Nursery Furniture

Furnishing a nursery can be an incredibly meaningful experience for parents-to-be, but it’s important to have an idea of what you want before you start shopping. Use this guide to help you make your decisions so that you can be focused and efficient when you’re choosing pieces for the nursery, from cribs to changing tables. Then all you’ll need is to pick 0ut the mobile that hangs above your sleeping darling.

Cribs

Buying Cribs

A full-size crib is probably the biggest baby expenditure that most parents will make. They come in all sorts of finishes and styles, and most come with optional matching nursery furniture like changing tables, dressers, and so on. The amount you can spend on a crib ranges from $200 to $2,000: it all depends on where you shop and what style and brand of crib you buy. Some cribs convert into toddler beds and then into full-size headboards, so give some thought as to whether you’d like to transition your child in this way.  Many parents skip the toddler bed entirely and move their child directly to twin or full mattress, either placed on the floor or with safety rails, once their child is ready.
While the crib you buy does not have to be new, it should be sturdy and meet current Consumer Product Safety Commission regulations. Slats should be no further apart than 2  3/8 inches—you should not be able to fit a soda can between them. When you find the crib you like and bring it home, be prepared to spend some time putting it together. Cribs take a few hours to assemble and reading directions is a must. Also remember to assemble the crib in the nursery, as it will not fit through doorways once it’s put together!

Changing Tables

Changing tables

With the average newborn requiring 8 to 10 diaper changes a day, you’ll be spending a lot of time at your changing table. Make sure to choose one that is at a comfortable height for you to maneuver around while changing your baby. Most changing tables feature storage of some kind underneath for diapers and changing supplies. They may also have shelves or drawers underneath to hold items.
While you can purchase a changing table as part of a matching set of nursery furniture, it isn’t essential. Getting a changing table in a similar finish is enough to make a pretty nursery, or you can always buy one and paint it the right color. It is nice to have a changing table with a rail around the outside.  Some parents opt to buy a dresser with a changing top so the dresser can grow with their child.   Remember never to leave your baby unattended on a changing table for even a moment. A rail is not a safeguard against accidents.

Rocking Chairs

Rocking chairs and gliders

A rocking chair is virtually a necessity for most parents. You’ll find yourself spending a lot of time in it after the baby comes, so it pays to spend money on a decent chair. Cutting corners and buying a rickety old chair may save money, but it will drive you crazy if it is uncomfortable to sit in for long periods of time or begins to squeak. A chair with nice, padded arms is critical for use in a nursery while you are nursing or giving a bottle to the baby.

Crib Sheets

Bedding can include everything from crib sheets, bumper pads, crib skirts and maybe a quilt or blanket. There are traditional sets in pink or blue or more contemporary styles in corals or mustard, and clean edges without the bows and ruffles of others past. Many parents are forgoing bumper pads all together due to concerns about SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). If you do opt for a bumper, make sure it is thin (1/2 inch or less is best).  Or opt for a breathable bumper.

Feeding supplies

This can include bottles, plates, spoons and sippy cups. You’ll also need bibs to keep your baby’s clothes clean (as much as possible) and washcloths and towels to clean up baby and the mess that probably occurred no matter how hard the two of you tried not to make one. For mom, there are breast pumps and breast feeding accessories. Many consider this feeding method the best for baby and with the helpful products available today, it may be easier for mothers today than it was decades ago.

Video Baby Monitors

Baby monitor

Of course, all parents want to keep their babies safe and especially first-time parents may worry and stay awake a little more than those who’ve been through it all before. For added comfort that things are fine, you may want to consider baby monitors and gates for the home. Monitors can be sound only or more high-tech with video or vibration built in. The style and colors are many and will fit most room decor.