Tips for Buying Baby and Kids Gear
For parents-to-be, the ‘Baby Check List’ often seems as never-ending as the wait for the highly anticipated arrival of the new bundle of joy. Preparing for a baby is exciting, but it also involves a lot of planning. You’ll need to think about baby furniture, strollers, car seats, baby clothes, baby bedding, toys, baby feeding products, high chairs, play pens, bouncers, baby monitors, safety gates, nursery decor… and that’s just the beginning! With a list that long, where do you begin? The baby crib is a good place, since your newborn will need about 16-20 hours of sleep per day!
The most important factor to consider when buying a baby crib is the crib type. You will have the option of choosing from standard cribs, convertible cribs, mini and portable cribs, and co-sleepers. Standard cribs, which are usually traditional in style, are the most common cribs and feature single or double drop sides. They are perfect for your baby from infancy to toddler, but if you would like a crib that will grow along with your baby past the toddler stage, you may want to consider a convertible crib. Although more expensive, convertible cribs effortlessly convert from a baby crib to a toddler bed, a day bed, and a full size bed so will never have to buy another bed as your child ages. If you do not have the space for a standard or convertible crib, mini and portable cribs are great solutions. Much smaller and lighter than the previous alternatives, mini cribs and portable cribs are also perfect for traveling and easy to store. Finally, if you’re looking to keep your baby close to you throughout the night, a co-sleeper is the way to go. Co-sleepers will allow you to keep your baby at an arm’s length away, but still allow you to enjoy the comfort of your own bed.