SAFETY AND FUNCTIONALITY

Safety and functionality are the two main features you need to look for in a high chair. Babies can be very restless, and they could fall if they are not secured enough to a chair. Most high chairs offer harnesses, but not all are safe enough. The best type is the five- point safety harness, which is both safe and comfortable for your baby. Functionality- wise, your baby’s chair should have adjustable seat heights. This allows you to use it at tables of different heights, especially when you have to bring the chair around for visiting other people’s houses.

BEST BRANDS

We took a look around, and found out that Chicco is still one of the best brands for high chairs. The Chicco Polly, for example, has everything that you need. It has a five- point safety harness, a reclining seat, adjustable seat, removable tray, padded seat, crotch bar and footrest. It is also foldable for easy storage, and it can be easily cleaned. Graco is also a very popular brand, and it has good reason to be. Not only are their chairs reasonably priced, but they also offer comfort and function like no other high chair can.

GETTING THE BEST DEALS

Amazon and E-bay is of course still on the top of the list when it comes to getting the best value for your money, but there are other sites as well. We found this site called babiesonline, where they have a list of discounted baby products on E-bay so you don’t have to look for them. We also found price-grabber (go to the baby’s section), where they have a list ready for the lowest prices on the web, and you can just go to the website in a click of the button. And who would forget coupons? They are still the best way to save on stuffs, and high chairs are no exemptions. You could go to couponsnapshots and print all sorts of coupons for baby furniture.

BATH TIME FOR BABY GIFT SET (available at mygiftbasket)

Giving a baby shower gift basket for specific times of the day like bath time, bed time and meal time is a good way to make your gift more organized. This Bath Time gift set includes a baby shampoo, toy ducklings, t- shirts, hooded baby towel, baby caps, bay wash clothes, baby picture frame, booties, brush and comb set, blanket, a finger puppet and baby lotion.

JUST HOPPIN AROUND BABY HAMPER GIFT BASKET (available at mygiftbasket)

One of the goals of baby showers is to help the parents out with the baby’s needs, and you can do just that by giving this cute hamper gift basket. This basket includes all sorts of things such as baby storage hamper, a manicure set, door pillow, baby soap, wash clothes, t- shirts, picture frame, brush and comb set, first tooth keepsake box, first haircut keepsake box, security blanket, and rattle ring. This design is available both in little prince and little princess versions.

DIAPER CAKES (available at lilbabycakes)

These are not cakes per se, but they make a great baby shower center piece just the same. These are actually diapers formed like a cake, and are decorated with things the baby might use. The cakes prices differ according to size. The 4- tier Safari diaper cake we saw from this store for example, cost $94 and includes 70 pieces of diapers, a plush giraffe animal, a body wash, lotion, baby powder, shampoo, washcloths, pacifiers, and cotton buds. If you want to give something that’s both nice and useful to mom and baby, then you definitely have to consider this option.

LILLAMONSTERS

The name might sound a little scary, but there’s nothing monstrous about Lillamonsters blankets. One of their products that we like the most is the “build your own” blanket, which you could customize with the name of your baby (aside from choosing the color and size). The soft blankets are made from luxury minkee fur, which has the same touch of holding a baby rabbit.  The blankets are absolutely adorable and fun!

WARM-N-TOASTY BLANKETS

One major concern with baby blankets is that they can suffocate the baby when it goes over to their head because of too much movement, and they could also get kicked off when your baby moves their legs. Well, you don’t have to worry about all these things with the Warm-N-Toasty blankets. They have a special zipper design, which allows you to keep your baby’s legs and body inside, but their heads and arms out.  For the really cold season, you can still keep your baby warm and comfortable as you have the option to only expose the diaper area, keeping the other parts of the baby’s body warm.

LITTLE GIRAFFE LUXE CRIB BLANKETS

Unlike other blankets that get harder with every wash, the Little Giraffe Luxe Crib Blankets gets softer, assuring you that your baby would get more comfortable with every use. It is made from faux- fur, making it a very soft piece. You can even have it more personalized by having your baby’s monogram embroidered on the blanket.

NUDDLE BABY BLANKET

Taking your kid out on a stroll during fall can be such a wonderful experience, but it can sometimes get cold. Ordinary blankets can slip off making your child too preoccupied holding it rather than enjoy the sceneries, which is why you might want to use a Nuddle blanket instead. Aside from the foot pocket for keeping your kids toes toasty and warm, it also has openings for a five- point harness allowing you to secure it in with your baby so it doesn’t fall off.

