Baby Sleep

Prepping to help your baby get the best sleep possible is vital for parents to get the best sleep possible.

First off, you will obviously need a crib (Milk Street has tons of incredible options). Next, you will need a safe mattress for baby. In order to reduce the risk of SIDS, your baby’s mattress will need to be firm. 

You will need 1-2 waterproof mattress covers as well as 3-4 sets of crib sheets.

When it comes to baby monitors, I cannot recommend the Owlet Baby Sock ENOUGH! The Owlet baby sock tracks your baby’s oxygen levels and heart beat and alerts you if something is wrong. Talk about peace of mind! Owlet also has a great baby camera that streams right to your phone. There are also other amazing options for monitoring systems! Feel free to do your own research to find what works best for you and baby. 

 To help baby sleep for longer stretches, a good swaddle and sound machine are key. A sound machine will mimic the noise your baby heard in the womb and will also help drown out any noises throughout the house that may wake your baby. 

Baby Gear

Some of the largest expenses when preparing for a baby come from baby gear. When it comes to selecting what you will splurge and what you will save on, I suggest always going for the best car seat you can afford to keep baby safe.

 A crib may be another large expense, but if you select one that converts to a toddler bed and eventually to a full size bed, you will save money in the long run! The bed you purchase could be used for the next 18 years!

 As for a high chair, there are alot of great options out there, but you want to select the one that works best for your home set up. 

 A good stroller is also key. There are so many options available, so it’s best to choose what fits your lifestyle. 

 Speaking from experience, I spent ALOT of time in a rocking chair those first few months nursing baby and putting them to sleep. A good glider that is comfortable for both mom and dad is a must-have.

One of the most used items in our day-to-day life aside from the ones I’ve already mentioned is a baby carrier. 

 Feeding

Aside from the high chair, baby will need bottles, spoons, forks and bows, I have both the Como Tomo Bottles and the Dr. Browns Options Bottles.  You will want to register for a variety of nipple flows (slow, medium and fast). There are a few cleaning items to register for as well: bottle brushes, drying rack, and sanitizing bags. While it may be a few months before baby uses them, register for sippy cups as well.

 Don’t forget the burp clothes and bibs! I always recommend going with silicone bibs and they are easy to clean and don’t hold stains like a cotton bib would.

If you plan to make your own baby food, you will want to register for a baby food maker. I highly suggest the Baeba Baby food maker. It allows you to steam, puree, and heat all in one machine!

Breastfeeding

If you plan to breastfeed, there are so essential items you will need. First off, a great breast pump is key. I recommend the Medela Pump In Style Double Electric Pump. If you have not already, reach out to your insurance company about getting a free breast pump. In my experience, my insurance company has instructed me to purchase the pump and send in a receipt for a refund.

You will also need milk storage bags, nipple cream (you WILL have pain in those first few days), a breastfeeding pillow, nursing bras, and a breastfeeding cover if you choose to use one while feeding in public.

Diapering

Creating a diaper stockpile prior to baby arriving will ensure you are not left running out to the store in the middle of the night for a diaper run. You will want to have plenty of wipes and diaper rash cream on hand as well. When it comes to a diaper pail, go with the best! The last thing you want is your house smelling like a dirty diaper. I recommend the Playtex Diaper Pail (the awards this product has received speak for the quality!). Be sure you register for refill bags as well!

Medical Supplies

While I hope and pray for baby to never be anything but healthy, you will want to have some supplies on your registry in case they do get sick. A good thermometer, nasal aspirator (nothing beats the Nose Frida), and humidifier are the basics and you can add more items if you’d like to give you peace of mind. I always like to suggest having some gas relief items as well, like the Windi.

Bathing Baby

You will want to register for a few essentials for baby bathing. A baby bath tub, spout cover, hooded towels, wash cloths and gentle baby soap and shampoo. Be sure to get some bath toys too to make bath time fun! You can also register for a water thermometer to ensure the water is not too hot for baby. 

Baby Proofing

While it may be hard to imagine that the little baby in your tummy is going to be crawling around your home and getting into just about everything, it will be happening before you know it! Baby proofing essentials to add to your registry include: baby gates, pinch guards, outlet covers, anti-tip hardware for tv’s and furniture, knob covers and cabinet locks.

Hope you enjoyed reading! 

Be sure to leave some of your must-have items down below!