| Walking into a baby furniture store can | | | | slightest. So this is going to come |
| be completely mind blowing - there's so | | | | down to personal preference and your |
| much stuff! Most of us don't have an | | | | budget. Having said that, you will need |
| unlimited amount of money to spend, and | | | | a comfortable chair to sit in, |
| if you've never had a baby before, it | | | | particularly if you're nursing your |
| can be really hard to work out what's | | | | baby.Portable CribThis is one piece of |
| really necessary, useful, or basically a | | | | baby furniture that got used a lot in my |
| waste of time. If you're planning to | | | | household! My son used to come to work |
| set up a gift register at the store, you | | | | with me when he was little, and I used a |
| want to make sure the things you put on | | | | portable crib for his naps. It was |
| it are useful and practical. It's can | | | | great when I went to visit family and |
| all be incredibly confusing.Let's take a | | | | friends, because baby was familiar with |
| look at some of the main items you're | | | | it and happy to have a nap when the time |
| going to find in the baby store, so that | | | | came. I also didn't have to worry about |
| you can have some idea of what baby | | | | baby rolling off someone's bed. It |
| furniture you really want or need before | | | | meant that we could go on holidays and |
| you even get to the store. That way you | | | | know that baby had somewhere safe and |
| can focus on picking exactly which one | | | | familiar to sleep. I used mine so much |
| you want, rather than messing about | | | | that I ended up having to buy a second |
| deciding whether you actually want or | | | | one when my daughter came along! It's |
| need it.Baby Bassinet or CradleA | | | | important, though, to spend some time |
| bassinet or cradle is used from birth | | | | making sure the portable crib you choose |
| until around 4 months. Basically, if | | | | is well constructed and safe. Make sure |
| the baby can roll from side to side, | | | | it can't collapse easily, particularly |
| it's time for baby to move up into a | | | | if baby tries to climb out. Check there |
| crib. Make sure the mattress fits | | | | are no small spaces where fingers could |
| snugly against the sides. You may even | | | | get trapped, and a collapsible padded |
| find that a padded bumper, sheets and | | | | base is very helpful.High ChairA high |
| quilt are included. | | | | chair rates very close to the essential |
| The bassinet probably falls somewhere | | | | end of the scale. The good news is that |
| in the middle between necessary and | | | | you don't need one straight away, so you |
| unnecessary. If you're on a budget, you | | | | can put off buying it until quite a few |
| can certainly go without one. Having | | | | months after baby is born. Look for an |
| said that, I loved my bassinet and | | | | adjustable tray, restraints of some kind |
| wouldn't have been without it. It's so | | | | and perhaps even lockable rolling |
| convenient to be able to move baby | | | | casters. Some models also have a |
| around. I generally let baby sleep in | | | | reclining seat, so you can use it even |
| his own room during the day, and used a | | | | when baby is still bottle feeding.Car |
| baby monitor, then at night wheeled | | | | SeatThis is definitely essential - apart |
| baby's bassinet into my room. Mine | | | | from ensuring your baby's safety, you're |
| could be rocked gently to help baby fall | | | | breaking the law in most places if you |
| asleep, and because it was up on a | | | | don't have one. Newborns must travel in |
| stand, it was easy to life baby in and | | | | the back seat of the car, facing the |
| out - I was recovering from a | | | | rear. Once baby is older, usually |
| caesarean.So my advice would be - if you | | | | closer to 1 year old, you can place baby |
| can fit a bassinet into your budget, do | | | | in a forward facing car seat. When your |
| it. Perhaps it's an item that a few | | | | child is older again, anywhere from 2 |
| friends or family could buy for your | | | | years upwards depending on their size, |
| baby shower.Baby Crib or CotSome sort of | | | | you can change over to a booster seat. |
| secure bed for baby is definitely | | | | The major decision you'll have here is |
| required. Spending a fortune buying one | | | | whether to buy separate, specially |
| isn't required! You can buy cribs in a | | | | designed car seats for baby and then |
| massive range of styles - with a huge | | | | your toddler, or whether to buy a |
| range of price tags to match. Probably | | | | convertible model. Personally I always |
| the main thing to look for is to make | | | | had 2 separate car seats, mostly because |
| sure the crib adheres to the required | | | | all the consumer safety research I'd |
| safety standards. Check that the | | | | seen suggested that a specifically |
| mattress fits snugly against the sides | | | | designed car seat was more effective in |
| of the crib. Some other helpful | | | | an accident. Thankfully I never tested |
| features are: an adjustable base height, | | | | that theory out! Construction and |
| a couple of release mechanisms (not just | | | | safety levels are constantly improving, |
| one, in case baby learns how to do it!), | | | | however, so if buying a convertible |
