Cribs & Furniture

A playroom is a fantastic solution to creating a safe and inviting area for baby's things and later for older children to play and keep their toys. A playroom is also the perfect space to store and organize all the toys and child-specific items that collect.

Room Collections
Selecting a whole room collection can take most of the guesswork out of what pieces to buy and how well they'll fit together. We simplify the search by offering a wonderful selection of styles that can make your child's room be distinctive, elegant, traditional or whimsical, themed, wild and wacky, or whatever you decide to achieve the perfect look.

Design your nursery to be all-baby with that powder fresh look and feel, or get a jumpstart by growing your nursery into a room fit for a toddler or child. We recommend starting small with finding the right crib, changing table, and maybe even one piece of storage furniture. This will help you to build around your furniture choices so that you can choose the rest of the collection without having problems matching.

Changing Tables & Combo Units
A changing table combo unit is a fantastic way to save space in the nursery; some models even have detachable changing trays that can easily be removed when no longer needed. Changing table and dresser or crib combo units are a perfect space-saving solution; they have great style and storage and are the prefect dual duty units. We have a wide variety of styles and finishes that will help to create a beautiful look in any bedroom.

Bookcases
Bookcases will certainly help encourage a child's love of reading. Bookcases can also start out as a place for holding diapers and baby essentials, until your child is ready for books. A wooden bookcase is the most exquisite piece of nursery furniture that can help to add brilliance to your child's room.

Dressers
A baby dresser is an essential piece of furniture that will satisfy all of your nursery needs. The baby dresser will help keep that mountain of baby clothes organized! Some of these innovative dressers are adaptable and have changing stations available. Many are designed to fit together in groupings that are specially created for toddlers and even to follow your child into adolescence. Our fantastic selection of dressers will give you an abundance of choices and finishes. It is hard to believe that form follows function with these beautiful pieces which are as durable and well made as they are attractive. Choose your dresser and then expand with a chest of drawers, complete the look with an armoire or choose a whole room collection to build on.

The nursery is not complete until it boasts a rocking chair, nursery rocker or nursery glider. We have a wide variety of nursery gliders to match the taste of any parent and the decor of any nursery. Of course anyone who uses a nursery glider or nursery rocker will absolutely need an ottoman to keep relaxation at the forefront.

Feeding time will become much easier with the use of one of our fantastic nursery gliders. Nursery gliders are a staple of the nursery because of their fantastic look and comfortable fabric. We are one of the few retailers that allow customers to customize their fabrics by mixing and matching on the nursery glider and the ottoman. Parents will be hard pressed to not find a finish or fabric to match their home décor. The nursery gliders are different in style ranging from a traditional glider to sleigh glider.

Having trouble getting your baby to sleep in a crib? Did you know that some pediatricians recommend that you consider using a bassinet or cradle instead? A full size crib is sometimes too big for a newborn or young infant.

With a bassinet you will be able to safely put your baby to bed and keep them within easy reach. After 6 months, it is important to remember that a bassinet will no longer be safe because the baby will be able to sit up at that stage of development.

To ensure the health and safety of your child, make sure to keep all soft objects clear from the baby's sleeping area. BabyAge.com carries many different types of bassinets, from the basic Moses baskets with handle and hood, to bassinets with music, lights, and a rocking motion.

After the first six months of your baby's life, you'll need to upgrade to a crib. When purchasing your baby's crib, you should be sure to keep several questions in mind:

• How safe is the crib?
• How durable is the crib?
• How much does the crib cost?

One serious question you may ask yourself is whether or not you should buy a crib in the first place. You might be tempted to go ahead and use the crib given to you by your Great-Aunt Mary. Don't! Older cribs may not follow safety standards that are constantly being updated. Even for those on a strict budget, purchasing a crib can be very affordable.

Safety is the main reason for purchasing a crib for your baby. Many years ago, there was a time when babies slept in their parents' beds, on their parents' stomachs, or wrapped in a blanket. Today, this is not advisable due to the high risk of suffocation. If you plan to use Great-Aunt Mary's crib, make sure to avoid those built before 2000. This is about one year after the latest voluntary standards for slat-attachment strength were implemented.

