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Baby
Furniture Buyers Guide |
by:
Randy
Wilson |
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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