Welcoming a baby into the world and raising the little bud is an incomparable feeling to parents and other family members. Sometimes, that may lead to our decision to provide extra colourful items to this cute tiny human. I mean why not? Let the baby grow up in a cheerful and bright environment so they’re happy… right? Not quite.
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Various research into children’s early development has shown that it is the opposite when it comes to colours. It is best that babies and toddlers are surrounded by calming neutral colours as it avoids overstimulation. This overstimulation may lead to developmental issues such as concentration problems and inability to self-regulate emotions1.
Babies’ eyes are not fully developed yet in the first few months of life. Introducing a sudden burst of colours at such an early stage of life is what causes this overwhelming stimulation. Babies thrive in an environment of calming muted colours. In the first year of a baby’s life, avoid surrounding them with too many colours. As they grow older you can introduce more colours to them gradually2.
“Muted colors usually let a bigger space for children to use their imagination and become more independent. Using muted color in the nursery creates a calm environment for the baby. Besides being aesthetically pleasing, these colors have a calming and soothing effect.”(ibid.)
Why and how am I using colours?
It is time to put the developmental needs of children first and use colours more functionally. The goal is to have a good balance of calm, subtle and soothing. For example in the nursery where the baby requires a calm environment to sleep, utilise neutrals and pastels to create a mellowness in the room. A mellow environment can soothe an overstimulated baby3.
Before: Overstimulating colourful concept.
After: Calm, subtle, and soothing environment.
Little buds expanding their creativity in an environment that supports their freedom and emotional regulation.
At Buds & Bear, we found that not only does using soft neutral colours good for the baby, but also for the parents! Many of our fellow parents also agree that brightly coloured baby products and toys in their home are giving them headaches and feelings of anxiety. That is why we created a playmat that uses natural hues which reduces unnecessary stimulation in the environment.
Do I avoid bright colours altogether?
On the other hand, using all-white colours may cause understimulation. Too little stimulation can make your child anxious, sleepless, emotional, nervous, and lack concentration4. Ironically, this is the similar set of effects to being overstimulated. When it comes to nurturing kids, it is truly an act of balancing.
Gradually, children above 1 year old should be introduced to more colours through play and sensory activities. While they may not be able to read, write, or comprehend complex information, identifying colours will be a significant milestone early in their development(ibid.). However, we still believe that muted colours in home design provide the best conditions for them to grow with a sense of safety, calmness, and mindfulness.
You can incorporate more colours in their environment once they have better tolerance to the big bright world. There will come a time when your baby is no longer little, and they start requesting that their room is in bright yellow or pink or blue. Although… they will always be your baby no matter how big they get.
- McGeary, Bronagh K. 2021. We need less colour in the Early Years. Retrieved from: https://www.famly.co/blog/we-need-less-colour-in-the-early-years
- deMoca, Alex. 2022. Bright Colors vs Muted Colors - How it affects your little one. Retrieved from: https://democa.com/blogs/parents-blog/bright-colors-vs-muted-colors-how-it-affects-your-little-one
- TinyLove. 2022. Understanding Overstimulation – How to Balance your Baby's Environment. Retrieved from: https://www.tinylove.com/en/articles/avoiding-overstimulation-in-babies
- Renk Etkisi. 2017. The Effects of Colors on Children. Retrieved from: http://renketkisi.com/en/the-effects-of-colors-on-children.html