The number one priority for any changing table is that you must never leave your baby unattended on a changing table. Once they start to move, babies can move remarkably fast and it only takes a momentary lapse of attention for a baby to fall off the changing table. Most designs have a safety rail around at least three sides, but look for one with a safety rail on all four sides and also a safety belt which can prevent your child falling.

Many baby bedroom furniture sets will incorporate a changing table to match the crib and other items, but if you are buying it separately or being given one as a gift, don’t forget to get it to match your other pieces of furniture. White is always a good safe choice for a baby’s room as it will go with anything and is suitable for boys and girls. If you would prefer not to have white there are various natural wood finishes such as oak, maple, or cherry, or you can even buy unfinished units that you can paint yourself to match in with your color scheme.

When your baby has outgrown the changing table, it could become a useful piece of storage furniture for their room. It may have drawers, storage bins or a hamper beneath the changing table top which can be used for clothing or toys for an older child. Once your baby can sit up by themselves they will be too big to be changed on the table and then it will be easier to use a changing mat on the floor or on the bed.

A cheaper option might be to buy a changing table that fits over the top of your baby’s crib. As it is an item that is not used for a long period of time, you might feel that the expense of buying a new piece of furniture specifically for use as a changing table is not worthwhile. You could also look for used changing tables at a local garage sale or online. As they do not have the same safety issues as a crib, it should be safe to buy a used changing table that is in good condition. Although, beware of buying any furniture for your child’s room that has old or peeling paintwork.

Should you buy a used changing table that doesn’t match the theme or color of your baby’s room you can always paint it with a safe, non-toxic paint and maybe use stencils or transfers to coordinate with the room’s theme.

One of the most popular designs of toy storage is a toy bin organizer. These can come in various different sizes and shapes and are basically shelving or rack systems containing several toy bins, or plastic boxes. The different formats will enable you to find one to suit your available space. You can choose taller systems that are just one bin wide, or four bins wide and only one bin tall or anywhere in between.

The traditional toy chest with lift up lid is another option. These are very convenient for putting away toys quickly and out of the way at the end of a day’s play. A disadvantage of this type of toy storage though, can be that it is sometimes difficult to find a particular toy when it is wanted, without turning out the whole chest. Some of these chests double as a bench with a padded top to make useful seating in a child’s room.

Several items of baby furniture can contain extra drawers that should be sufficient for toy storage until your child is older and wants a larger selection of toys. Cribs can have storage drawers underneath, as can changing tables. Soft toys can be thrown into a toy hammock or pegged onto a floor to ceiling pole or chain made for the purpose. As well as being a practical storage solution, these can make an attractive decorative feature for a child’s room.

A cheap and easy solution is to buy some colorful, stacking plastic storage crates and use these to store toys. Once your child gets older and has a lot of toys you can put some of these crates away and just have two or three in their room at any one time. Then when they are getting bored you can pack away the toys they have been playing with and bring out another box or two. This way the child has “new” toys to play with every few days and is less likely to get bored with them. Either number the crates or have a color coded system so you know which toys haven’t been played with recently.

One thing you have to be very careful about once your baby has become a toddler, is to make sure that they cannot pull a stack of toy boxes over onto themselves.  Look for a purpose made toy organizer that is made so that the toy bins cannot be pulled out from a height by a child. Once your child is no longer a baby it becomes much more difficult to keep their room tidy, but clever toy storage solutions will be a great help.

Some traveler cribs incorporate a bassinet for younger babies that can be removed as the child grows. Others are self inflating to provide a speedy and safe area for your baby to sleep. There are lightweight portable cribs which look very much like a smaller version of your baby’s main crib but are easy to assemble and take apart. Still more travel cribs are designed to double as a play pen and these can be very handy to take with you when you are visiting friends or family whose homes may not be child-proofed! Why take a bulky play pen, when you can get a portable travel crib play pen that weighs less than six pounds?

Some travel cribs are not particularly comfortable for your baby and if you want to get a good nights sleep when away from home, comfort should be one of the first things you check. Take a look at some reviews for travel cribs online to get an idea which sort to buy. Examine the mattress closely as a thin, hard mattress is unlikely to help your baby sleep well.

