The first item that comes to mind is the baby cot. It is important that the cot is very well finished, especially if it’s made of wood, and that it has rounded corners and edges. As the baby will soon be able to stand in the cot, you don’t want any sharp edges that may be harmful. You’ll see that you’ll have to make sure to cover all corners in the house with rubber protections. Most cot models have those vertical bars which will allow the infant to grab with the hands in order to learn how to stand. Make sure those bars are not too far away from each other. The main idea is that the head of the baby shouldn’t be able to pass through the bars, otherwise it could cause severe injuries if the baby manages to pass its head through the bars. Don’t forget to buy a cot mattress and some duvets, as they are usually not included with your baby crib.

photo credit: Rooney.

The baby changer is something you probably didn’t think of. You need it because you’ll have to change the baby’s diapers many times a day. The main advantage of the baby changer is that its height is very convenient for the mother, so you won’t have to bend over the child like if you’d change it on the regular bed. Another good point is that this piece of furniture has drawers and special storing spaces where you can keep all diapers, bottles, handkerchiefs, napkins or whatever else at ease. A more modern version of the baby changer is the changing table, accomplishing pretty much the same functions while being lighter and easier to move, in case you need that.

photo credit: The Facey Family

The baby stroller is really a no-brainer when it comes to shopping for the newborn. You’ll use the stroller a lot, you’ll have to take it out of the house and bring it back in at least once a day during nice weather time. This is why it’s important to choose a lightweight model of stroller. With all modern materials and technologies, I bet you won’t encounter any difficulties in choosing a sturdy, lightweight model. Moreover, if your storage space isn’t that big, you can opt for a pliable stroller. There are some new models, with three wheels, two rear and one front wheel, which can be manipulated with ease. However, such modern strollers come with a higher price tag, being about three-four times more expensive than regular models. If that’s affordable for you, then it’s for the better. If not, don’t worry, you will be able to cope with regular strollers as well, especially if you have somebody to help you.

photo credit: flowers & machinery

After several months you are going to need a high chair. Of course, much later, your child would be glad to have some small size furniture in his room, but that can be done later on. For the beginning, you’ll need some toys, clothes, jars, food recipients, tons of diapers and a lot of patience.

However, if this is your first child, it is probably the first time you are looking for baby furniture to buy. You don’t know what to look for, what features are more important that others and how cheap can you actually go without putting the child safety in danger. Here’s a brief guide of what to do in order to make sure you get the most value for your money and the best comfort for your child:

The most important step is to think of what you need the high chair for:

• Will you want to take your baby with you when camping or in weekend outdoor trips? Then you’ll probably have to consider a portable chair.
• Do you live in a very small apartment, where there’s no room for another chair? The get a foldable high chair for your baby, so you can store it easily when you don’t use it.
• Do you afford to buy a new chair each time your baby grows? If not, you can think of a convertible chair, which can be adapted to your child’s height.

Then you could observe the furniture and interior decorations in your home:

• Are you living in a modern, SF-like space? Do you have those pieces mof high tech, modern furniture? Then you’ll better think of the same style for your baby’s high chair: there are some really cool models, you won’t have to look too far.
• Are you rather the classic style, surrounding yourself with vintage furniture, paintings and antique clocks? In this case, a classic, wood high chair may be the best choice.
• If you need to leave your child at his grandparents quite often, you may need to buy two high chairs: one for you and one for them. Otherwise, you’ll have to take the chair with you each time you live the toddler with the grandparents, which can be rather embarrassing, as you’ll have to carry a lot of stuff anyway. The second chair could be the portable type.

After you decide on the features, do a Google search and see some high chair brands and manufacturers. Look through the models, make your selections, prepare your shortlist, then do a second search, this time looking for reviews from other parents who bought that type of high chairs. If you find a lot of negative opinions and reviews about a certain model, you may want to exclude it from your shopping list.

When you make up your mind, do a third search, this time looking for price reductions, coupons or other kind of discounts.