What furniture do I need for baby's room?

alinafed · August 2013

Hi ladies,

Yesterday I woke up with an amazing inspiration for LO's room and now I'm so into planning it. But I realized I really don't know what furniture he/she will require. I know he needs a crib, dresser and gliding/rocking etc chair for me. I also read to get a closet organization system since you won't need much hanging space yet so I will do that.

Questions: how big a dresser do I need? I know baby's clothes are small but a little 3-drawer dresser seems inadequate in terms of organizing because there are so many different types of clothes for babies.

Do I need a change table? I know some people just change the baby on the dresser, which I thought I would do, but then I realized a change table would provide storage for wipes, diapers, whatever else you use when you change a baby lol.

Any other advice would be very helpful. The baby's room is actually on the bigger side so I'm not worried about having too much furniture. I'm more wondering if I should just get the basics so that when he/she is a bit older I have room to add more furniture for playing.

Thanks ladies! I feel so hopeless with this stuff (but also excited now that I have a theme and colours!)

Ladams30 · August 2013

We are doing cribs, a night table, my glider, a double dresser and a bookcase. The bookcase will double as the place I organize the diaper stuff at first. We'll put a changer on the dresser. Thankfully, the babies' room is large and I don't have to worry about overcrowding.

mommygrams0730 · August 2013

Need...or want? I'll probably be the odd one out but all you really need is a place for the baby to sleep. That said changing table and dresser are helpful, but to be honest I rarely used ours. For both I did then they were first born especially middle of the night changing, but that's about it. Kids' tons are upstairs so I never wanted to haul them up to change them, we just have diapers and wipes in our living room downstairs and we change on the floor.

I got our changing table off Craig's list for $20 and then our dresser from a relative who was getting rid of a few things. It just seemed silly to spend tons of money on furniture sets, if rather spend that money else where. Again I'm probably different than most. We have a decent crib from target, $150? And a rock n play for in room sleeping the first 4 months or so...we might need another crib since we'll have 2 under 2.

sarahlm619 · August 2013

Ladams30 said:
We are doing cribs, a night table, my glider, a double dresser and a bookcase. The bookcase will double as the place I organize the diaper stuff at first. We'll put a changer on the dresser. Thankfully, the babies' room is large and I don't have to worry about overcrowding.

This for me too!

alinafed · August 2013

@mommygrams: No I like that advice - I don't WANT to get ten pieces, I really just want to get what I need now and then get more when I need it. I think I will skip changing table based on everyone's comments above. I could probably just use a dresser drawer for wipes and all that stuff at the beginning anyway.

Thanks ladies! Can't wait to get started on the nursery and post pics of the result!

jldubb0626 · August 2013

We have a crib, a double dresser with a changing pad on top, my glider and a book shelf. I'll add things as I see fit.

Personally, I think a changing table is pointless. It takes up space and you only use it while they are in diapers. If you're going to spend your money, I'd go with a dresser they can use for years (I had the same set until college) and just make the top your changing area.

Unknown · August 2013

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mrsjenni · August 2013

Both our nurseries have a crib, armoire and low dresser that we used as a changing table too. It works out well because when we took the crib out of DS1's room and put in his bed, we could still use the armoire and low dresser in his room.

We also got a glider and I agree with the closet organizer, we put one in all the kids rooms when we did their nurseries.

PreDempsey · August 2013

This makes me so happy to see everyone else thinking along the same lines that we did. Double dresser with the changer on top so it can grow with baby (and subseqent babies). Our nursery is shoe box sized so we're keeping the big pieces minimal.

I've seen on pintrest a changer on a dresser with the wipes etc. in the top most drawers to save space and organize things while baby doesn't necessarily need all that drawer space.

alinafed · August 2013

Great advice ladies thanks. I never would have thought of the bookshelf yet but would be great to have a space for toys and books (his grandpa already got him/her some books!)

I agree 100% about changing table, and @wilburbud your idea of having a shelf above dresser to put wipes etc on is great I'm going to do it. I think change table is totally pointless but my parents keep trying to convince me I need one for some reason!

buckeyebride22 · August 2013

I bought a low dresser just so I could put a changing pad on it and honestly, I never bought one. I have always changed DS on the couch/floor/bed. Thankfully he rarely peed when changing him so it wasn't an issue. Besides the dresser, we have a crib, ikea shelf for storage, and glider. I didn't use a lamp just a blue light night light. We have them throughout the house so I wouldn't have to turn on a light and wake him up more. We will do the same for this little one since it worked out so well.

