Nursery Noodling
Oh the To-Do List just went through the roof. I’m not sure why, but for some reason (Hi! Procrastination!), I told myself that waiting to find out the gender of the baby was a good idea before we started thinking about the nursery. This. Was. Dumb.
The first reason it’s dumb is because the room that will be the nursery is full of all sorts of stuff. There’s a pull-out couch (which is staying), an old dresser of EHH’s from his single days, my papasan chair, a trunk full of sweaters, and the general just-shove area that houses any and all items that don’t have a place. The closet is full of seasonal clothes or items we haven’t worn in years, but can’t seem to part with. Because of the little (read: no) storage we have in the townhouse, we have no idea where any of this stuff will live once it’s cleaned out. I anticipate it will take more than a few hours to go through and sort what can be thrown out. More like a few days. Stress.
Dumb reason number two, that room has a full bath. This bathroom was the only room that we didn’t touch when we moved in. Every other room got a face lift; either new paint, new flooring, or both. This one we just left and figured we’d deal with it when the time came. Well, the time came. It’s sort of now. Anyone have a wallpaper steamer we can borrow? And does anyone have any tips on how to repaint that ceiling that has the paint bumps in it? You know, looks like popcorn? Oh – and that shower needs re-caulking because I think it’s starting to mold along the edges. Can’t. Breathe.
But what about all the fun stuff? By accident I had chosen a paint color for that room when we moved in that was supposed to have soft brown tones. Turned out to be kinda pink once it went on. EHH was not happy about this, but hey! Look how that worked out! This might actually be the only good thing going for us in there! The pink is staying, but I’d like to do a soft cream color on the top half of the walls and divide the two with a wallpaper boarder because chair rail? Dude. I don’t have that kind of patience.
The furniture. Where the hell do I start? I’ve been looking online for the last few hours doing endless Google searches for cribs, baby cribs, baby furniture, quality cribs, etc. But, how do I really know what I’m getting? I’m sure this is one of many foreign knowledge areas I’m about to enter into while on this parenting journey, but I have no idea how to choose nursery furniture! This is where I need your help.
Judging by the size of the room and the fact that the full size pull-out couch is staying in there, I really only have the room for two pieces; the crib and some sort of changing table/dresser combo. On a couple of the websites I pulled up, I noticed that it’s hard to buy these two pieces together. There are some that just offer cribs and then you have to go searching for the matching dresser thing and vice versa. I have trust issues. How can I make sure they’re really going to match?
While I like the convenience of shopping online, mostly because of the awful furniture sales people that attack like flies on shit in the stores, I get nervous that the stuff will show up and look cheap or not be as good a quality as I thought when I read the description. And, as noted before, I don’t know what brands are best.
And what about the crib elements? Some people I’ve spoken to swear by the drop-rail feature. I’m not a big fan. I like the sturdy look of the stationary rails better, but am I going to regret this every time I go to put a sleeping baby down? Is this a deal breaker? Should I not be concerned with what I like aesthetically and try to be more practical? What is practical in this case? What are the features you couldn’t/can’t live without?
Convertible cribs seems like a fantastic idea. However, what’s the reality of being able to use the same piece of furniture for 18 years? Won’t it get beat up? When we have a second kid, do we have to buy another 4-in-1 convertible piece instead of just getting a full size bed or mattress and reusing the crib for the youngest?
So please, dear innernet, HALP!
(Oh, and provided you’re awesome at this task (Duh), get ready to help me with bedding choices. There. Are. So. Many! The ones I had bookmarked earlier I still like, but looking at them now I think they’re too boy-ish. I really hadn’t looked at anything girly since I was convinced that Blinkie was going to be a boy. Now I have to pick between butterflies and dragonflies and buzzing bees and princesses instead of farmers and cowboys and sports equipment and cars. Man I need a nap…)
Everyone has a different level of how much they need to do the whole nursery thing and theme thing. My philosophy doesn’t go with 95% of women I’ve encountered but I’ll share because it causes much less stress. Heh.
First, no theme for us. I bought a couple of crib sheets, a bumper, and a baby quilt off e-bay. I’m just not a theme kind of girl. You will NEVER use the blanket that shows off the theme of the whole room unless you hang it on the wall. I took some bright photos of flowers, blew them up and framed them. That and some things purchased in Guatemala are the only decoration in her room right now. My thought was – she is a baby. She doesn’t care. She won’t notice. I was moving to Guatemala in 2 weeks so I had no time to be very concerned.
Second, crib – totally a personal preference. Being completely clueless, I bought what I liked. I got a stationary sided crib that also turns into a toddler bed. I have no need for it to convert into a daybed or head board because I figure if it makes it through her toddler-hood, it has served its purpose. Everyone says babies chew them up so they don’t look nice to use later (ours still looks fabulous – nary a tooth mark).
Third, changing table – not necessary. Sabrina has a dresser that is about hip high on me. I bought on of those contoured changing pads, put it on top – voila. Changing table without any fuss. I use the top drawer of the dresser for diapers and wipes and diaper cream. As for a dresser that matches your crib – again a personal thing. I figured the dresser would last longer than the crib so I bought what I liked rather than something that matched. Most of the dressers that matched were either really expensive or made really crappy (bottoms of the drawers were thick cardboard – would be falling apart in 2 years).
So that is my rambling 2 cents worth.
Michelle’s last blog post..Where is my Northerner In The South handbook?
April 6th, 2008 | #
Well, as Michelle said- it all depends on your preferences. You have to go to the store (Babies R Us or Buy Buy Baby is good- they’re not too swarmy) and test drive the cribs to see what you like. Remember- a crib is a crib is a crib. Truly. The $1000 model is going to serve the same purpose as the $300 model- I promise- it will. As long as it is JPMA certified (they all are) then its safe, which is all that counts! I’m not a fan of the convertible crib option, b/c I know when the girls are older, I’m going to want to buy the “set” for their room. JMO.
As far as bedding- We hung Ella’s quilt on the wall with quilt clips from PBK- 3.5 years ago. It’s still hanging there, in now Ashley’s room. Quilt=waste of moola. Pick cute sheets, bumper etc. but don’t choose around the quilt unless you’re going to hang it.
Also, consider some type of smallish bookcase for the room, as many books will accumulate over time and they need a home too. And stuffed animals- there will be many!
How exciting and fun- try not to stress and enjoy!
April 6th, 2008 | #
I agree with Michelle and Chris. I did not do a theme for #1, we ended up with a convertible crib, but mostly because we couldn’t agree/find a crib that we liked. I didn’t get a bumper, or a quilt, we have a TON of knit quilt like blankets given to us for Gwen. I didn’t get the bumper, because you are technically supposed to use them for a short time and then get rid of it. Seemed like a waste to me. I used this book http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Bargains-Furniture-Equipment-Maternity/dp/1889392197
because I was so overwhelmed by all the info and crap you are told you need. (they also have a website http://www.windsorpeak.com/babybargains/default.html)
I also don’t have a changing table, I was going to use a re-purposed dress for the changing table, but that ended up in the closet because I didn’t measure the top before I registered for the contoured changing pad. We re-purposed a dresser for the changing table. None of Gwen’s stuff matches (besides all being white) and I am pretty sure Gwen doesn’t care. For the #2 someone gave us a crib and I will probably go out and buy some sheets. If you have your kids close together in age you might not want to move #1, but you never know that until too late!
Don’t stress or freak out, once the baby comes it won’t really matter, no matter how much you plan you don’t really know what is necessary and how it will work out until your sweet girl arrives. My Mom and I changed some things in the room days after we brought Gwen home, to make it function as it needed too.
Melanie’s last blog post..Beautiful day
April 6th, 2008 | #
Ok I don’t have kids but I can tell you what my best friend did: They got a convertible crib & used it for their daughter as a crib & then a toddler bed until their son was coming along. Then they changed it back to the crib & got her a “big girl” bedroom set.
Also if you’re looking for more storage, there are baby furniture sets that include storage drawers for under the crib too.
Dawn’s last blog post..Friday Fill-in: April 4, 2008
April 6th, 2008 | #
I’m just going to tell you how I did it, because that’s what I know. I am not saying this is the ONLY way to do it, however, so please don’t think I’m One Of Those.
Ahem:
Furniture: We discussed beforehand prior to going to the store so we would have some idea as to what we wanted. I was against a convertible crib for the reasons you mentioned. Didn’t want to have to buy another $500 crib for baby #2. And yeah, for 18 years? Sorry. I’d get sick of it honestly. So we got a standard crib (bonus: not as expensive as the convertibles!) with a one handed drop-down rail–you push in with your knee. I know you have space issues, but we decided to do the changing table sep. from the dresser. More storage. Anyway, once we knew what we wanted in the form of function, then we decided on color. Like you, I didn’t want to order online without manhandling it first so I could feel the quality. So we went to Babies R Us and looked at the stuff that met our criteria. Once we picked something, I then went home and read the customer reviews online BEFORE registering for it. Helped A LOT. I’m ALL ABOUT the customer reviews.
Bedding: didn’t do a theme. Found great stuff at Land Of Nod. Went with a less-babyish motif because I wanted it to last a bit longer. No trucks or bears. And remember the whole ‘no fluffy bumpers because of SIDS thing’–saves money too.
Other regsitry stuff: I did a lot of stuff online b/c of the customer review thing I mentioned. I didn’t want to be overwhelmed going into the store and feeling like I needed everything because that’s not true. So from the comfort of my home I picked out all the dumb little stuff: sheets, mattress, bottles, bath stuff, changing pad, etc. We saved the big stuff for the hands-on experience in-store. Plus a lot of the stuff I thought I liked got shit reviews from people so that helped a ton.
I whole-heartidly suggest the book Baby Bargains (newest edition) for help. They are awesome and unbiased. Tells you what you need, what you don’t, what brands are best, and how to find good deals. Life saver and will hopefully calm your fears.
Email if you want any more help! Oh, and the stress you feel? Just think of me. Bedrest at 30 weeks, baby at 35, and 5 weeks later the nursery still isn’t done. So no worries. You’re a head of the game
April 7th, 2008 | #
You totally have plenty of time. And you know how I feel/what my preferences are for the baby room furniture.
Bellini furniture
– the slide top changing table (for a larger changing space) and the changing table part comes off so that you can have a dresser in later years. a regular changing table is useless after it’s served it’s purpose.
– and I love the drop rail feature especially when you’re short and holding a sleeping baby, your chance of the baby still being asleep when you go to put her down in a drop rail crib are more likely than if you don’t have a drop rail. I foresee having another baby at some point and will keep the crib as a crib until we’re done having babies, and then it will convert to a full size bed after we’re done, just nice to know it will serve out a bigger purpose and not be unused as a crib (if that were it’s only feature)
LFm’s last blog post..Loathe?
April 7th, 2008 | #
You’ve got bling.
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April 7th, 2008 | #
My gawd, you are dredging up the memories, girl.
We didn’t know the sex of either kid, so predecorating was kind of neutral. We were wallpapering the border the day before the boy was born and my husband had to leave the hospital to finish painting my daughter’s room after she was born. We were in the midst of other far more major home repairs during each of those times and somehow the baby rooms didn’t seem quite so important….go figure.
I totally agree, bedding schmeding. Quilts are fairly useless. And both my kids had bumper pads…but this was back before the dangers (which, I’m totally out of the loop), I guess. So I just got matching sheets and a bumper – and that was it.
The boy’s room was light green. I only remember we got an inexpensive but sturdy crib – with a drop down side (trying to lay a sleeping one year old over the side when it’s up – no fun – I’m short and I had to kind of drop him in)
My girl used the same crib and we got her a large dresser with one of those contoured changing pads.
jenny’s last blog post..Why is it
April 7th, 2008 | #
The changing table doesn’t get heavy use. You can skip it. As for the crib, that’s a preference thing. We’re getting reuse out of Mia’s – Owen’s in it. We didn’t go for the whole convertible thing. We got Mia a “big girl bed” at Ikea pretty cheap and she loves it.
Chris’s last blog post..The Dangers of Peeing Standing Up
April 7th, 2008 | #
Thanks for stopping by my blog! And as far as cribs go, I totally vote for the stationary rail. We have one and unless you’re very short (sorry if you are! lol) they work just fine, and I don’t have the worry of god forbid the railing coming undone and trapping a baby head. Or something equally as horrible that I concoct in my head.
And even though we knew we were having a girl, we did the room opposing walls yellow and orange (like a sherbet color, nothing terrible) with a multi-colored Bug theme border thing. We also bought all neutral “stuff” and two years later, pregnant with a boy, I am sure glad I did!!
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April 7th, 2008 | #