If you are expecting a baby, one of the things that will surely keep you occupied is looking to buy baby furniture. You will want to select only the best baby furniture for your new arrival. As such, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Among them are durability and safety; however, another important consideration is transformability. Will your baby be able to continue using particular furniture items past infanthood and into childhood, or will you be obligated by your choices to replace costly items at every stage of your child’s development? Choosing carefully can save you money and save resources generally.

What should you look for when choosing baby furniture?

It’s a blessing if you are well-off and able to run to your local baby store or go online and purchase everything brand-spanking-new; however, that’s not really a guarantee that you will get the very best in quality and safety. Naturally, the first thing you will want to consider is safety. Modern baby furniture usually comes with a built-in safety rating and a warranty, so it should be fairly easy for you to choose safe baby furniture when shopping for new items if you also exercise caution and use common sense. However, what if you are unable to afford brand-new? How can you choose safe items for your baby when shopping second-hand or evaluating hand-me-downs given by friends and relatives? Here are a few things to look for in both new and gently used baby furnishings:

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1. Run your hand over the item thoroughly. You are looking for sharp surfaces, splinters and other protrusions that have the potential to injure your baby.

2. Do a visual check for screws or nails that might be protruding or might be easily removed and swallowed.

3. Check to be sure rails and slats are closely spaced to avoid having your baby become stuck or lodged between them. They should be closely enough spaced that a baby’s head could not slip through.

What makes the best baby furniture?

Baby furniture should be tough and durable. It should be able to withstand hard use. You should only choose items that are well-constructed of a sturdy, cleanable material such as wood or metal and some very tough and well-constructed plastic items. Bear in mind that you want your baby furnishings to last at least through your baby’s toddler stage, and you may want to use these furnishings for a second baby.

When choosing items such as linens and toys, opt for simplicity. Linens that are fussy and lacy or toys that have lots of moving parts are just an invitation to disaster. Holes that little fingers can get stuck in and dangling ties, strings and loose ends create swallowing hazards and the potential for entanglement. Toys that have lots of moving parts can pinch small hands and fingers. For a little baby, it is best to stick with very basic and simple linens. Surprisingly, you should avoid crib bumpers as they have been known to suffocate babies. Choose toys that are soft, cleanable, of one piece and do not have small parts that can be removed and swallowed.

Another thing to keep in mind is the safety and ease of movement in the nursery. You don’t want the room to be so crammed with furniture that you can’t move around freely, and of course, as your baby grows, he or she will want to have room to play. Be sure to measure the space you have. Jot down the measurements between doorways and windows and think about how you want to arrange the nursery. Whenever you go shopping for a new item of furniture or consider an item that is being offered to you, measure it to see if it will fit into the space you have in mind. It’s a good idea to carry your list of measurements and a roll-up measuring tape in your pocket or purse so that you can be certain of measurements on-the-spot.

When arranging your nursery, be sure that furnishings such as chests of drawers and shelves are well secured to the wall. Even though it is not an issue for a new-born baby, tragically, toddlers have been injured under furnishings that have fallen because the toddler was attempting to climb up to get something. It is best to be sure that these furniture items are well-secured early on. Once your baby arrives, you may find yourself too overwhelmed and exhausted to take care of this. Before you know it, your baby will be crawling and climbing.

Additionally, when arranging the nursery, be sure that you leave all escape routes open and easily accessed. Don’t put heavy furnishings in front of the window or in the path of the doorway. Be sure that you would be able to get out and emergency personnel would be able to get in easily in the event of a fire or other emergency.

Remember that you can do some of your baby furniture shopping after your baby arrives. All your baby will need in the way of furniture at first is a cradle or crib and a changing table! If your space and resources are limited, you may want to simply choose the best you can in these two items to start with. Then, if you are able to move to a larger place, and/or as you see what you need for your new baby, you can carefully choose other items to complement your original purchases. It is always best to invest in fewer items of higher quality rather than squandering your resources on lots of poor quality items that will fill your space but serve you poorly.