PreDempsey · August 2013

buckeyebride22 said:

I bought a low dresser just so I could put a changing pad on it and honestly, I never bought one. I have always changed DS on the couch/floor/bed. Thankfully he rarely peed when changing him so it wasn't an issue. Besides the dresser, we have a crib, ikea shelf for storage, and glider. I didn't use a lamp just a blue light night light. We have them throughout the house so I wouldn't have to turn on a light and wake him up more. We will do the same for this little one since it worked out so well.

This was my idea for 10 seconds. DH wasn't a lamp user when we met so we don't have a lot of them in the house. We don't exactly need a lamp for the nursery but the bedding I like has this little guy in the collection:

So I really have no choice.. We have to get it.

PocketofSunshine09 · August 2013

Bookshelves said:

I'm a long-term thinker. I want to get a low dresser, maybe 6 drawers, that'll be big enough for a changing pad on top and to follow the kid through childhood. The only other thing I'll probably add to your list is a bookshelf (obviously ) and a small end table for a lamp by the glider.

This is exactly what we did with my Son and I'm so happy. Now with #2 on the way, we will be putting the changing pad back on the dresser and since it's 6 drawers we will split it between the two kids.

OP I think you have a good list going. We had a crib, 6 drawer long dresser (and used it as a changing table), glider, bookshelf and closet organizer. Our dresser was long enough that we had a small diaper organizer that held the wipes warmer too and that worked great.

Jackapatamus · August 2013

For our last baby we used a crib, changing table, and armoir. We used baskets on the shelves of the changing table for sleepers, onesies, etc. I hung all the clothes up in armoir. It worked fine. For this baby, I am going to use a crib, dresser with changing pad and caddy (for wipes, diapers, etc) on top. I am using a full size dresser. Having used both, I think they both work. If I was buying, I would just buy the dresser! Like the idea of a shelf above! May have to make an addition!

LindsB314 · August 2013

I guess we are in the minority but we got a crib with a changing table attached with shelves on the side. We love it and she still uses it. She is 16 months. The crib will turn into a toddler bed and the changing table will be a night stand. We also have a closet organizer, a dresser, and a toy/book shelf. I put bins in some of the squares for extra storage. Oh and a glider

Cdnsunshine · August 2013

I ran out and bought everything with my first. The only thing I found really useless besides that it was for extra storage was a change table! I thought I would use it because we have dogs but it was always more of a hassel to bring the baby all the way to the table. We literally maybe used ours twice or changing lol

Happy decorating

CaliCarly77 · August 2013

We have NO space - we are sticking two mini cribs into our study, and taking out the sleeper sofa that is in there. We will also add in a dresser (actually mine that I've had for years, I've been wanting an "adult" one for a while) and I am thinking of getting a love seat that converts to a twin bed so we still have a "Guest" sleeping spot (though who would want to sleep in there??)

The study already has a giant TV media book shelf thing which we will leave in there for DH to play video games when the babies are either not in there or need daddy :P and another wall has a full book shelf system - I am replacing all of DHs collectibles and turning it into baby spots (the top row will have our books on them) and DH is going to anchor it. Poor things are basically going to be sleeping in what looks like a storage space. Thank goodness we just got approved for another home loan! lol

lauren.cus · August 2013

This is what we did for DD's room and it's worked perfectly. The only thing we're changing for DS's room is to invest in a much nicer glider, but storage wise and functionality wise it's been great.

neptunebljc · August 2013

We have a decent sized bedroom. We were thinking about a crib, a dresser, a change table and a glider. We will probably due a nightlight of some sort. DH is set on getting all of the set pieces for the room so I'm a little worried it will be to much, but we'll see.

After reading this,I'm unsure about a change table. But a big dresser would be too big for the room,because we have a HUGE closet with an organizer. So I guess we'll see.

knottie3c0525a8a3c64eaa · August 2013

You will need a crib, glider, dresser with changing table on top. Our nursery is small so that's all we could put in the room but I put extra clothes in the closet and went to ikea to get stuff to organize it. This is what I did for my sons closet so that we could fit more stuff.

baby2ra · August 2013

I would get a big dresser. It would be nice to get something that is going to last for a long time. DD's has 4 big drawers and they are all pretty much full.
We never got a changing table and didn't miss it. I felt like it was a waste of money but that is just my opinion.
We also have a bookshelf in her room because she has tons of books and we have a rocking chair and side table. Definitely a good idea to have some closet organization too!

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