The three basic types of cribs are on the market are:

• Standard Cribs
• Convertible Cribs
• Mini/Portable Cribs

Standard Cribs
Most standard cribs on the market today are built to meet or exceed the minimum safety standards. Standard cribs come with fixed, single-drop or double-drop sides. Fixed sides are suitable for tall parents or if the crib will only be used on an occasional basis. Standard cribs typically come with an adjustable mattress height mechanism. As soon as your baby is able to pull up, which is usually at around 6-8 months, you will need to position the mattress to its lowest level to prevent him/ her from climbing out of the crib. A one drop side is handy if your crib doubles as a changing station. Standard cribs with double drop sides are best used in a nursery that is big enough so that the crib doesn't need to be positioned against a wall. Most drop sides have an access points on the side of the crib.

Convertible Cribs

You may also decide to purchase a convertible crib that can easily change into a toddler bed. Sometimes convertible cribs are able to convert into a toddler bed, into a “big kid” bed and sometimes, and even into a day bed/full-size bed/chairs!

Many convertible cribs can be switched to a "big girl" or "big boy" bed simply by removing one drop side. Some parents feel their toddlers have an easier time adjusting to the crib-to-bed transition with a convertible crib. To convert some convertible cribs, you may need to buy additional parts, such as bed rails, stabilizing rails, or support rails, for converting to a full-size bed.

Mini/Portable Cribs
Families are much more mobile today than they were in the past. Portable cribs offer smaller and lighter features than standard cribs and generally have casters that allow for easy portability. Some portable cribs only fold in half, while others feature a handle and wheels. The portable crib you choose should be light enough for you to lift comfortably. When purchasing the mattress, be sure that it will be comfy enough for your little one.

Important note: Portable cribs are not required to meet the same safety standards as standard baby cribs!

Shopping for mattresses is essential but not as complicated as it may seem. Our selection includes sizes from crib up to queen and different shapes and types. If you are concerned with removing toxins from the sleeping environment (baby's or yours) or if you have allergy concerns our organic mattresses are a perfect solution.

When choosing a mattress, consider not only size and shape but type of cover and filling.

Some of our most popular crib mattresses manufacturers include:

• Sealy
• Moonlight Slumber / Starlight Support
• DaVinci

Whatever you are looking for you are sure to find the perfect place to sleep right here at BabyAge.com!

A safe crib should include:

• A firm, tight-fitting mattress
• No missing/broken hardware or slats
• No cut-outs in the head- or foot-boards
• Slats should be no more than 2 3/8" apart (the width of a soda can)
• Corner posts should not be higher than 1/16"
• A metal spring system to support the mattress--safer than straps
• If you're buying a portable crib, make sure your selection has not been recalled.
• Check for tears, holes, loose threads, exposed nuts, bolts and screws.
• Tighten all nuts, bolts, and screws.
• Follow recommended height and weight limits.
• Make sure that there is no space between the mattress and the side of the crib.
• Check mattress support attachments regularly to make sure none is bent or broken.
• If you move a crib, double-check that all support hangers are secure.
• Check all crib hardware from time to time and replace anything that's loose. Missing and loose parts are a leading cause of accidents and deaths because they can create gaps where babies can wedge their heads and necks, and suffocate or strangle.

Important Safety Updates for Infant Sleeping:

• Soft bedding can suffocate infants! The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that some 900 babies die this way each year in cribs and play yards. About half of the suffocation deaths in cribs occurred when infants ended up face down on pillows or face down in a crib with pillows, quilts and other baby bedding.
• Babies under 12 months should sleep in a crib with only a mattress and fitted sheets. Bumper guards are unnecessary but not dangerous if they're properly secured and not pillow-y.
• Dress your baby in a one-piece sleeper or baby sack instead of using a blanket.
• If you do use a blanket, place infants with their feet at the foot of the crib and tuck a thin blanket around the mattress. The blanket should just reach the baby's chest. Your baby should be sleeping on his/her back in a crib that meets current safety standards.
• Do not use old, broken or modified cribs.
• Never place a crib near a window with blind or curtain cords; infants can strangle on curtain or blind cords.
• Routinely check nursery products against Consumer Product Safety Commission recall lists.

(Information compiled from consumerreports.org, babyproducts.about.com)