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Baby
Furniture - A Buyers Guide
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by:
Randy Wilson
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Baby furniture is one of the most popular types of gifts given at a
baby shower. Gift shopping for nursery furniture can be made easier if
the new parents have a gift registry at some popular stores in your
area. However, this is often not the case. Be sure to always enclose a
gift receipt with your gift so it can be returned if the new parents
get duplicates.
Communication between the guests would be wise to prevent any duplicate
gifts. The guests could also choose to get together on something more
expensive such as a piece of nursery furniture. The parents need items
that will hold up well for their newborn, so check to make certain the
item you choose is sturdy and built for safety.
Purchasing an expensive gift such as a piece of furniture for the
nursery would help the new parents tremendously as they are probably
strapped for cash at this point. What with the pre-natel care and the
upcoming hospital and doctor expenses that come with any childbirth.
Baby
Cribs
Cribs will be the most important piece of furniture the new parent will
need for the baby. They come in a wide variety of styles and finishes
to match any nursery theme or color scheme the parents might have for
the nursery. They come as standard cribs, canopy, convertible, sleigh
and various other types. Some of the more common features available
would be adjustable mattress heights, metal mattress supports, one of
three different kinds of release mechanism, rolling casters and/or a
teething rail. A baby can use the crib from birth until around the age
of 3. A safe and sturdy crib will cost from $150 to over $1000
depending on the quality of the wood and the features provided.
Crib
Mattresses
A crib mattress is a very important item for the baby as she/he will be
spending over 50% of his time on the mattress until he/she is around 3
years of age. Mattresses come in basically two types: foam or
innerspring/coil. Foam weighs less while the innerspring/coil will last
a much longer time. Accessories include bedding, crib sheets, crib
wedges and waterproof mattress pads. High quality foam mattresses will
cost between $80 to $100, while an innerspring/coil mattress will cost
from $75 to $200.
Bedding-Bumpers-Sheets-Quilts-Shams
Most standard, canopy and convertible cribs will use standard size crib
bedding. A round crib, porta crib, cradle and bassinet will all need
special bedding to fit the size of the particular item. A bumper is a
necessary item that is needed to keep the baby safe by keeping the
baby's arms and legs from getting stuck in the slats. A quilt or
comforter should not be used in the crib, but rather as a play mat for
the baby. A diaper stacker is used to store your diapers and to keep
the nursery more organized. Pillows are a safety hazard for the baby
and should never be used in the crib. Most bedding sets can cost from
$50 to as high as $700 for a set with better quality fabrics etc.
Changing
Tables
A changing table should be well padded, have guardrails and include
safety straps for the baby. They come in several types such as the
combination sytle, dresser drawer and one with open shelves.
Accessories include changing pads, oraganizers and wipe warmers. A
changing table can be used from birth until about two years of age.
They range in price from $90 to $200 depending on the accessories and
storage space they have.
Rocking
Chairs
A rocking chair would be a welcome addition to the baby nursery or
living room. The rocking chair would give the mom-to-be lots of quality
time with her newborn baby.
Moses
Baskets
Moses baskets are a rather unique piece of furniture. A moses basket
would be an unexpected but welcome baby shower gift. Also something the
mother could pass on for a heirloom. This is an item that could be
passed from generation to generation.
Child's
Rocking Chair
A children's rocking chair would make a great gift. One that most
people wouldn't think of giving. You wouldn't need to worry about
duplicating your gift with some other guest with this gift.
Playpen
& Play Yard
Play yards come in 3 different types. The basic which can be used as a
playpen or a crib. One that has a bassinet built in for the newborn. A
canopy style to keep you infant shielded from the sun and to keep in
cooler in the outdoors. Accessories you can purchase seperately include
a changing station, netting for outdoor use and sheets. A play yard can
be used from birth until about 2 years of age. Good quality play yards
cost between $60 to more than $200.
Portable
Travel Crib
A portable travel crib would be great for those over-night trips out of
town or state to family or friends.
Cradles
A cradle is used from birth until 4 months or the baby is able to roll
from side to side. Cradles usually include a padded bumper, fitted
sheet and a quilt or comforter. One of the advantages of a cradle is
that you can rock it and it is lower than a crib.
Baby
Dresser
Every nursery needs a chest of drawers for the newborn. You can buy
them with a theme, in different styles, shapes and colors. If you know
how the new parents will be decorating the nursery, you can match the
baby dresser to the theme.
High Chair
All new parents need this very essential piece of furniture. There are
several types of high chairs: Adjustable, conventional, booster and
wooden. The high chair should have an adjustable tray, locking
mechanism, some kind of restraint system and possibly rolling casters
which are allowed to be locked easily. Parents can use the high chair
as soon as the baby is born for bottle feeding if it is capable of
fully reclining.
Bassinets
A traditional piece of nursery furniture would be a bassinet. The baby
can use the bassinet from birth until about 4 month of age. Bassinet
sets usually include a hood cover, fitted sheet, plain sheet and a
bumper.
Car
Seats
A car seat is a necessity because every state requires the baby be
restrained while in a car. Newborns must travel in the back seat in a
car seat that faces the rear of the car. After the baby is a year old
you change to a forward facing car seat. Car seats come in several
different types. An infant car seat, convertible and booster seats.
Infant and convertible car seats cost between $60 and $300.
Strollers
Strollers come as a standard stroller, single, umbrella, double
strooler or as a travel system which is a combination stroller and car
seat. Most strollers have a canopy, front bar, harness, reliner and a
storage space. Accessories available include accessory bars, attachable
toy and activity bars, infant headrests, rain sheilds and stroller
connectors for attaching two strollers together. A stroller can be used
from around 4 months of age until about 3 or 4 years old. Depending on
the style and quality strollers can be purchased for as little as $15
to as much as $1,000.
Baby
Monitor
A monitor may be a luxery item, but it can give the parents added
reassurance that their baby is safe. There are several types: audio,
audio/movement and audio/video monitors. Monitors can be used from
newborn to toddler. Depending on the type of monitor, you can buy them
for as little as $20 on up to $400, with the audio/video monitor being
the most expensive.
Bouncer
Seat
A very useful item is a bouncer seat. They can come with an accessory
toy bar, canopy, restraint and variable speeds. A bouncer seat can be
used from newborn until the baby is 9 months old. The standard
non-battery operated bouncer seats cost between $40 and $75 while the
battery operated seats tend to cost a bit more.
© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.
About the Author
Randy is owner of Profitable
Home Businesses, How to Plan a
Baby Shower and Las Vegas Weddings.
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