| Furnishing a nursery can be a wonderful time for an | | | | the bed are placed close enough so that the baby |
| expectant mother. Not only is it fun to prepare for the | | | | cannot get his or her head stuck between them. Also, |
| birth of a baby, but it gives the expectant mother an | | | | make sure there's no lead paint on the bed. If you're |
| outlet for those nesting instincts that will soon kick in. A | | | | like most mothers, you'll feel better about your baby's |
| lot of well-meaning people (i.e. parents and in-laws) will | | | | safety if you buy new or one that was just recently |
| convince you that you simply must have certain | | | | used by someone you know. |
| furniture for your new baby's room. | | | | Do you need a changing table? Mothers went for |
| Some of the furniture you will likely consider includes: | | | | years without this piece of furniture. But, they are nice |
| Bassinette | | | | to have and at a convenient height that saves some |
| Crib | | | | back strain. It's a matter of available space, available |
| Changing table | | | | money and your willingness to bend over to change a |
| Dresser | | | | diaper! |
| Rocking chair | | | | A dresser, if bought to last for years, would be a good |
| Do you need it all? Only you can know for sure. Ask | | | | furniture investment. Don't waste money on a cutesy |
| yourself, "What furniture am I really likely to use?" | | | | theme dresser that the baby will only outgrow when |
| A bassinette is handy for keeping the new baby very | | | | he or she starts to develop personal tastes. Instead, |
| close. Most are portable so you can roll them | | | | think about the rest of your house. Do you have a lot |
| throughout the house. If someone offers to loan you a | | | | of mahogany furniture or a lot of white painted |
| bassinette, take them up on it as long as the mattress | | | | furniture? Buy a dresser that you can move |
| is clean and in good shape. You'll only use a bassinette | | | | elsewhere in the house if your child decides he or she |
| for a short period of time, so why invest in it as a | | | | hates it down the road. Buy solid wood. The furniture |
| major piece of furniture? | | | | will last longer and it will contain fewer chemicals than |
| A crib, however, is a different story. If you plan for | | | | cheaper veneer furniture pieces often include in the |
| your child to sleep on his or her own at all, you will | | | | processing stage or in the glue used to hold pieces |
| want a crib. It's not as safe to borrow a crib from | | | | together. |
| someone and while cribs are a type of baby furniture | | | | Everyone thinks you need a rocking chair if you have |
| that have sentimental attachments, don't agree to use | | | | a baby. Is it a necessary piece of furniture for the |
| an old crib because it was the one your husband used | | | | nursery? Not if you have a rocking chair somewhere |
| when he was a baby. Safety standards have | | | | else in the house. No mother or baby wants to spend |
| changed dramatically and what was once considered | | | | all their time in the nursery anyway. Use rocking time in |
| safe furniture, might not be now. Look online to find | | | | another room to give you both a change of pace - |
| baby crib safety standards. Make sure any spindles on | | | | unless you just want to buy a rocker. |