What Colours Calm Babies?
Choosing colours for a baby’s nursery and clothing is an exciting part of preparing for a new arrival. While colour preferences are subjective, some colours tend to have a calming effect on infants. When selecting hues for your nursery, consider which colours may help soothe and relax your newborn.
The Importance of Colour for Babies
Though a newborn’s vision is still developing, babies can perceive colours and contrasts very early on. The right colours can help create a peaceful environment, while overly stimulating hues may cause distress. Here are some key reasons to choose calming colours for your baby:
– Sets a relaxed tone – Soothing colours lower arousal and help baby feel comfortable.
– Aids sleep – Calm colours promote restful sleep, crucial for development.
– Reduces crying – Serene colours may minimize crying compared to bright shades.
– Enhances focus – Subtle hues help baby focus visually without overstimulation.
– Provides comfort – Familiar, soothing colours become associated with comfort and security.
Recommended Soothing Colours for Babies
Here are some of the best colours for creating a tranquil environment for your newborn:
White
– Crisp and clean
– Allows other colours to stand out
– Bright but not overstimulating
Grey
– Neutral and soothing
– Calming tone
– Works for either gender
Pink
– Universally calming
– Associated with love and tenderness
-Easy on the eyes
Yellow
– Cheerful but not too bright
– Gender neutral
– Uplifting shade
Green
– Symbol of nature and renewal
– Reduces anxiety
– Restful for eyes
Blue
– Universally found calming
– Associated with peacefulness
– gender neutral
| Colour | Benefits |
|---|---|
| White | Clean, bright but not overstimulating |
| Grey | Neutral, soothing, calming tone |
| Pink | Universally calming, associated with love |
| Yellow | Cheerful but not too bright, uplifting |
| Green | Symbol of nature, reduces anxiety |
| Blue | Universally calming, associated with peace |
Avoiding Overstimulating Colours
While muted, lighter shades tend to have a calming effect, some colours may be overly stimulating and cause distress for infants. Here are some hues to generally avoid:
– Bright reds – Can increase crying and feelings of anxiety.
– Oranges – Vibrant and may overstimulate sensitive eyes.
– Purples – May be overly stimulating for some babies.
– Neon hues – Too bright for baby’s developing vision.
– Black – Harsh contrast for young eyes.
Of course, every baby is unique. Pay attention to your baby’s reactions to determine which colours your little one finds relaxing or distressing. Avoid hues that seem to increase fussiness.
Using Calming Colours in the Nursery
Here are some ways to incorporate soothing colours throughout your nursery:
Walls
Paint walls in soft muted tones like light grey, pale yellow, or sky blue. Neutral walls allow accent colours to pop.
Furniture
Choose gently coloured furniture like a white crib and dresser for a clean look. Grey and wood tones also create a neutral palette.
Bedding
Use calming colours like pastel pink, mint green, or pale yellow for crib sheets and blankets. Avoid busy patterns.
Decor
Add pops of soothing colours like wheat yellow, blush pink or sea glass blue in lampshades, rugs, artwork and accessories.
Lighting
Install dimmable lighting and blackout curtains to control brightness levels.
| Element | Calming Colour Choices |
|---|---|
| Walls | Light grey, pale yellow, sky blue |
| Furniture | White, grey, wood tones |
| Bedding | Pastels like mint, pink, yellow |
| Decor | Wheat yellow, blush pink, sea glass blue |
| Lighting | Dimmable and adjustable |
Using Colour for Calm Away from Home
In addition to the nursery, keep colour in mind when selecting products you’ll use on-the-go:
Stroller
Choose a stroller with soft fabric in muted solids or pastels. Avoid busy patterns.
Baby carrier
Select a baby carrier or wrap in white, stone, grey or other neutral solids.
Blankets
Pack blankets in calming hues like buttery yellow, blush, or aqua for on-the-go comfort.
Car seat
Look for a car seat cover in light pink, lavender, or light blue solids.
Clothing
Dress baby in pastel onesies, rompers and outfits in soothing, muted colours.
| Product | Calming Colour Choices |
|---|---|
| Stroller | Muted solids or pastels |
| Baby carrier | White, stone, grey |
| Blankets | Buttery yellow, blush, aqua |
| Car seat | Light pink, lavender, light blue |
| Clothing | Pastel onesies, rompers, outfits |
Choosing Clothes in Calming Colours
Dressing baby in serene shades of pastel clothing can have a soothing effect. Here are some calming colour options for baby outfits:
Onesies
– Mint green
– Lavender purple
– Powder blue
– Blush pink
– Pale yellow
Rompers
– Buttery yellow
– Dusty rose
– Baby blue
– Seafoam green
– Light peach
Gowns
– Creamy ivory
– Soft pink
– Periwinkle blue
– Pale sage
Pajamas
– Cloud white
– Lilac purple
– Robin’s egg blue
– Wheat yellow
Socks
– White
– Blush
– Mint green
– Dusty blue
– Ballet slipper pink
| Garment | Soothing Colours |
|---|---|
| Onesies | Mint, lavender, powder blue, blush pink, pale yellow |
| Rompers | Buttery yellow, dusty rose, baby blue, seafoam, peach |
| Gowns | Cream, soft pink, periwinkle blue, pale sage |
| Pajamas | Cloud white, lilac, robin’s egg blue, wheat |
| Socks | White, blush, mint, dusty blue, ballet slipper pink |
Conclusion
While colour preferences differ, parents can create a soothing environment for baby by using colours known to have a calming effect. Soft muted tones like white, grey, pastel pink, yellow, green, lavender, and blue can lower stimulation for an infant’s developing senses. Remember to observe your baby’s unique reactions and avoid colours that seem to cause distress. With a tranquil colour scheme and calmingly clad baby, parents can promote rest and relaxation right from the start.