A Big Step Up in the World - Getting Ready for His Big Boy Bed

By Joann Means

He's no infant anymore. He's toddling around now and outgrowing clothes faster than you can acquire them. Your little boy is growing up into quite the big boy now, and that means it will soon be time to move him from his crib to a big boy bed. How best to make that transition in a way that's most comfortable, supportive, nurturing, and above all effective is the subject of this article.

One of the easiest ways to help your little boy have a smooth transition from a crib to a big boy's bed is to give him a bed that he can be excited about moving into (and up to). This is where a custom theme bed can provide great aid. If your little boy may have been emotionally attached to his crib, his feelings could easily change when he sees the alternative - a custom theme bed in the shape of some object of his wildest dreams.

A custom theme bed in the shape of a vehicle, for example - a boat bed, a train bed, a race car bed, or an airplane bed - will give the right little boy a one-way ticket to ride. A custom boy's castle bed will make him feel like king of his castle. If he has dreams of jungle safaris, wild animals, and life in the wild, then he'll go ape for a custom tree house bed. If he has dreams of setting sail on the Jolly Roger and searching for sunken treasure he may want a pirate ship bed.

Surely you're starting to get the idea. Simply tap into your little boy's fondest interest and have a custom children's bed maker design and build him a big boy bed inspired by that theme and he'll be naturally drawn to it, compelled to leave his crib behind in exchange for this awesome new vision of his fantasies made real.

If you wish, you can keep his bedding the same for a while, to give him the comforting feeling of some sort of continuity in the transition. Or you can have brand new custom bedding designed to match the theme of his big boy bed. Which option is best depends really on the child.

And because safety is always a concern for any parent, whatever their child's age, a custom theme bed built as a transitional bed for your child can also have protective railings, safety gates that latch from the outside, and other safety measures built into the design in a way that blends into the theme.

For example, a car or train bed can have an actual door keeping him in at night. Similarly a castle bed can have a gate or a drawbridge serving the same purpose, helping not only your little boy to stay safely in bed through the night, but giving you the security and peace of mind that helps you sleep through the night as well.

Expert interior designer Joann Means creates custom theme beds that are as appealing to a parent's need for safety as they are appealing to children's sensibilities. At Sweet Dream Children's Interiors http://www.sweetdreambed.com she and her husband Johnny Means have built a bevy of custom theme beds for young kids of any age, including those to be used as transitional beds for toddlers ready to make the switch from their cribs to big boy's and big girl's beds.

Peruse the galleries at Sweet Dream Children's Interiors http://www.sweetdreambed.com and see just how they've masterfully blended form and function, practicality and fantasy, into custom theme beds that delight both parent and child alike. Then contact the Means and see what they can do for you and your little one. Big transitions like this one don't have to be traumatic periods in a child's life. With the Means' creations, in fact, they can be times of revelation, and personal empowerment, joy and delight.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joann_Means

Sleep Well in Your Green Bedroom

By Mark Zawaideh

We all know about the benefits of eating organic foods and using eco-friendly free cleaners and other household items, but now this toxin-free existence has extended into other areas of the house. Apparently a tidy, relatively dust-free bedroom just doesn't cut it anymore in today's chemical ridden society.

How green is your rug? Natural products such as jute or wool are the most desirable.

Your bedroom furniture may be oozing toxic gases. Anything composed of particle board or paneling and left unsealed, can emit formaldehyde and has the potential to cause difficulty in breathing, watery eyes, or allergies. Extreme levels have been known to cause cancer in animals and humans.

When you're painting your walls, look for a low VOC brand that contains less toxins. A good rule of thumb is, the stronger the paint smell after you put it on the wall, the higher the level of toxicity.

How many of us are sleeping on an organic bed? An organic bed emits no toxic chemicals and provides a healthy sleep environment.

