Choosing Your Baby
Nursery Furniture

Before you begin to buy your baby nursery furniture, you may want to create a baby room design plan .

Choosing the baby nursery furniture is one of the fun aspects of designing your baby’s new room. This is another area where you can be creative as you want to be. You can purchase ready to use furniture or consider getting some unfinished pieces and finish them any way you want by painting, staining,stenciling, or even applying decals and special knobs to them.



When choosing your baby nursery furniture, you may also want to take into consideration how long you hope to be able to use the pieces for. If you want to use them for more than a couple years, make sure to get pieces that will grow with your baby. A piece of furniture that has a specific baby theme to it may not go so well in a toddler or child’s room. Here is some information about the most common pieces of furniture used in the baby nursery:

Baby Cribs

The baby crib is the most important piece of furniture in the whole nursery. It will be the place that your baby spends a great deal of time during their first year so you will want to do your research before you settle on one:

• Learn about the different types of baby cribs available
• How to choose a safe baby crib

More Baby Beds: Comparing Bassinets, Cradles, Moses Baskets, and Co Sleepers

Bassinets

Bassinets are best described as a wicker basket with legs. They usually have castors on them and are fairly lightweight so moving them around the house is very easy. They usually have a hood on them and are decorated in linens and lace. Themed bassinets such as Winnie the Pooh and Snoopy can also be found. Bassinets can be found for around $100 while designer baby bassinets can run $1000 or more. You can also find bassinets that convert to co sleepers, changing tables, and even cradles. Other features may include mobiles and sleep soothers that hang on the side and vibrate and play music. My son’s bassinet even had a little nightlight on the side which came in handy more times than I can count for those late night feedings! Most bassinets come with their own mattress but you will probably have to buy bassinet bedding such as sheets and blankets. You may just want to use receiving blankets. Babies prefer to be swaddled the first few months anyway.

Cradles

Cradles vary slightly from bassinets. They are normally made of wood so they are heavier than bassinets and a little harder to move around the house. Instead of legs, cradles have rockers on them so they can be rocked back in forth which is the biggest difference between them and bassinets. Expect to pay around $100 for a cradle with designer cradles easily costing $2000 or more. Many people like the idea of a cradle because it is a great item to have as a family heirloom passed down from through the generations. My sister used the same baby cradle for her three daughters that my mom used for all five of her children. It is now packed away until my nieces begin to have children. It is really a nice tradition to start or pass along. Since a cradle is essentially a tiny crib on rockers, you will need to purchase bedding for it including bumper guards and cradle sheets.

Moses Baskets

Moses Baskets are a small woven basket with handles which make it easy to carry anywhere you go. They usually come with and mattress and are lined with linens or a bumper. Some also feature a hood which is great for shading the baby’s eyes if you want to take them outside with you. They are the most convenient of all the baby beds since they are not big and bulky so relocating them around the house or taking them with you when you leave the house is extremely easy. Moses baskets can be found starting at under $50 while high end models can go for more than $400 or more.

Co sleepers

Co sleepers are a bassinet or a portable playpen or crib that are the same height as a regular bed. Co sleepers have an open side that attaches to your bed so that you can have your baby right beside you. Since it is not recommended that you have let the baby sleep in your bed, this is a safe and convenient way to have them right beside you for late night feedings. Expect to pay between $100 to $200 for a co sleeper which isn’t too bad since you can use it as a playpen when you are done co sleeping.

More Furniture Pieces for the Nursery

A changing table is not an absolutely necessary piece of baby nursery furniture but it is certainly a nice addition if you can afford one and have the space for it. They make it convenient to change and dress the baby and give you additional space to keep all the essential items for these tasks all in one place. Changing tables that convert into a dresser are a great idea because you will be able to use it in the child’s room when they get older. Make sure that the changing table you choose has a belt to buckle the baby to the table and a rail to prevent an accidental fall from the table. You may also want to place a baby mobile above the changing table. It will help entertain the baby will you are changing him or her.

Dresser

A dresser is a great piece of baby nursery furniture to have because it provides extra space to store clothes, especially if you have a small closet to work with. You have a lot of options to consider when choosing your dresser. You can get one that matches the crib you have chosen which will help bring the nursery together. If you want to use the dresser for the baby’s room as they get older, you will want to stay away from dressers that have baby themed paintings or designs on them.

Dressers with removable changing tables on top are another option to consider. It is like having two pieces of furniture in one and you will be able to convert it and continue to use it once the baby has outgrown the need for a changing table. The dresser/changing table is also a good idea if you are working with a small space and don’t have room for both pieces in the room.

Dressers with a hutch on top of them are also a great idea. They add additional storage space to display knick knacks or other items. A hutch also works great as a bookcase if you don’t want to buy a separate one.

Be sure to anchor the dresser to the wall. This will prevent a potential hazard when the baby starts crawling and climbing.

Gliders and Rocking Chairs

A glider or rocking chair is a wonderful piece of furniture to include in the baby nursery if space allows. Having a place to sit in your baby's room makes late night feedings much more convenient and also gives you a place just to sit and bond with your baby.

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