Buying the Basics in Baby Furniture

If you're expecting your first baby, you'll soon need to purchase baby furniture and the choices can be overwhelming. If you rely on all the furniture marketing ads, it's easy to come to the conclusion that you need a completely furnished nursery from the very beginning.

It's no harm in going this route, except perhaps to your pocket. However, you may find it easier to stick to the basics. You can either buy a complete set of furniture for baby's room or gather the set piece by piece and even mix and match. Whatever works best for you is the right way to go.

The absolute bare minimum in nursery furniture will be a cradle or crib. During the first year, your baby will spend large amounts of time on the floor. With that in mind, perhaps a brand new, large, soft rug should be near the top of your "must have" list. Baby will be crawling and walking and playing and will love the large spacious floor available. There will be some toys involved, though. If you purchase some eye catching storage bins they'll be within baby's reach, so he can pull out the soft cuddly toys for fun. After this, the rest can be purchased on an as needed basis.

Now back to that crib purchase. It's common for a cradle to be used until baby is around six months old or so. Make sure the cradle is in a location that he'll enjoy so he can relax and sleep in it. When you're finally ready for the crib, it might be wise to make it interesting for baby. This will make it more fun to stay in with mobiles to look at and toys to reach over and play with. It's important to rotate items so baby doesn't get bored with always staring at and doing the same thing.

When you decide to purchase a wardrobe, it can be used for many years to come. Make sure it is sturdy, so as not to tip over when baby begins pulling up on things while learning to walk. If this is questionable, it can be secured to a wall.

In addition to items already mentioned, you may consider a changing table for dressing your baby and changing diapers. Some people opt to put this in a room other than the nursery, but it's still a wise investment.

If you'd like a few more ideas, he/she will soon begin enjoying books. A sturdy bookshelf will be a great addition to the nursery. But honestly, especially during the first couple years of his life, the majority of time will be spent in the same room you're in. How much time will truly be spent in the nursery?

The only other item may be a table and chairs to add a bit of character to the room. Just remember, when making your purchases, that your newborn baby will not need everything at once. Buy the basics and savor every possible moment with your little one. Let the room grow with him as he's ready.