How to Buy Nursery Decor When You Don't Know Anything About Babies.. Or Nurseries

Don't have kids? That's cool, neither do I.  Babyworld is still mysterious terrain for me, so I know all too well how difficult shopping for a friend's newborn can be.  Finding unique, useful, and meaningful gifts for babies and new moms is a fun challenge though.  And luckily today's nursery decor offers some really creative and clever choices. 

Wow.. I've been working toys for quite a long time, but I've had a lot of fun getting acquainted nursery decor over the years that isn't run of the mill. 

For starters, basically everything from Authentic Models is amazing!   Their products are definitely high-quality and based on fascinating content, making them a neat choice for stylish nurseries. Their mobiles in particular work great with a variety of wall colors, furniture, and themes, plus they don't feature jarring characters that could scare a baby.

The A-Cup Sailboats mobile (pictured above) is a BIG hit with nautical themed nurseries, and with the recent USA victory in the America's Cup, the history behind these lil' racing boats makes for really special gift too.

The boats of the a-cup mobile were modeled after the real 1932 American J-Class racing yachts!  But it's not the only Authentic Model's mobile that's inspired by American history. Switching gears to aviation, the Gee Bee Squadron mobile represents the real, award-winning Gee Bee racing planes of the 1930s.

I read a blurb online that likened these planes to something you'd find in a Disney Movie.  I could totally see it, especially in Who Framed Rodger Rabbit or Disney's 2013 feature, Planes.

Aside from neat mobiles, tabletop or dresser decor for the nursery is another good route to take. Stylish wooden "nesting" blocks work great as colorful nursery decor, plus they serve the dual purpose of being safe, high-quality play blocks for babies when they're a bit older. 

Other gifts that fall in this category are Ostheimer wooden figures and decor, which come in a wide variety of trees, animals, people, homes, and more. They're all handmade from Germany's most recognized wood shop. Ostheimer gives people the freedom to create dresser top decor that fits perfectly with any nursery theme. Literally, I think they make EVERYTHING. 

Last but not least, I wanted to mention the versatility of Steiff plush. Most recognized for their vintage jointed teddy bears, Steiff also has a series of more plushier stuffed animals that make for cute, whimsical nursery decor as well.