Canopies for a crib: what are they and what are their features?

For each parent, caring for and creating comfortable conditions for their child are the primary tasks in the process of raising a child. In addition to the basic items and attributes necessary in the process of growth and development of a child, there are accessories that combine the benefits for the baby and the decorative component of the interior. These things include canopies for a crib.

It is no secret that good rest is vitally important for the human body and especially for the child, since during this period important processes occur in babies that determine its formation on an emotional, physical and social level. In addition, only healthy sleep will help the baby to regain strength in order to continue to get acquainted with the world around him and develop fully. That is why it is important to correctly organize a recreation area in a child's room with the help of correctly placed accents when arranging a crib.

Recently, more and more parents, in the course of decorating a children's room for both newborns and older boys and girls, prefer to use the old version of placing a canopy above the bed or cradle. The history of such arrangement of a sleeping place goes back to the periods of the reign of kings and monarchs, where the curtain was widely used in adult and children's bedrooms.

There are many opinions regarding the functionality of canopies over children's beds. According to some reviews, this thing is a purely decorative item with a lack of practical functions, in the light of which it may seem that the acquisition of a canopy is just a waste of money. But, having studied more thoroughly the relevance and functionality of the canopy, you can be convinced of the opposite.

To confirm the fact that the canopy is a useful and important curtain, it is necessary to highlight a number of tasks that it allows to solve.

• The canopy acts as a reliable protection for the baby during sleep from the penetration of sunlight and electric light. Thanks to this, the child's sleep pattern will not be disturbed even during daylight hours and with the lighting in the room turned on.
• By covering the baby bed, it is possible to reduce the penetration of dust and other contaminants into the baby in the cradle. Most of the microparticles will settle on the fabric, so the canopies need to be cleaned regularly.
• The canopy will become a reliable protection for the child from various insects that can penetrate through open windows into the room. This will avoid disturbed sleep, in addition, eliminate the risk of allergic reactions to their bite.

• Dense fabric canopies will protect the child in bed from drafts, so during sleep you can ventilate the room, ensuring good air circulation, which will have a beneficial effect on the quality of sleep and the health of the baby.
• The canopy will become a reliable shelter from prying eyes, which will ensure a calm stay of the child in bed and help him fall asleep.
• With the help of the canopy over the bed, you can provide your child with a secluded corner, which will give psychological comfort and protection to the child during the rest period.
• According to pediatricians, the arrangement of a child's bed using a canopy has a positive effect on the formation and development of the child's personality.

Based on the intended purpose of the canopies, you can highlight the positive aspects of using this accessory in the children's room.

• Since modern apartments are quite often equipped in the form of a studio, placing a baby cot with a canopy will help to zone the space for the baby, fencing it off from extraneous sounds and light.
• For older children, canopies above the bed can act as a thematic addition to the interior, because quite often children's rooms are equipped based on fairy tales or cartoons.
• In addition, instead of such a relic of the past as a carpet or tapestry on the wall, a dense canopy can partially prevent the spread of cold from the wall, which is important for corner rooms.

However, like every accessory, the canopy has disadvantages:

• since it acts as a barrier to the entry of dust, collecting it on its surface, the fabric will need to be washed regularly;
• products made from natural fabrics with an individual design will have a high cost;
• the canopy visually reduces the area of ​​the room and the height of the ceilings;
• children quite often use a canopy to play, which can lead to traumatic situations.

The above disadvantages can be easily leveled if you choose products with an easy fixation option above the bed, so that if there is dirt, you can quickly remove and clean the canopy. In order to save money, you can make a canopy yourself, as a result, a unique product will appear in the children's room with which you can decorate any bed in shape - round, rectangular or even bunk for the weather.

The modern choice of products will satisfy any requests of parents and designers, the range of products is classified based on the age of the baby, his gender, and also the price category.

However, the main division of products occurs according to three main criteria:

• the option of placing and attaching the canopy over the berth;
• product length;
• material used for release.

The type, width and length, as well as the type of canopy, are selected for the style of decoration of the children's room, since such a product must be in 100% harmony with the main interior solution of the room and bedding.

The assembly and fastening of the canopy can be done in several ways.

