Bedding

Toddler Bed

Many parents that practice co-sleeping have trouble getting their toddler to accept their own bed when it is time. Toddlers may resist laying down in their own bed entirely or refuse to lay down unless a parent lays down with them. If their parents can get them to lay down on their own at all, toddlers may still get up during the middle of the night and wander back into bed with mom and dad. Toddler beds can help parents make the transition to sleeping alone more comfortable for their little one.

Moving to a bed of their own can be a frightening experience for co-sleeping children for many reasons. Children find themselves suddenly cast into a dark, unfamiliar room. Strange noises they may have ignored before cause their ears to perk up. The dark shadows in the corners, under the bed and in the closet take on a life of their own. From a toddler’s perspective, a twin bed may seem strangely empty and the floor a terrifyingly long way down without a parent on each side to keep the child from the edge. Toddler beds are smaller and low to the ground. They are the perfect size for little ones just beginning to sleep on their own.

By the time co-sleeping parents are ready to move their child into their own bed, toddlers will have usually developed an attachment to a favorite cartoon character. Many toddler beds feature beloved cartoon characters for just this reason. Parents may… Read the rest

Posted in Baby Furniture | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Baby Bed

One of the first items new parents will likely focus on is the baby’s bed. Generally, one of the pricier baby items that will be needed, it can be tempting to buy a second-hand crib or borrow from a friend or relative. While this route can be significantly less expensive, it is crucial that consumers check various elements of the crib to ensure its safety prior to use. Particularly, since safety standards are routinely reviewed and changed as new information becomes available, older cribs are less likely to meet current safety standards.

When looking at cribs, whether used or new, one of the first items to look for is a Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) certification. Newer cribs with this certification have been manufactured in accordance with the latest guidelines regarding potentially dangerous drop sides, which have caused injuries and even fatalities in infants.

A second factor in determining the safety of a crib is the spacing between the slats. Slats spaced too far apart can allow infants’ heads to become stuck between them causing serious injury and/or death. Therefore, the government has determined that the spacing between the slats should be less than 2-3/8 inches apart.

Additionally, consumers should inspect cribs to ensure all of the bolts, screws and hardware are original and that individual parts and joints fit tightly and that the wood is free of splinters and jagged surfaces. Moreover, any painted surfaces should be covered with lead-free paint which has no peeling or cracking.

In… Read the rest

Posted in Baby Furniture | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Baby Linens

Choosing crib linens for your nursery is just one of the decorating decisions you will make. Baby bedding is usually chosen after the theme and paint color for the room has been selected.

Crib linens include the crib sheet and a cover sheet. They may be bought separately or as part of a crib set. The bumper pads, crib skirt and comforter are the main part of a baby bedding set, but they may include the linens. The crib bedding may match the rest of the set or they may only compliment it.

You will want to make sure you get the right size for the crib sheets so that they fit correctly. They will be designed to fit over the corners of the mattress. You don’t want an older baby moving around and getting tangled up in the sheet.

You will want to select a bright color for the bedding since this will be the item a baby will notice first in their room. If you don’t know the gender of your baby, yellow and green are popular choices for bedding. You can also find linens in both pink and blue if you want to select traditional colors but choose not to know the gender.

The material in the bedding is important, too. You want something that will be soft on a baby’s delicate skin. Cotton is a good choice for comfort and will be cool if you have a baby that tends to get overly warm when… Read the rest

Posted in Baby Nursery | Tagged , | Leave a comment