Baby Furniture Buying Guide

Crib buying tips

Cribs come with several features to make your baby's nap times and night times as easy as possible. Before choosing a crib, think about which features would be helpful to you. All new baby cribs meet or exceed federal safety standards, so you can rest easy knowing that your baby will be safe in any of the cribs from Overstock.com.

Crib Features

• Drop sides: a lifesaver if you aren't very tall or if you plan to use your baby's crib often. Drop sides allow you to lower one or both sides of the crib so you can place your baby gently onto the crib mattress without waking him up. Different methods of dropping the crib sides are available so check to see if the crib you prefer has a method that would be easy for you. Some methods use one knee or a foot, while others require the use of one or both hands. You may see drop-side cribs advertised as "noise-free," which can be very helpful if your baby wakes up easily.
• Adjustable crib mattress heights: allow you to use your crib for a longer time. The highest level is for a newborn, so you don't have to lower him very far. The next height is lower, so when your baby can pull himself up, he can't climb over the edge. Some cribs even have a third lower level for added safety as your baby grows and gets stronger.
• Wheels: helpful for moving the crib to different rooms, for vacuuming underneath the crib and for finding stray toys. If you are unsure about using the wheels you can leave them off when you are assembling the crib.
• Convertible Cribs: converts two, three or four times: into a toddler bed, a child-sized twin bed, a day bed or a full-size bed. With one of these you have your baby's bed set for life. The change between a crib and a more grown-up bed is easier for your child when the bed feels familiar, giving him a sense of security. This convenience does come with a larger price tag, though, so you'll need to think about whether you love the convertible crib enough to use it for many years. Also, if you plan on having more children you may just want a crib you can reuse instead of a convertible crib.

Safety Tips for Cribs

• Check screws and bolts on the crib regularly to be sure they are still tightly fastened.
• Crib slats should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart; all new cribs should already meet this requirement.
• If you can fit more than two fingers between the mattress and the crib, the crib mattress is too small.
• Remove all the plastic wrapping that your new crib comes wrapped in. Do not use a plastic bag as a mattress cover. Any plastic film presents a choking hazard for your baby.
• Always place your baby in the crib on his back and make sure there is no soft baby bedding that could cover his mouth.
• If you use crib bumpers, make sure they fasten securely in all four corners, in the middle of the two long sides, and at the top and bottom edges. If the crib bumpers fasten with ties, trim off the excess fabric after securely fastening the crib bumpers in place. When your baby is big enough to use the bumpers as steps to climb out of the crib, remove the bumpers.
• Even if your crib has wheels, never move the crib while your baby is in it.
• Position the crib in the nursery away from the window. The direct sunlight and the cords from blinds or curtains are health hazards.
• When your baby has grown to 35 inches tall, he is too big for a crib and is ready to move on to a bed.

High Chair buying tips

When your baby is about six months old and ready for solid foods, you'll want a high chair for meal times. Some parents even like to have high chairs as soon as their baby can sit up, so he can join the family during meals, even if it is only to observe. As with all baby furniture, safety is a high chair's most important consideration with cleaning the high chair very close behind, especially when you introduce strained peas to your baby.

High Chair Features

• Safety Straps: keep your baby safely in place while in the high chair. Safety straps should at least go around your baby's waist and in between his legs. Additional shoulder straps increase the safety of the high chair once your baby is able to stand. Some high chairs have a piece of molded plastic to go between your baby's legs and across his lap; this is also a safe method. Having only a waist strap is unsafe. Make sure the straps do not attach to the tray.
• Tray: should be easy for you to slide in and out, but secure enough that it is not easy for your baby to slide it. Some trays are fully removable so you can wash them in the sink or the dishwasher. A high edge on the tray will reduce the number of spills that make it to the floor.
• Reclining Seat: allows you to use the high chair with an infant who can not yet support his head, but is also nice for an older baby who may get tired after meal time.
• Height Adjustment: allows you to use the high chair as your baby grows to be a toddler. Adjust the seat height to a level at which you are comfortable feeding your baby.

Safety Tips for High Chairs

• Choose a high chair with a wide base to reduce chances of tipping.
• Always use all the safety straps on the high chair. Using only the waist strap could allow your baby to slide down under the tray, presenting a suffocation hazard.
• Always make sure the tray is fully attached. Watch out for baby's fingers when sliding the tray.
• If the high chair has wheels, make sure they are locked in place while you are feeding your baby.
• If the high chair is foldable, make sure it is locked into place while you are using it.
• Never leave your baby unattended in a high chair. Pediatricians agree: Most high chair-related accidents could have been avoided if the baby was properly supervised while in a high chair.

Other Baby Furniture

Other baby furniture includes plenty of children's storage: dressers, shelves for toys and bookshelves. A good quality baby changing table can make diaper changing quick and easy. Look for one with safety features such as safety straps and guardrails, plus storage you can easily reach without taking a hand off your baby. You'll probably also want a diaper pail with a lid to trap odor. Of course, no baby furniture collection is complete without a rocker or glider for you to rock your baby to sleep.

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