• The first option involves placing the product in the center. Most often, a canopy is put on in this way, which is designed to maximize the cover of the cradle, which is important for newborns. To fix such a model, a special support in the form of a long holder is used.
• There are models that are located at the head of the bed. Such canopies are most often purchased for the older age group, for kids from 5 years old. They close only one part of the bed by the bed, where the baby's head is located, which makes it possible to only partially isolate the sleeping baby from the rest of the space, while protecting it, but not limiting the view.
• Another type is canopies, which must be hooked around the perimeter of the bed. This design is considered the most difficult, since a frame with racks at the corners of the berth is required to fix the product. However, the complexity of the option is justified by the functionality of the canopy, since the position of the canopy can be adjusted from all four sides, if desired, leaving something open to choose from, or vice versa.

Shortened models are less functional, therefore they are most often used as an additional decorative element in a children's room. Such canopies are sold in sets for cribs for older children, since they are not useful for a newborn's cradle. As for the long canopy, it is these models that are ideal for babies, since they cope with the task of protecting the child from irritating factors to the maximum.

Maxi bed curtains dim light and protect against insects and mosquitoes, but in terms of operation, they can be inconvenient, since the bottom of the canopy can get tangled in the wheels if the cradle for the newborn is mobile. For stationary models, problems with long canopies should not arise during use, the main thing is to correctly position and fix the frame.

Given the huge range of fabrics, baby bed canopies can be made from a wide variety of textiles. Products can be dense or light and transparent, each option finds its admirers. As practice and parental feedback show, the first option is more useful, especially if the cradle is located in the parent's bedroom or the lighting in the nursery is quite saturated. In addition, dense fabric will be an excellent solution for a canopy in nurseries, where cool air is retained. Lightweight options will provide a child's interior with a feeling of weightlessness, but also act as an excellent protection against dust and insects.

The main criterion for choosing, in addition to the appearance and interior matching, will be the need to purchase products exclusively from natural fabrics, otherwise even the most weightless synthetic materials will become an obstacle to free air circulation. Most often, canopies for a nursery are made of cotton and silk, but options from linen and chintz are also quite in demand. The main advantage of lightweight models is the ease of draping, which ultimately allows you to create very beautiful wave folds.

From the point of view of practicality, taking into account the fact that the bulk of the dust will settle on the material, you can opt for curtains made of tulle or organza, even white. These fabrics are very easy to clean and dry almost instantly. Also, they do not need to be ironed, but can be hung up immediately after washing, which makes it easier for mom. But it should be borne in mind that these materials are thin, so they cannot provide adequate protection from light and sound. Tapestry and velvet will create a truly luxurious environment in the nursery, in addition, such fabrics have good soundproofing qualities.

The range of colors allows you to choose a canopy for any interior. For newborns, it is preferable to opt for light shades; applications and ornaments should be temporarily abandoned, since various bright elements will distract the baby, causing fatigue and disrupting sleep. In the process of growing up, the canopy can be replaced with a more colorful one, or various decorative additions can be attached to the existing one in accordance with the gender, age and preferences of the baby.

After buying or making a canopy on a crib on your own, an important issue is the fastening of the product.

Manufacturers distinguish several options for placing canopies:

• fixing to the floor;
• attachment to the bedside back, however, it is important to take into account its width;
• ceiling mount;
• installation of the frame to the wall.

Long canopies, as well as products made of heavy fabrics, require a reliable and durable fastening arrangement. Such models are usually mounted on a special holder to the ceiling. Lighter fabrics are placed on the bar near the crib. Those products that are installed using additional elements to the ceiling or wall will be stationary, therefore they will not be suitable for mobile cradles.

Thanks to the large number of decorative accessories, the nursery can be turned into a real work of art, and the canopy will help complement the decor, focusing on the cradle. For the first years of life, a baby, regardless of gender, should provide the most comfortable sleeping area, this will help a canopy made of dense fabric of a light shade, placed above the crib. Smooth waves of fabric will create a calm and pacifying atmosphere in the cradle, as well as provide a slight twilight, which will help the child to fully relax.

Little princesses want the magic not to end even in the crib, so decorating the bed with a colorful and light canopy with ruffles, bows and ribbons will allow the girl to dream about a fairytale castle and good characters from her favorite cartoons before going to bed.

Multi-layered canopies featuring stars and the moon will be interesting for boys. In such an environment, a young traveler in his fantasies will be able to go to explore distant planets and their inhabitants, gradually sinking into sleep, and with the help of several layers of fabric, parents will be able to make the baby's rest more comfortable.

For information on how to make a canopy for a crib with your own hands, see the next video.