Essential Nursery Furniture: a New Parent Buying Guide

As a new parent, there is much to think about and many tasks to complete on the to-do list before the baby arrives. A huge task is gathering furniture for the nursery so that your future little one’s room is ready for their upcoming arrival. Some parents prefer purchasing nursery furniture in sets (a crib and dresser set, a 3-piece nursery set, or a 5-piece nursery furniture set). Others may choose to buy nursery furniture separately for a perfectly designed nursery.

However, you do it knowing the essential nursery furniture pieces is important. Below we’ll cover some pre-buying considerations before discussing what nursery furniture pieces you should definitely include in your baby’s room. Let the nesting begin!

Pre-Buying Considerations

Before you go out and purchase a bunch of nursery furniture, you’ll want to gather the dimensions of your nursery to see how much space you have to work with. You’ll also want to know the safest spaces for your baby furniture to be placed. For example, the crib should always be positioned away from hazards like windows, blinds, or shelves. You don’t want anything getting into the crib or falling into the crib. Positioning the baby crib away from vents and direct sunlight is also a good idea.

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The Heart of the Nursery: The Crib

When searching for a crib, you’ll want first to decide if you want a standard crib or a convertible crib (assuming you don’t need a mini crib or portable crib for traveling). Compared to a standard crib, a convertible crib allows your baby to transition from a crib to a toddler bed and is the most cost-effective crib choice. A safe crib mattress should be purchased and placed with the infant side up, which is firmer than the opposite side.

Changing Table: A Must-Have Nursery Item

A changing table may not seem like an essential furniture piece but it is a convenient staple within a nursery room. First, changing tables allows parents to change their baby at a more comfortable height than kneeling on the floor or over a bed. Since changing tables are usually designed with plenty of drawers and shelves, they make a great place to organize diapers, wipes, and diaper rash cream. Purchasing a changing table and dresser combo is a great choice as it can transition to simply a dresser as the child gets older.

Nursery Dresser: Organizing Baby’s Clothes

Speaking of dressers, it’s essential to have a place to keep your little one’s clothes, blankets, burp cloths, and more. Dressers with soft-close drawers are ideal to prevent little fingers from getting slammed. It’s also a good idea to ensure the dresser is secured to the wall or has an anti-tip mechanism. Like most nursery furniture, the best type of dresser to purchase is one that can provide storage while looking appropriate in your child’s room for years to come.

Gliders and Rocking Chairs: Comfort for Parent and Baby

Another essential nursery furniture item to have is a glider or rocking chair. Sometimes the most comforting thing to a baby who cannot sleep in the middle of the night is to be cradled and rocked in a nursery chair. These also make good seats for nursing, reading books, and relaxing. Many hours may be spent in a nursery chair, so choose one that is comfortable with fabric-covered armrests, lumbar support, and a footrest.

Nursery Lighting: Setting the Mood

If you don’t already have a ceiling light in the nursery, ensure that the lighting you add to the room does pose a risk to your little one. As they get older and grab things and crawl around to play, you don’t want a floor lamp or cord to be quickly yanked on. One of the best lights to add to a nursery room is one that has a dimmer light option. Since newborns, especially, are awake throughout the night, you don’t want to turn on a bright light and wake them more than they already are. Lights with dimmers are wonderful tools for middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes.

Conclusion

When it comes down to it, there are only 5 essential nursery furniture pieces that new moms and dads need! A furniture set includes a crib (with mattress), changing table, dresser, glider or rocking chair, and lighting. Purchasing nursery furniture that can be used for years is ideal, so remember to look for pieces that can either transition (e.g., convertible crib) or have a neutral design.

If you’re trying to find nursery furniture on a budget, you may be able to find affordable nursery furniture sets sold nearby by neighbors or at a baby furniture outlet. After sourcing the essential nursery pieces, you can have fun adding decor, accessories, and bedding! Then before you know it, you’ll have a little one lying in the new crib in your freshly decorated nursery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most essential pieces of nursery furniture?

The most essential nursery furniture pieces include a crib with a crib mattress, changing table, a dresser, a glider or rocking chair, and soft nursery lighting.

How can I ensure the safety of the nursery furniture?

The most significant risk to young children is the possibility of nursery furniture tipping over. To ensure this doesn’t happen, nursery furniture such as shelves, dressers, and changing tables should be anchored to the wall if they don’t already feature an anti-tip mechanism.

What should I look for in a crib and a mattress?

Parents should purchase a crib that fits their space well and offers them the desired features, such as eventually converting the crib into a toddler bed. The selected mattress should be firm and safe for infants to lie on.

Are there any tips for organizing nursery items?

The best way to organize nursery items is to give everything a ‘home’ in the nursery. Items can be organized and sorted into baskets, bins, and other compartments to keep the room orderly. Arranging the most-used baby items in a way where they can be easily accessible is ideal.