After comfort, the next point to consider is how portable the travel crib actually is. Does it fold up small enough so that you can easily take it with you wherever you go and do you have room to store it at home when it is not in use? Look at the weight as well. There can be a huge variation in the weight of one traveller crib when compared to another. You want to get the lightest one possible that is suitable for your baby’s needs.

There are advantages and disadvantages to buying travel cribs online. Although buying via the internet is likely to get you a better price, you will not be able to examine the crib before you buy, so make sure you go to a reputable online store and check some reviews of the particular crib you intend to buy. If you are buying a used travel crib, for example from eBay, then check the feedback of the seller and especially their return policy, just in case when the crib arrives it is not suitable.

You may think that if you are staying at a hotel which provides a crib then you don’t need to invest in a travel crib. Bear in mind that not all hotels check their cribs safety standards or cleanliness regularly.  Why risk putting your baby in a crib that may not be either very safe or very clean? A good quality, comfortable travel crib is a good investment for your peace of mind.

You will also need to decide on the color and construction material for your crib. You may choose a painted crib to tone with the scheme in your baby’s nursery, whether it is white, black, blue, pink or chocolate brown. A solid wood crib can look stunning and these are available in many different woods including oak, cherry and walnut.

When you first start shopping for a crib, you may already have an idea of the type of crib you want. If you don’t know whether you are having a boy or a girl you may choose to decorate the nursery to suit either gender. Natural wood furniture will tone with any interior design and will give new parents more options for choosing other furniture, decor and accessories. There is a large quantity of stylish and affordable baby furniture on the market which is good quality. However, even if you are going for a budget priced crib, it is always better to buy the best quality mattress you can afford.

Your baby will be spending a lot of time asleep in their crib so it is important to get a mattress that is both comfortable and provides the correct support. When buying a foam mattress, ensure that the foam construction is dense as this will be more supportive to your baby as they grow. Any new mattress that you buy has to meet all current fire safety regulations. Which is why even if you buy a used crib, a new mattress is a good investment in the health and safety of your child.

Baby furniture is so attractive and appealing; it can be tempting to buy too many pieces of furniture and try to stuff them all into the room. But remember that more items will make the room appear smaller, plus you need to be able to move comfortably around the room whilst carrying your baby. Plenty of storage space is crucial. Many new cots have drawers fitted underneath or a changing table that will fit over the cot. Make sure that you will be able to open all the drawers fully once all the furniture is placed in the room. Your baby’s crib is the most important item of baby furniture you will buy. So it pays to ensure that you get the best, safest and most attractive model of crib that you possibly can. Your baby’s comfort and safety are paramount.

You can find baby furniture at greatly reduced prices by shopping on the internet. Or visit some local garage sales to pick up some bargains. Buying low priced, but still good quality items is a great way of saving money towards your child’s education. Baby furniture warehouses; provide a way to purchase the baby furniture and essential baby items you need at discount prices. By using their huge buying power, they are normally able to offer a large variety of nursery furnishings at very low prices. Some baby items, such as a bassinet, are only used for a very short period of time. So buying these from a baby furniture warehouse is a sensible plan.

It is not necessary to overspend on baby items that will only be used for a few months to a couple of years. For new parents on a very tight budget, it is possible to find cheap baby furniture that is brand new or gently used. Shopping online from auction sites such as eBay is one good source. Or buying wholesale should prove much cheaper than shopping in your local stores. Although, it is worth looking out for sales at the major stores who sell furnishings. You can also find a great deal on used baby furniture and equipment by visiting garage or yard sales. Often you can find pieces that are in virtually new condition. Don’t overlook other online stores such as Amazon.com. Large online stores can often offer big discounts, especially on last year’s designs.

Getting everything you need for a new baby all in one hit can prove a huge expense, and any way you can reduce this is going to be helpful. If you can afford to splash out a bit more for baby furniture, you might want to look at coordinated furniture sets in painted wood or solid oak. The major children’s furniture manufacturers will all provide sets that will include cribs, storage units, dressers, changing tables, toy storage and child size chairs and tables. When buying a complete set for a baby’s room all at once you should be able to obtain a discount.

Baby safety is of paramount importance when buying any baby supplies or furniture. However, you should have no worries over this when buying pieces made by a well-known brand. If you want pieces that will last for subsequent additions to the family, durability is important. Or if you would like pieces to last the child until they are older, look for furniture that will still be useful for older children. For example a crib that converts into a toddler bed, or a changing table that can become a useful chest of drawers.