Nesting is by far my favorite symptom of pregnancy. Extra motivation to clean, organize, and set up cute things? A new reason to go shopping? And my partner can’t even get mad at me because hashtag hormones? Yes, please!
The epitome of nesting is getting the baby's nursery put together. Where do you even start though? Scanning through Pinterest for inspiration can feel overwhelming (and sometimes the links to furniture don't work) and hand-me-down baby furniture might not be safe anymore. Let's take baby steps and focus on the three must haves for every nursery: a crib (kind of a given), a dresser (multi-use as a changing table is even better), and a glider/rocking chair. Now that you know what items to get, picking the right furniture for you and your nursery starts with knowing the right questions to ask.
Ubabub Pod 2-in-1 Convertible Crib with Toddler Bed Conversion Kit
General questions to ask when looking for nursery furniture:
Style
- Color: Is it gender neutral? Will it clash with other wood colors in the baby’s room?
- Material: Wood, metal, plastic, mix?
- Mid Century Modern
- Rustic/Farmhouse
- Minimal
- Traditional
- Is there built-in storage? Do you need the extra storage?
Reviews
- How durable is the furniture? Are you planning on having lots of kids that this furniture needs to go through? Does the paint chip easily? Is the wood soft?
- Does the furniture meet recent safety standards? Are there any recalls? Do I need to secure it to the wall?
- Is it easy to build/set up? Do you care if it is an easy set up?
Size
- Where is it going?
- Are you planning on storing it after? Will it fit in your storage? Does it break down easily?
Babyletto Peggy 3-in-1 Convertible Crib with Toddler Bed Conversion Kit
Questions to ask when looking for a crib:
Adjustment
- Does the mattress platform adjust easily as my child grows? (You don’t want a baby toppling out once they can pull themselves up.)
Toddler Bed Conversion
- The toddler bed conversions are awesome because you kill two birds with one stone.
- If you are planning to have more kids, though, are you going to convert the crib and then buy a new crib for your new baby? Or buy a toddler bed and then when your youngest is grown convert the crib and you will have two toddler beds?
Questions to ask when looking for a dresser:
Style
- Will the dresser be able to grow with your child? In other words do you want just a baby set of furniture and then buy new when they are older? This could be the way the dresser looks, but also how big it is.
Practicality
- Can it be used as a changing table as well? If the dresser isn’t too high or too narrow, you could easily put a cute changing pad and diaper caddy on top.
Questions to ask when looking for a glider/rocking chair.
Style
- Do you want a glider or rocking chair? Both a glider and a rocking chair require longer legs than I was blessed with, but one of these comfy chairs was still a requirement for me.
- Easy Boy cushion look or a traditional wood? I can answer this one for you. Get the cushioned one. You will likely spend a lot of time in the chair awake and asleep -- you want to be comfy.
- What color would be best for the baby’s room? Also, consider once your babes are no longer babes, are you going to keep it and move it to another room of the house? If so, does the color match your home color scheme?