April 2007
Setting up the nursery: Basic steps
Armoires, chests, and changing tables made expressly for use in a nursery do offer some advantages. Usually drawers have stops
in the back to keep them from being pulled out and dumped--a favorite tot activity. Some pieces have rounded edges and recessed
drawer pulls to minimize cuts and scrapes. Opt for designs that don't permit climbing.
Nursery furniture is often overpriced for the quality offered. Scrutiny reveals that individual chests of drawers within a manufacturer's line are virtually the same except for the various wooden overlays. Wood veneers are often glued on to the front of units to give the appearance of rich wood construction. The back of what looks like a well-made piece of furniture may be only thin fiberboard attached with staples.
Consider shopping in regular furniture stores, especially during seasonal sales, for storage units and rockers. A thrift store may yield a top-quality chest for hundreds of dollars less than a poorly constructed unit designed for nursery use. Look for well-glued drawers and a smooth finish that won't peel off. Stay away from any item with sharp edges or protruding decorative details. Beware of drawers on roller tracks--they slide in and out so fast that they can pinch little fingers as they close. If necessary, you may have to install devices that prevent a toddler from opening drawers.
In the store, test for tipping by pulling out all of the drawers. Avoid pieces any higher than three drawers. To revamp a chest that you already have, install drawer stops and replace sharp or protruding drawer pulls with flattened ones.
When setting up a nursing area for your comfort, get a rocker or some other kind of comfortable chair with side arms as well as a footstool. Or use a daybed with high endboards. Include a side table with a small lamp. You may want to add a tape player and earphones, a bottle warmer if you're using formula, and other creature comforts. But remember most of these items can present a potential hazard to a toddler.
Bolt all nursery units to the wall with angle braces or "L" brackets. Store toys on low shelves, or baskets rather than in toy chests, whose lids can close unexpectedly.
Some models of nursery furniture have been recalled in recent years. Problems included furniture that could tip over and toy chests that could entrap and suffocate a child.
Nursery furniture is often overpriced for the quality offered. Scrutiny reveals that individual chests of drawers within a manufacturer's line are virtually the same except for the various wooden overlays. Wood veneers are often glued on to the front of units to give the appearance of rich wood construction. The back of what looks like a well-made piece of furniture may be only thin fiberboard attached with staples.
Consider shopping in regular furniture stores, especially during seasonal sales, for storage units and rockers. A thrift store may yield a top-quality chest for hundreds of dollars less than a poorly constructed unit designed for nursery use. Look for well-glued drawers and a smooth finish that won't peel off. Stay away from any item with sharp edges or protruding decorative details. Beware of drawers on roller tracks--they slide in and out so fast that they can pinch little fingers as they close. If necessary, you may have to install devices that prevent a toddler from opening drawers.
In the store, test for tipping by pulling out all of the drawers. Avoid pieces any higher than three drawers. To revamp a chest that you already have, install drawer stops and replace sharp or protruding drawer pulls with flattened ones.
When setting up a nursing area for your comfort, get a rocker or some other kind of comfortable chair with side arms as well as a footstool. Or use a daybed with high endboards. Include a side table with a small lamp. You may want to add a tape player and earphones, a bottle warmer if you're using formula, and other creature comforts. But remember most of these items can present a potential hazard to a toddler.
Bolt all nursery units to the wall with angle braces or "L" brackets. Store toys on low shelves, or baskets rather than in toy chests, whose lids can close unexpectedly.
Some models of nursery furniture have been recalled in recent years. Problems included furniture that could tip over and toy chests that could entrap and suffocate a child.
