Skip to main content

choosing nursery furniture

Having a baby is such an exciting time, but it is a long 9 months waiting for your little bundle of joy to arrive.  In that time however there is lots to prepare - baby names, baby groups, work and most importantly the nursery!  Looking for your dream nursery suddenly makes everything seem a lot more real.  I waited until the last possible minute before buying cot beds and changer for my twin girls (I wish I'd launched this blog/website before!), because there are lots of choices out there so a bit of preparation will hopefully make the decisions a bit easier!

Firstly, there is the decision as to whether or not to buy a moses basket.  I did not buy one firstly because I felt a cot bed and a moses basket in the same space was going to cloak the nursery and would not have fitted well and I felt that my new born babies would outgrow it fast! Don't get me wrong, a moses basket is great as it is portable and can be used in your own bedroom during the night, and then downstairs in the day for daytime naps.  Generally, moses baskets are used until the baby is approximately 4 months old when he/she will have generally grown out of the basket. It just wasn't what I wanted at the time. Like I said, I wish I launched this blog/website before.

A cot or cot bed is the main piece of nursery furniture you will probably buy. Cot beds are larger with removable sides and will last until your child is 4 or 5 years old whilst a cot will last until your child is ready to move into a toddler bed between 2 and 3 years. There are a number of different styles and options to look for in a cot or cot bed:-

Drop Sides - cots with drop sides will have a mechanism which will allow you to lower or raise the side usually with one hand to make it easier to place your baby down to sleep.

Adjustable height mattress base - this should be standard with usually 2 or 3 base positions as your baby grows.

Castors - Some cots will come with castors making it easier to move them around.  2 of these must be lockable and should always be locked when in use.

Teething Rails - These clear plastic strips fit onto the cot edges to protect both the cot and your babies gums once they start to teeth.

Safety Standards - Ensure your cot conforms to British or European safety standards.

Finish - Choose a durable, non-toxic finish on your cot.

Mattress - make sure you choose the right sized mattress with no more than a 4cm gap between the mattress edge and the cot.

Cot Position - Make sure you position your cot away from direct sun, windows, heaters, lamps and wall decorations.

Style - A white sleigh cot bed is often the most popular choice, but you may choose something more modern or space saving.

The next important piece of furniture is the changer.  There are now lots of different options when buying a baby changer.  Some cots are available with a matching changer which fits neatly across the top of the cot. You might choose a changing table which will have shelves underneath to house the all important nappies and other baby essentials or you might choose to buy a chest of drawers with the option of a changer on top.  That way once your baby no longer needs the changer you can remove and still use the chest of drawers.




Wardrobes or chest of drawers - if you decide to buy a changing table or top you will need somewhere to store all of your beautiful new baby clothes.  A baby wardrobe will usually have the option to have both hanging and shelf space, whilst a chest of drawers provides space on top to house all those baby essentials.  Whatever you decide make sure that they are sturdy enough not to be pulled down by your little one, and that drawers are kept closed to prevent trapping little fingers!


Bedside tables and shelves  - I would not say these are essential pieces of nursery furniture, but if you have the space, they are lovely to have and if bought within a matching set with cot and changer, it will create a beautiful look.  A bedside table is great for placing a bedside lamp to create soft lighting for your little ones room as well as their favourite book!

Enjoy picking your nursery furniture with us - I hope this has been of some help in making those decisions! Be inspired!!!! If you want it, we can create it #custardandmustardcraft #proudlynigerian

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Practical ideas on how to make the most of a small nursery

When your nursery has limited space, keep in mind that less is more. Trying to cram in too much furniture can make the room impractical and create a claustrophobic environment. Here are some practical ideas for a small nursery. Think tall, not wide Make use of the height of the room, using tall rather than wide furniture. Slim, tall, one-door wardrobes are available, and some have shelves all the way up. For safety, secure tall furniture to the wall with a bracket or two. Since baby clothes are small, you can install another one or two hanging rails further down in the wardrobe. You can then hang up more clothes. Put shoe racks, storage boxes or a set of drawers at the bottom of the wardrobe to take advantage of the space. If you have space above the wardrobe, tall plastic drawers or baskets can be placed on top. Multifunctional furniture Multifunctional furniture can save space and money. Try changing units with drawers or shelves underneath or those with longer legs that

Quality Mattress equals happy baby

Finding the best mattress for your baby can be hard work. In fact, there are so many styles, makes and models of mattresses but one of the easiest ways to begin is to decide what size of mattress you should get for your baby and the type. It has been reported that latex mattresses tend to be springier and durable for a baby bed. I was recently asked what kind of mattress is available at custardandmustardcraft and I immediately said "the mattress best for your baby", generally assuming that the client is aware of the different types of baby mattresses. That should not have been my answer, hence the need to blog about it and provide more insight to the kind of mattress best for your baby.   It is common for parents to pay more attention to a child’s bed frame, comforters, and bed sheets than to the mattress. This is unfortunate because there is probably no item in a child’s bedroom that is more important to a baby's health than the mattress. Children sleep longer and d