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Buying Guide: Nursery Furniture

• Choosing a Style
• Cribs
• Crib Safety Tips
• Chests, Armoires, and Combo Units
• Changing Tables and Changing Pads
• Changing Table Safety Tips
• Gliders

Like all furniture for the home, nursery furniture comes in a variety of styles and finishes. Once you decide on a style and finish, you'll have to choose what furniture pieces you want for the nursery. The crib is usually the first piece of furniture that parents purchase, and the rest of the nursery is chosen to complement the crib. Additional nursery furniture to consider is a case piece to store baby's clothing and accessories, a changing table to keep all those diapering necessities close at hand, and perhaps a glider as well. You and baby will be spending a lot of time together in the nursery. Keep that feeling of comfort and security you want your baby to experience in mind as you decide how to furnish and decorate this precious space.

Choosing a Style
Nursery furniture is available in traditional, contemporary, colonial, and shaker styles.

Traditional styles are usually the most decorative, with features such as spindles on cribs and metal accents on drawer handles. Most traditional furniture comes in darker finishes, such as cherry and oak.

Contemporary furniture is most often neutral in color with finishes such as hardwood maple or aspen. Simple and elegant, it will lend the nursery a brighter feel.

Colonial styles have a lot of European influence and are available in a greater variety of finishes. Distinctively ornate features such as wood engravings give colonial styles an old-world charm.

Shaker furniture is an Early American style characterized by simplicity and purity of design. Built for practicality with strong lines, this style of furniture makes a statement on its own without any decorative touches.

Cribs
Most often the first furniture purchase for the nursery, a crib is going to be a big part of baby's life for the next few years. It needs to be a safe environment where baby can sleep, rest, and feel comfortable. There is a vast selection of cribs available. Here are some key benefits and features to choose from:

• Single drop-side - One side of the crib can be raised and lowered for placing baby in and out of the crib. The other side is permanently attached to both the headboard and footboard.
• Double drop-side - Both sides of the crib can be raised and lowered so baby can be put in and out of the crib from either side.
• Kickbar drop-side release - Lift the drop-side a bit with one hand, then press the kickbar with your foot to release the drop-side.
• Shin drop-side release - Lift the drop-side a bit with one hand, then push the drop-side in with your shin to release it.
• Four-position mattress spring - The mattress spring can be lowered to four different positions to adjust as baby grows. Mattress springs can be constructed of either steel tubing or wood.

All of the features above are available in two different styles of crib: single or convertible. A single crib functions only as a crib, and once your child outgrows it you will need to purchase a bed. A convertible crib, sometimes called a 3-in-1 or lifetime crib, can transform from a crib into a daybed and even a full size bed.

Crib Safety Tips
A crib is one place your baby will be spending a lot of time unattended. There are many safety issues to take into consideration so that baby can rest comfortably and safely in a crib.

• All new cribs in the United States must meet U. S. Consumer Products Safety Standards.
• Never use a crib with corner posts over 1/16" high unless they are over 16" high and used with a canopy. Posts that are too high can pose a strangulation risk if baby's clothing becomes caught on one of them.
• Slats should be no more than 2 3/8" apart. Do not use the crib if any of them are loose or missing.
• Make sure that all screws, bolts, brackets, and other fasteners are properly and securely in place.
• Make sure the mattress fits snugly into the crib with a space of no more than two adult fingers between the crib and the mattress.
• Never leave pillows or large, soft toys in the crib with baby. All rattles, teethers, and other toys should also be removed from the crib while baby is sleeping or otherwise unattended in the crib.
• Remove all crib gyms, mobiles and other hanging cords from the crib once baby can push up on hands and knees (at about 6 months).
• Avoid cribs with cutout designs in the headboard and footboard that baby can become trapped in.
• Place baby's crib away from all windows, lamps, dangling cords or ribbons, fans, heaters, and furniture.
• Never place plastic bags or any similar material in a crib. Do not use any type of plastic as a mattress cover.
• Do not use portable or smaller than full-size cribs on a permanent basis. They are not as durable as regular full-size cribs and cannot withstand the same amount of activity.
• Always keep all drop-sides up and locked in place whenever baby is in the crib.
• Check your crib regularly and make sure there is no cracked or peeling paint, splinters, or rough edges.
• Never use a second-hand or hand-me-down crib. Older cribs were not subject to the safety standards in place today.

