Kid's Furniture Buying Guide

You're going to need different furniture as your child grows. This guide is broken down by age group to help you choose the right kids' furniture for every stage of childhood.

Nursery Furniture

Cribs

Baby cribs are (hopefully) one of the most used pieces of nursery furniture and come with several features to make your baby's nap times and night times as easy as possible. Before choosing a crib, think about what 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.

Drop sides are 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 sides are available, so check to see if the crib you like has a method that sounds easy to you. Some methods use one knee or a foot, while some require the use of one or both hands. Some drop-side cribs are advertised as "noise-free" which can be very helpful if your baby wakes up easily.

Adjustable crib mattress heights will help you 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.

Some cribs come with wheels on the feet. This could be helpful for you if you'll be moving the crib to different rooms, or just to vacuum underneath and search for stray toys. If you are unsure about using the wheels, you can leave them off when you are assembling the crib. Remember to never move the crib while your baby is in it.

Changing Tables

A good quality baby changing table can make diaper changing quick and easy. Here are a few features that will improve this task.

• Safety Straps: These seat belt-like devices come with most changing tables. Use these at all times to maximize your baby's safety.
• Guardrails: This is another way to prevent your baby from rolling off the changing table. Guardrails should be at least 2 inches tall.
• Changing Pads: A waterproof changing pad is essential for easy clean-up of diaper messes. Some are machine washable, while some just need to be wiped down with a gentle anti-bacterial cleaner after use. Check the manufacturer's guide for any changing pad. Curved changing pads have rounded sides as another way to prevent your baby from rolling off the changing table. Some disposable changing pads are also available, if that's most convenient for you.
• Storage: Shelves or drawers will keep diapers, wipes, ointments and powders nearby so you can keep one hand on the baby. Open shelves on a changing table can be the most convenient, but closed shelves and drawers give a tidy look to the nursery. If you want the convenience of shelves, try using decorative baskets to keep everything together.

As with all nursery furniture, the most important thing is to choose a changing table that is safe for your baby. This doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style, though. Changing tables come in beautiful materials, often in colors and styles that match your baby's crib. And since a sturdy, solid changing table is the best, buy one that is built to last and can be easily reused as a dresser or bookshelf when your child's diaper-changing days are over.

Other baby furniture includes plenty of children's storage: dressers, shelves for toy storage and bookshelves. You'll probably also want a diaper pail with a lid to trap odor. Of course, no nursery furniture collection is complete without a rocker or glider for rocking your baby to sleep.

Toddler Furniture

Once your child is at least 35 inches tall or strong enough to climb out of his crib, he is ready for toddler furniture. Beds for kids aged 18 to 24 months help them know they aren't a baby anymore. Toddler beds are just the right size for your little one to get in and out of without any help, fostering a feeling of independence. Toddler beds are low to the ground like a twin bed, but hold a crib mattress. This is an economical choice because you can use the same crib mattress and baby bedding. This also makes your child's adjustment to a "big kid bed" easier. Some toddler beds also have small side rails to prevent your toddler from rolling out of bed.

Once your toddler starts walking around, he may feel like everything is adult-sized. Give him a place to play that is just his size with kid's tables and kid's chairs. Kid's tables make great places to do crafts, play games and eat snacks. You'll find that most children's furniture requires very little maintenance--unlike your other tables, kid's tables are made to withstand play time, so bring on the finger paint. Just clean your children's furniture regularly with a non-toxic household cleaner.

Children's Furniture

Let Your Kids Have a Say

As your children grow, you'll see their tastes start to emerge. Let their imaginations run wild with kids' furniture that reflects their newly developing styles. Give your children the opportunity to have some input on what furniture they'll have in the bedroom. More choices are available now than ever, so there's sure to be something you'll both like.

Encourage reading with bookshelves sized for your child's height and a kid's rocking chair to sit in while she reads her books. A kid's bean bag chair has all the comfort of a grown-up chair, but it's small enough to give your child a perfect place to unwind and maybe even take a nap. A kid's chair invites your child to sit with you on the deck or patio when you have children's chairs meant for outdoors. Many children's chairs are available in styles to coordinate with your other furniture, while other kids' tables and kids' chairs are available in fun themes to match your child's new tastes. A kid's table decorated with sports themes, princesses, racecars or trains can spark little imaginations.

Children's Beds

Kids' twin beds are just the right place for little kids to dream. They come in the perfect size for little ones and are available in many fun styles. Some kid's twin beds even incorporate storage underneath. Styles range from classics, like canopy beds and sleigh beds, to modern, whimsical theme beds. Choose a kid's twin bed to reflect your child's developing tastes.

Are you a little short on space? A trundle bed features a second mattress (usually twin-sized) that slides under the main mattress. This type of bed gives you the option of a second sleeping space you can tuck away when it's not in use. Trundle beds are especially great for sleepovers.

Memories are made when siblings share a bunk bed, and you'll have room for all the other furniture they need. Check to make sure that the bunk bed has safety features such as guard rails and a sturdy ladder, and only let children age seven and older use the upper bunk.

Another great space saver is a loft bunk bed: a bunk bed with a kid's desk, futon or shelves on the first level and only a bed on the second level. Whichever you choose, make sure to measure the spot where you are putting it before you make a purchase.

Kids' Storage

You'll want to make sure you have plenty of kids' storage in your child's room or any room where he plays with his toys. Book shelves don't have to just be used for books, though: toys, dolls, games, stuffed animals, trophies and art projects can all be stored and displayed. For added kids' storage use baskets or bins on bookshelves or in closets, then take it to the next level by attaching photographs of what the bin contains so clean up is easy, even for early readers. Coat racks will not only keep coats and jackets handy, but they can also keep a backpack full of homework ready for school. Toy bins along walls or at the foot of a child's bed can make clean up time easy. Dressers are necessary to hold clothes but can do double duty storing more toys. Encourage a lifetime of organization by creating children's storage your kids can use on their own.

Youth Furniture

"Tweens" and teens need bedroom furniture that reflects their older age, but that doesn't mean they need adult furniture yet. Your teenage child may be ready to upgrade her kid's twin bed to a full-size bed. If the styles seem a bit more mature than kids' twin beds, add brightly colored bedding to keep the room youthful. Adding a full-size bed may even save you some work; the bigger bed will mature the bedroom enough that your child won't mind a paint color that seemed "too young" before. Like kids' twin beds, full-size beds come in many styles: canopy, sleigh and poster, to name a few. Check out Overstock.com's wide selection of styles with your child before making a decision.

By this age, your children will be spending more time on schoolwork than they ever have before. Give them a homework zone with a kid's desk. Choose a computer desk if she'll have her own desktop computer. If she'll just be using a laptop or pen and paper, any kid's desk that appeals to you both will work. Coordinate the color, style or material to the bed for a cohesive look, but don't feel too restrained since kid's rooms are more about fun than matching. For creative kids, a kid's desk may also be a place for arts and crafts projects, so if your child is artistically inclined, choose a kid's desk that can be cleaned easily and that stores a lot of supplies. Don't forget good task lighting for your child's desk, as well.

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