The most important thing when choosing baby furniture is to take your time, examine each piece carefully, and invest in the highest quality items you are able to find. By choosing wisely, you can be sure that your baby will have a safe, comfortable, welcoming nursery – even if you have not been able to spend a fortune on all-brand-new baby furniture.

The range of items available in nursery furniture these days is absolutely mind-boggling.  Every expectant parent and grandparent wants the new addition to the family to have everything possible, and for their nursery to look beautiful.  The arrangement of your baby’s room is very important and should be able to provide functionality for both parent and baby. Your nursery should be able to provide access for you to attend to your baby and should not be dominated by furniture. Baby furniture also makes excellent gifts for birthdays and weddings. Newly weds would love to receive baby furniture since they will not need to shop for baby furniture anymore.

Here are some helpful tips if you are planning your nursery at the moment and are wondering how you are going to manage everything.  Here are alternative ways to achieve a wonderful result in decorating and furnishing your baby’s nursery.

Some furniture would be essential to your nursery. The crib should be your nursery’s centerpiece. You should choose a crib that will fit with the rest of your nursery pieces. Cradles are also great nursery furniture. Bassinets are used for children less than 4 months old. Changing tables are crucial pieces to your nursery as well. You could also opt for dresser/changer combinations if you want to save space and money. You will also need gliders to feed and bond with your babies.

Your crib will not be complete without nursery bedding. Nursery bedding should not only be aesthetically pleasing but they should also be able to provide comfort for the baby. Your nursery bedding will set the tone of your nursery which is why you should choose the correct bedding theme. The mattress will be the bedding’s most crucial element. A standard mattress will fit in almost all cribs except round cribs. The mattress should have a foam inner liner and a high coil count. A quality quilt will go well with any crib. For protection, you would want to have crib sheets to shield your mattress from solid and dirt. You should not use pillows in your crib or your baby may acquire SIDS. Your crib would also want to have a bumper and a valance.

Initially make a list of the nursery furniture you must have; make another list of the things you want to have; then make a third list of the things that would be nice to have. Start with getting the items on the first list.  Also you can ask family and friends to help furnish your nursery. People are going to buy things for you and the baby, so why not ask them to help you buy the nursery furniture.  People could go together on larger items or some might just give you the cash to buy whatever you want. Let everyone know you would like help with furnishing the nursery.

A lot of nursery furniture actually receives little use, and second hand goods can save you lots of money. Friends who have finished having babies may have furniture that you can buy cheaply and some people will just give you pieces.  A coat of paint does wonders for a pre-loved piece of furniture, and you have the added advantage of being able to choose a specific color to suit your baby nursery theme.

If you are a DIY-er, reconditioning nursery furniture will be a rewarding experience, and you will love to see your baby using furniture you have lovingly prepared.  If you do decide on a second hand bassinet or crib, you will probably want to purchase a new mattress, so your baby is sleeping on a fresh base.

So there are other ways to furnish your nursery than buying loads of new stuff. Plan your theme, slap on some paint, add some accessories and create a wonderful room for the latest member of your family.

Below are some tips to make your purchasing for your baby easy.
• Ask experienced parents what they found really useful and read our buying guides to help you decide on a purchase.

• Prepare a wish list of nice but non-essential items to give to friends and relatives when they ask you what you would like (as they will).

• Exchange unwanted gifts. Most shops oblige.

• Tell the world that you want hand-me-downs like baby clothes, prams, toys, etc.

• Borrow items, such as high chairs, Moses baskets, carry cots wherever possible.

• Make do. For example, an unused face cloth or cut-down worn towel that would double as a baby sponge. You can make sheets and cloth nappies from used soft cotton sarees.

• Plan ahead so you can take advantage of sales.

• Only buy new if there’s a safety issue involved.

• Buy up large whenever you see Buy One Get One Free or Three for Two offers.