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, Inc. (JPMA) has developed a certification system to identify which products have been manufactured with safety in mind. Look for the JPMA seal while you're shopping for a crib. It's an easy way to make sure the crib you choose meets the highest standards for safety.

Chests, Armoires, and Combo Units
While a crib will only be used for a few years, case pieces can last much longer. There are a few different types of pieces to choose from depending on what your needs are and how much space you have in the nursery.

Chests, available with 3-6 drawers, are ideal for storing clothes and most are roomy enough to accommodate baby's entire layette. Choose a chest that has drawers with safety stops and metal drawer glides.

An Armoire is a tall cabinet with a hanging rack and 1-2 drawers. Armoires are great for storing clothing, and bedding items as well. Make sure that the drawers have safety stops, and that the unit is sturdy and heavy enough to prevent toppling.

Combo Units are a combination of a dresser and a changing table. The dresser has 3 drawers and a taller piece at one end. While your child is in diapers, a contoured changing pad makes this piece a changing table. As your child grows, the combo unit functions as a spacious dresser. Many combo units can also be paired with a hutch for even greater storage space later on. Look for a non-toxic finish, easy-to-clean surface and safety stops on all the drawers.

Changing Tables and Changing Pads
A changing table allows you to diaper and dress baby at a comfortable height, and provides an organized space to store all your diapering necessities as well as some clothing. Changing tables are available in three different styles:

Open Shelf changing tables have a sturdy top table with guardrails to keep baby safe. The open shelves below provide easy access to diapering needs.

Dresser Drawer style changing tables look much like a regular dresser with a flat tabletop surface. Half of the unit is filled with drawers, and the other half is a cabinet with shelves. Once your child outgrows the need for a changing table, this style can still function nicely as a dresser for years to come.

Combination style changing tables, also known as Combo Units, are a dresser with 3 drawers and a taller piece at one end. Designed to be used with a contoured changing pad, this unit has loads of storage space for diapering essentials and layette items as well. After your child outgrows a changing table, the unit makes a great dresser. You can also purchase a matching hutch for most combination style changing tables once you no longer need a changing table.

Whichever style you choose, you'll find that some changing tables include a changing pad while others do not. There are several types of changing pads that can be purchased separately from your changing table:

• Vinyl changing pads are waterproof, wipe clean easily, and are available in a variety of colors.
• Cloth changing pads usually have a waterproof layer on the bottom, and can be machine washed for easy cleaning.
• Contoured changing pads have a concave shape that cradles baby, and helps to prevent baby from rolling off the pad.
• Disposable changing pads are great when you're on-the-go with baby. Often sold in multipacks, they have a waterproof backing to protect against leaks, and offer you a sanitary place to change baby. You may also want to consider a changing pad cover. Covers are easily removed and machine washable, and they can add to baby's comfort, especially if you're using a vinyl changing pad.

Changing Table Safety Tips

• Never leave your baby unattended, not even for a moment.
• Make sure the changing table is sturdy and will not collapse or tip over under your child's weight.
• Always use safety straps when changing your baby.
• If your changing table does not come with safety straps, you should purchase them separately and install them on your changing table.
• Keep all the things you need to change baby within arm's reach.
• Keep at least one hand on your baby at all times.

The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, Inc. (JPMA) has developed a certification system to identify which products have been manufactured with safety in mind. Look for the JPMA seal while you're shopping for a changing table. It's an easy way to make sure the changing table you choose meets the highest standards for safety.

Gliders
Gliders offer a very smooth back and forth motion that both moms and babies find extremely comforting. These very special chairs feature thick, soft cushioning and are available in many different fabrics and patterns. You can choose the contemporary feel of a wood frame glider, or the more formal look of a fully upholstered glider. Many gliders have a matching ottoman, designed to provide the same gliding motion as the matching glider. An ottoman can help a great deal in relieving pressure from the mid and lower back, enhancing the relaxation a glider can provide.

Decorating baby's nursery is sure to be exciting. As you decide what furniture pieces you want for baby's nursery, you may want to start thinking about room décor. There are many styles of bedding, crib toys, mobiles, lamps, and other accessories available. Including some furniture and bedding selections in your registry is a great way to give gift-givers an idea of the theme and color pattern you've chosen for the nursery ... and maybe a hint of whether you're expecting a boy or a girl!

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