Most traditional mattresses are made with fire retardant chemicals which seep out, only to be absorbed by our pores and lungs while we are sleeping. After ingesting various chemicals throughout our average day, it gives our bodies a much needed rest if we omit these toxins from our sleeping hours. This is especially true when you consider that people spend about one third of their life in bed.

Some of the common toxins emitted during sleep include:

• Formaldehyde, a chemical which is used in many adhesives and can cause eye and throat irritation and headaches.
• Carcinogenic flame-retardants (known as PBDE’s), many of which are banned in Europe and some U.S. States.
• Decabromodiphenyl Oxide, a brominated flame retardant now being found in women's breast milk.

Here are a few of the green features in organic bedding and mattresses:

• Natural latex cores wrapped in a natural flame retardant such as cotton or wool
• Emission-free mattresses that contain neither glue nor adhesives (these can emit toxic fumes for the first 2-3 years)
• Natural fiber bedding that not only breathes, but naturally resists dust mites
• Any cotton material used in the production of the bedding should be unbleached. Traditional cotton is not an acceptable choice due to its exposure to large amounts of pesticides and fertilizers prior to harvesting.
• No PBDE’s (fire retardants)
• Hypo-allergenic
• Made in a chemical-free manufacturing plant

Various affordable green mattress retailers include IKEA, Cozypure, Gaiam Greensleep/Vimala and EcoChoices.

Mark Zawaideh, a top sales associate in the United States, and based in the Northville Michigan real estate market. If you're looking to buy or sell property in the Canton MI real estate area, be sure to visit Mark at MarkZProperties.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Zawaideh

The New Bedroom Furniture Colors For The Coming Holidays

By Ben Weissman

Everyone aims to be in style and following the latest trends each season. Such aspirations can be difficult to pursue at times, especially if you haven't been following the latest color trends for upcoming events. This holiday season, what will be in style, and how can you make your furniture come to life in a way that reflects the new colors that are in style? Start by evaluating what you have already and determining if you are ready to trade in your current furniture for one of the new modern bedroom sets.

You'll find several new trends in bedroom furniture, some of which are related to color and others that are related to style. All are conducive to creating a comfortable, warm, and homey feel for the holiday season. If you don't want to completely redecorate for the holidays, you should start by purchasing a contemporary headboard, which will bring a new look and style to your room with minimal expenditure and change. This can make a huge difference in the feel of your bedroom, bringing in a more modern appearance and feel. Whether you choose to purchase wood or wrought iron, make sure you have a geometrical pattern that is of contemporary style, and try to choose a darker tone that is reminiscent of a quiet winter evening. Contemporary furniture is typically available in several neutral shades.

If you are interested in replacing your bed entirely, look at modern platform beds, which are extremely popular this holiday season. Instead of the large, bulky, intricate sleigh beds of the past, these beds allow you to use the basic appeal of the simplistic design as a center for other decor this holiday. You can easily add pillows, throws, blankets, and other decor in holiday colors that will spruce up the bed, keeping the bed as a basis for future designs. You might try a sophisticated platform bed which adds something elegant to the classic platform design and maintains a price you can afford.

This particular bed also adheres to another trend in furniture for this holiday season: the return to black bedroom furniture. While obviously not the standard black lacquer furniture that was so popular in the 1990's, it nonetheless does prove that "black is back". It creates a quiet, sensual warmth that can provide you with a comfort zone on cold nights this Thanksgiving and Christmas.

With this kind of quality bedroom furniture, you'll wonder why you didn't decide to buy new furniture sooner. Hillsdale and other manufacturers can provide excellence of quality and variety in styles that will keep you trendy this holiday at prices that won't empty your wallet.

Ben Weissman writes articles on Wrought Iron Beds, Discount Bedroom Furniture, Interior Design and Quality, and Affordable Furniture Manufacturers, such as Hillsdale Furniture You'll find more Decorating Ideas at http://www.Home-and-Bedroom.com Make your bedroom into a personal retreat!