Picking the Best Baby Crib
From day one, babies sleep a lot. That's what they need to do. As parents, we need to prepare the one piece of furniture that they spend the majority of time for a couple of months. A crib, or a baby bed, is an essential part of the nursery room for newborns. In this blog post, I will share my thought process on finding the perfect baby crib for my child.
Where to Find Them
There are quite a few places where you can find cribs. As important as it is, a lot of manufacturers are in the market.
- Delta Children (online)
- Ikea
- Target
- Pottery Barns Kids
- Crate and Barrel
Most of the furniture brands carry some pieces for babies. Some premium brands are rarely on display, but I was able to find some at Nordstrom, ones like Nestig Wave Crib.
What to Consider
Here are some key points to consider:
- What material are you looking for?
- What's the budget?
- Are you looking for a crib that can turn into a toddler bed?
- Are you looking to buy a bundle with other pieces of furniture?
- Is there a theme in your nursery room?
Notice there is no question about safety. Any baby crib sold in the U.S. needs to pass the safety tests. We still need to practice safety caution in using the crib, but the furniture themselves are built with safety standards. For more information about safety tips, click on this link:
Parts of the crib you need to purchase together:
- Mattress
- Mattress protector
- Mattress sheets
A baby's mattress needs to be firm to prevent suffocation and to support the baby's back. They don't have enough muscles to pull themselves together yet.
Sometimes, diapers fail. Infants throw up a lot. When they get to the 4-5th month mark, they start drooling all over the place. You will need a mattress protector that's water-resistant.
For the same reason, you will need multiple mattress covers. Get the soft cotton ones for your baby's soft skin.
Budgeting
Now that you have an idea of what to look for, you need to fit it into your budget. To be honest, when I saw the cribs in person, I couldn't tell much of the difference in functionality. Differences were in the quality of the finish, details in materials, or how nice they looked. If you are having the first child, you might want to look into the bundles from websites like Delta Children. They have a great selection of nice-looking furniture. We found the 6-piece set of a crib, dresser with a changing pad, glider (the rocking chair for feeding), mattress, mattress protector, and sheets at a great price. They have a variety of styles and colors to choose from. Take a look before you start visiting the offline stores to get the feel of what you want.
Conclusion
Shopping for your baby is always exciting. Make sure to plan ahead and spend some time looking at different options. Don't wait until the last minute. Some furniture will need assembly and it might be challenging if your wife is at the hospital about to deliver a baby.
You want to get a safe, durable, and comfortable crib for your newborn. In terms of economics, try to find a nursery set to slice off some cost. The cribs are where your infants spend most of their time for a while. Their focus is on growing and they do it by sleeping. Let's give our precious little ones a cozy, quality sleeping environment.
If you are wondering what other things need to be prepared before you baby gets home, click on the link below: