Nursery Furniture

missnc77

I looked at the first three pages, and didn't see anything related to this. So flame me for being a special snowflake if you must, but feel free to ask your own nursery furniture related questions as well!

This is baby #2 for us. With DD, I was still a career woman, and we were able to splurge on PB Kid furniture. Now I'm a SAHM, my DD still loves her crib, and after consulting with my other mom friends, I've decided to just go ahead and buy a crib and set for this baby rather than passing my DD's set down when she may not be ready. But we just don't have the money to go on a spending spree at PB this time around. 1.5 years later, the stuff we bought is still like new. DD can pull up on rock on her crib, and it won't make a sound. I know there are more affordable options out there that are just as good of quality, but I don't know what brands to look for. We did go to BabiesRUs and thought the Bertini and Baby Cache brands felt pretty sturdy, but I'm not in love with anything I've seen. I also don't like on some of the Baby Cache cribs you can see these big allen head screws on the side of the crib.

My question for you - what brands have you tried or decided on? If you're a STM+ mom, what brand did you buy before, and did you love it? I don't have a Buy Buy Baby near me, and I'm afraid to buy something online before testing it out. Target has samples set out, but not full cribs, so I can't give it a good shake test either. 

Same question for nursery rockers/gliders. We're going to move the PB rocker to the new baby's room, but we still want something in DD's room for bed time stories. 

orbmaker

I ended up going for this babyletto "gelato" crib, which I found on one site for $299. It's non-tox and all that jazz, and converts to two versions of a toddler bed ( w/ and w/o rail -- all parts included). 

ksmwalters

We’re getting a Babyletto crib as well. (The Lolly) We have a small, independently-owned baby store near us and she had several of their cribs on the floor, and her daughter’s crib is Babyletto as well. We’re debating between PB Kid and Babyletto for a reclining glider- the Babyletto one is cheaper and electric - so less chance that you’ll wake up baby if you’re trying to recline. Not sure what your budget is but they seem to be well-reviewed and cheaper than PB Kids. 

Edited to say I’m a FTM so this is basically me:

missnc77

Our PB rocker is so comfortable, but after heavy use it developed a popping noise when you rock. I’ve got to figure that one out before this other baby comes! While I’m really happy with how the PB crib and dresser have held up, I am disappointed by the rocker. 

ShawnnaO

@orbmaker is that your nursery or is that just a stock photo? It’s so neutral and pretty and I love it. 

I dont pay pay attention to brands so I can’t help, even as a STM. I just picked things I liked and hoped they lasted. 

orbmaker

@ShawnnaO Just a picture I found on the internet! But I picked it cos it kinda matches our taste

missnc77

At some point, one of the board regulars should start a post your nursery thread. We had one on my last BMB, and it was so fun to see what everyone did! 

ashleyf911

With DS we used a Simmons Kids crib from Target. It was $300 or so and its held up extremely well. The plan is to move DS to a big boy bed soon and use the crib for the newest babe. It's a 4 in 1 so it can convert to a toddler bed, twin bed, and daybed if we ever wanted to. We got the matching  6 drawer dresser and its really solid too. Stock picture below.

mdfarmchick

@missnc77 we bought the floor model when they were changing floorsets at PBK for DS. The crib was marked down to $285 and then I had a 20% off coupon they let me use. If you live close to one, I’d go in and make friends with the staff. They can add you to the email list for when they do a floor model sale and it’s usually a list of what they are getting rid of and sometimes prices. They can also discretionally give you an additional discount. They did that for the rocker I bought there because it had a small “scuff mark” on it. It cleaned right off.

If you are having a popping sound with your rocker, I’d try flipping it over. There are different settings for ours and it popped for a bit because a block got lodged underneath and had it leaning too far forward instead of being in the center notch. Also, a lot of times it is an easy fix if your hubby or dad or anyone is handy. 

If if I hadn’t bought the PBK crib, I was looking at the Eddie Bauer cribs at Target. I don’t have any personal experience with them, but they were the only other brand that I found that was solid wood instead of veneer and particle board. I felt like solid wood would stand up better to long term use. 

missnc77

Thanks @mdfarmchick - Good point about the solid wood. Something else I didn’t mention is we’ll be moving when this baby is 4 months then moving again when she’s 16 months. This crib will have to make it through 2 cross country moves unless I pass down DD1’s when she does go to a toddler bed. 

[Deleted User]

Just a FTM but I also got a Babyletto crib and dresser/changing table combo and While the dresser was super difficult to assemble, they are all really nice looking and seem extremely sturdy.  

leilaquinn

I also bought a Bsbyletto Lolly  crib and dresser, I haven’t put them together yet, my husband is painting this s weekend and then I will try to put them together when my cold/plague is better. I have always LOVED assembling furniture, like big puzzles, but I liked to drink beer and play loud music while I did it, and now I don’t even like bending over very much lol, so I imagine it will be less fun.

ShawnnaO

@leilaquinn that crib is SO CUTE!!! I’m not buying a new crib for this baby, but I might need to paint it to match that  

ksmwalters

@leilaquinn yeeaahhhhhhhh crib buddies!!

barrelocarol

I was just thinking about furniture today! 

Please tell me your thoughts on this: Bunk beds for both kids. Oldest kiddo on top and baby on bottom with rails to simulate a crib. 

My thinking is I'll need a place to sleep with second baby and I could sleep in the bottom bunk with him in the beginning. We tried the baby in our bed thing. Nogo. No one is able to sleep and we're all just tired in the morning. 

Is this a ridiculous idea?

runsoncoffee

@barrelocarol I just recently saw something like on  pinterest. Look up ikea kura hacks!

slr1229

Changing sheets on bunk beds sucks.  Just saying!

lleblanc33

Ikea cribs are affordable (just over $100)and rated well by Consumer Reports. You will also find affordable dressers that can double as a changing table. They say buy the mattress elsewhere though. I am getting the Ikea dresser, and I got the PBK Kendall Crib on sale then I applied a 20% off coupon making it about the same price as the cribs many are mentioning below. Apparently their whites are a close match. I'm interested to hear what people have to say about rockers.

[Deleted User]

barrelocarol said:

I was just thinking about furniture today! 

Please tell me your thoughts on this: Bunk beds for both kids. Oldest kiddo on top and baby on bottom with rails to simulate a crib. 

My thinking is I'll need a place to sleep with second baby and I could sleep in the bottom bunk with him in the beginning. We tried the baby in our bed thing. Nogo. No one is able to sleep and we're all just tired in the morning. 

Is this a ridiculous idea?

wouldn't this constantly wake your other kid up? 

bravoandprosecco

We got a target Eddie Bauer crib for our first and LOVE it. We just went to Ikea for toddler furniture since D'S will have to move to a big boy bed so we can use the crib. We loved everything at Ikea and are so excited to put the room together!

npkat

I got a hand me down convertible, Delta brand crib given to us. It's about 4 years old, great condition still and was really easy to put together. What will be our changing table was an old dresser type thing that my in laws are painting and adding a top that will accommodate a changing pad and a couple compartments for diapers and wipes that can be removed easily when we just want it as a dresser. The drawers are really small on it so I will also be putting my old dresser in the baby's closet for more storage. So far, all I have had to buy for the room is a rug and curtains that I got off Wayfair. We are all about saving money and welcomed any hand me downs!

fatstagnation

has anyone shopped on varagesale.com? It looks like a good place to get used/new baby stuff. 

Also, thoughts on bassinets? I'm looking at the Moses basket thing, and it seems like it would work just fine with the stand/rocker thing. 

(words not working so well right now. Hope I'm making sense. lol)