Nursery Furniture - Things You Need To Know Before You Buy
There is a huge selection of nursery furniture from which to choose, ranging in price from inexpensive sets to individual pieces, from high-end retailers and specialty shops. There are also many different concerns that need to be taken into account when choosing nursery furniture.
When choosing nursery furniture, always be sure to check for manufacturer recalls of the furniture. Many times when safety issues arise, the manufacturing company will issue a recall for the items or issue additional hardware to ensure safety of the infant when using the nursery furniture. This information is usually available on the manufacturer's website. Other consumer information on nursery furniture can also be obtained from a consumer reporting agency or magazine which rates consumer satisfaction of goods. These sources can inform potential consumers of problems with safety or performance of nursery furniture or any other items available for purchase.
Safety is the number one concern when purchasing nursery furniture. Making sure the bars on the baby's cot or crib are not spaced too far apart, is paramount. Bars which are too far apart may allow an infant's head to become trapped between the bars and could cause injury or death. Making sure that hardware is not accessible to the baby is also very important. Babies could loosen and remove hardware and swallow or choke on the hardware if accessible to the baby. Babies can also scratch or hurt themselves on exposed hardware. Ease of operation is also a concern when purchasing a cot or crib for baby. If the side slides up or down, ensure the side is easily movable with minimal effort by an adult who is holding the infant. Ensure that the side of the crib or cot for baby is stable and locks in place and not easily moved by the infant. Drawers and cupboards on dressers and chests or changing tables should open and close smoothly without catching, but should stay closed when closed by an adult.
Versatility is another concern when purchasing nursery furniture. Care should be taken to ensure that furniture that is designed to be convertible, such as a crib or cot, changing table or chest is converted easily and without a huge amount of tools or hardware being needed. Many cribs or cots convert into a toddler bed or a daybed for use when the child is older. Many changing tables convert into a chest of drawers or television stand or other piece of furniture which can be utilised by an older child. This allows longer use of nursery furniture.
Price is another concern when choosing nursery furniture. There are many price ranges available for every income level when purchasing nursery furniture. Nursery furniture that is very expensive or sold by a high end store or retailer does not mean that it is better quality, more functional or safer than those models or sets that are less expensive. When purchasing nursery furniture always check with a consumer protection agency to see which models are safe for infants and children. A consumer reporting agency or magazine, and parenting magazines are other great resources when considering which nursery furniture to purchase. Sometimes less expensive models are rated higher for safety and satisfaction than very expensive models. Before shopping, always figure out what budget is available for the purchase of nursery furniture.
