Tips on Choosing Nursery Furniture for Your Newborn
If you’re having your first baby and have been brave enough to begin looking for nursery furniture — not to mention looking for baby clothes, baby bags, baby toys, baby foods, and the best universities for babies — you might be feeling a little overwhelmed right about now.
It would seem that every gadget and piece of furniture imaginable is on offer for the expecting parent and their new-born-to-be, but what do you really need? How do you separate necessary from extraneous?
First: sleeping and nappy-changing. If we forget eating for the time being, newborns spend nearly all of their time sleeping and having nappies changed, at least for their first few months of life. As a consequence, the pieces of furniture that will facilitate both of these activities are at the top of your list, or should be. That doesn’t mean this is completely cut-and-dry however. First, do you want a crib, or just a cot? Many parents find that they want both, though it’s not strictly necessary.
A crib allows you to rock your baby to sleep, and accommodates newborns to four months old. A cot is equally appropriate for new-borns, but has a longer shelf-life; in fact, there are ‘cot beds’ available that can be converted into beds for an older child at the appropriate time. ‘Cot beds’ are an economical option, given their extended shelf-life and the value they provide. Other cots are on offer of course, many of which have adjustable sides, adjustable mattress heights, teething rails and other amenities. There are also travel cots that can be easily folded up. And while not specific to the nursery, many parents opt for Moses Baskets, which allow you to transport your new-born while she sleeps.
Changing tables are the last ‘must-have’ item for the nursery (though you’ll find everything from nursing chairs to rocking horses for sale), and they typically come as three-tiered units, with the top layer as a flat changing surface, and the bottom two shelves used for storage. These can be had for fairly cheap; often less than 50 pounds. There are also changing tables that combine a dresser with a changing table, and this is another smart economical option you should consider.
We used a play pen for the first 6 months, in our room. Then once my son was sleeping through the night moved him to a crib in his own room
So much has changed since I needed to purchase these items. We had babes in with us for the early days, but then crib sleepers after.
I don’t think I’ve heard of a cot-bed. I’ll have to look that one up. Very informative post.
Personally, I never used one. They’re neat but my house is small enough I was able to have him in his crib from the first day I brought him home.
I forgot the name of the thing we used when my babies were newborn to 6 months. It was so much better and easier to have close to my bed.
I love having options like these. Thanks for sharing.
When I was a first time expecting mom, safety was my number one worry. I bought this way expensive crib but it did put my mind at ease!
Our babies slept in the bassinet in our room for the first while and then transitioned to their crib…although, my daughter had a harder time taking to her crib and only wanted to sleep with us! lol. We never had change tables…I always preferred a change mat that I’d simply pull out and use on the bed or couch, etc. while changing the babies. Great post!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Our baby was in a crib from day one. Wouldn’t have it any other way. Sure, they occasionally stayed in our room. But there are so many things to consider as to what is best for your family.
We had a small cradle at the bedside for the first couple months and then transferred the baby to a full crib in their own room when they were 2-3 months old.
I love it when multiple items are put into one. The all-in-one functionality is always something I’m looking for no matter the product.