| lockable wheels, and no stickers that | | | | model is where your budget is, that's |
| can be peeled off easily.Crib | | | | okay too.StrollersThis is another baby |
| MattressMany cribs include their own | | | | item where there seems to be too many |
| mattress, and that's probably the best | | | | choices. First you have to decide which |
| option because it should fit the crib | | | | style of stroller you want, before even |
| snugly. There are two types of mattress | | | | looking at individual brands. At some |
| - inner spring/coil or foam. Generally, | | | | point you are going to want to transport |
| the innerspring style of mattress will | | | | your baby, so you will need to buy |
| last much longer, but is usually a | | | | something. You need to start by having |
| little more expensive. It's worth | | | | a long, hard think about what you expect |
| buying some sort of waterproof mattress | | | | your movements to be with your baby. Do |
| pad, to protect the mattress, but make | | | | you plan to take baby jogging with you? |
| sure it doesn't have any plastic on the | | | | Go over rougher terrain regularly? Or |
| side the baby will be sleeping | | | | will you probably only put baby in a |
| on.Bedding AccessoriesThis is an area | | | | stroller at the shops? Do you want a |
| where you can start to spend some | | | | pram that can later be converted into a |
| serious dollars! It's very easy to get | | | | stroller? |
| carried away with all the cute and | | | | Once you have an idea what type of |
| gorgeous designs for baby bedding. | | | | things you'll need to use your stroller |
| Thankfully most cribs and bassinets use | | | | for, a salesperson at the baby store |
| standard sizes, which makes things a | | | | should be able to guide you in the right |
| little easier. One good strategy is to | | | | direction. You then need to think about |
| buy the necessary basics yourself, then | | | | what added features you might like - |
| put all the less necessary accessories | | | | accessory bars, toy and activity bars, |
| on your baby shower gift register. | | | | headrests, adjustable height, rain |
| Apart from the basic sheets, I've always | | | | shields etc. |
| liked to have a bumper for the top end | | | | Choosing the right stroller is probably |
| of baby's bed - and make sure it ties on | | | | going to take you a while!Baby MonitorA |
| in multiple places, so more than one tie | | | | baby monitor probably isn't necessary, |
| has to break before it can fall down. | | | | but I always found it was great for |
| You should never use a pillow for baby, | | | | peace of mind. It meant I could be off |
| and even quilts or comforters aren't | | | | in another part of the house doing |
| recommended - stick to ordinary | | | | something, but still be monitoring my |
| blankets. You can also often get added | | | | baby's nap. Prices vary a lot, but it's |
| extras, such as diaper stackers. | | | | probably better to choose your monitor |
| Personally I've never found them of much | | | | based on the features you're going to |
| use, but again, some of the extra might | | | | need, rather than price. If you're |
| make good baby shower gifts.Changing | | | | going to move around a lot, make sure |
| TableIf you're really strapped for cash, | | | | your monitor is portable. Do you want |
| then you can probably make do with using | | | | batteries or mains power? Do you want |
| your bed as a changing table, but if you | | | | video monitoring as well?Bouncer |
| can, this is something I highly | | | | SeatAgain, this isn't necessary, but |
| recommend. Your back will certainly | | | | it's very useful! Babies love to watch |
| prefer it! My changing table was | | | | everything that's going on around them, |
| actually more like a set of dresser | | | | and it's much easier for them if they're |
| drawers, and nowadays, with the changing | | | | raised slightly from the horizontal. |
| table part removed, it's still being | | | | You can buy all sorts of fancy bouncer |
| used as drawers for my daughter's | | | | seats, with everything from toy bars to |
| clothes. So it pays to think ahead and | | | | battery operated bouncing. I only ever |
| buy a changing table that's practical. | | | | had a very basic fabric bouncer, and |
| Also look for safety features, such as | | | | most of the time the toy bar wasn't even |
| guardrails and perhaps even safety | | | | attached. Both my kids loved them, and |
| straps. And of course it needs to be | | | | the good thing was that I always knew |
| well padded! It's handy to have some | | | | where they were! Very handy, |
| sort of shelf where you can put items | | | | particularly when I was cooking dinner. |
| you're using, but personally I just put | | | | The main thing to remember is that you |
| them down one end of the changing table | | | | should NEVER place a bouncer seat on a |
| and changed baby at the other end. Once | | | | raised surface, they should always be |
| baby got bigger, I used the top | | | | placed on the floor or ground.Discover |
| drawer.Rocking ChairThis is definitely | | | | more about getting ready for baby's |
| on the "maybe" list. A lot of women | | | | arrival at Info About Baby You can sign |
| swear by them, but personally I never | | | | up for a FREE Baby Tips newsletter at |
| had one and it never bothered me in the | | | | Baby Tips Newsletter. |