What Furniture Does Your Baby’s Nursery Need?
Every mother-to-be dreams of designing the perfect nursery for their new baby. But, how do you create a perfect nursery? Well, you must start with the furniture that every nursery needs. A crib, changing table, dresser, rocking chair, and a lamp are all items that you and your baby will need during this first year of childhood.
In today’s baby furniture market there are many choices of cribs to choose from. Set a budget and get the measurements of the room before you start shopping. You may want to stick with a traditional rectangular crib, or go with a unique round crib. Also, some cribs are made to convert into toddler beds and even adult beds for future use. Whatever the style or color you choose, be sure you are buying from an authorized dealer of the brand so all warranties will be in tact. Also, be sure to check if the crib meets or exceeds all Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association and government requirements. All materials should be finished with non-toxic paint and contain no formaldehyde.
With every new baby comes the extra chore of dirty diapers. Several times a day you will need a place for you and baby to comfortably complete this chore. A changing table specifically designed for this purpose is the answer. When you are shopping, ask if the changing pad comes with the table, or if it is priced separately. Decide what items you will be storing in the changing table and take measurements of your space. Many changing tables have shelves, drawers, or a combination of both. When you are shopping, remember you will have one hand holding the baby. So, any drawers or doors that need to be opened must be easy to get into one-handed.
Unless your baby’s nursery has built-in cabinets, you will need a dresser. Many times, by purchasing the crib and dresser as a set, you can save money. Decide ahead of time what items you will be storing in the dresser. You will have a choice of dressers with drawers, dressers with side-by-side shelving, or a combination of both. Try opening each drawer one handed, because most of the time you will be holding baby in one hand while you gather items with the other. Some models are very hard to open one-handed. Also, check all warranties and ask about safety features before you buy.
As a new parent, a large amount of your time will be spent rocking and feeding your new baby. This makes a comfortable rocking chair in the nursery a necessity. While you shop, consider the amount of space the rocker will take up in the nursery and, also consider the amount of time you may be sitting in the rocking chair. Some moms choose a traditional rocking chair with a nice cushion. Or, you may like the idea of a recliner to comfortably put up your feet and sleep with your precious new baby.
The lighting in your baby’s nursery is very important. When your little one wakes up at four in the morning, the last thing you or your baby want is a bright light. On the other hand, you need enough light to safely move around in the nursery for changing and feeding. A lamp will let off enough light for you, and still keep the room in semi-darkness for a sleepy baby. You have a choice between floor lamps, table lamps, and lamps with several light settings (these last ones require a special bulb that is a little more costly). Just be sure any lamp is safely out of reach once baby starts becoming more adventurous.
However you choose to design your baby’s nursery, nothing will take the place of you being there. It is exciting to shop for furniture and decorations to welcome a new baby into our family, but that is not the most important part of this new baby’s life. It’s not the furnishings that your child will recall with fond memories. It will be the loving, caring touch of you and your family that will make memories for a lifetime.
Happy Shopping