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