Guide to Furnishing a Baby Boy Bedroom

Having the nursery set up in advance will likely ease any (perfectly natural) fears you may be having about not being prepared for the birth of your baby.  The beginning of your third trimester is a good time to get serious about buying.  That way you still have time to shop around, getting a sense of what you like and how prices compare at various stores.  Keep in mind that some retailers have to order pieces so you may want to do your research earlier, like during your second trimester to ensure you will get everything you need in time for your little man's birth.  Another thing to consider is that as your due date gets closer, it is likely you will have less energy to schlep from store to store, so do not wait too long to make your purchases, especially if the furniture you select requires assembly.

What to Buy

There are really only three basic furniture pieces you will need for your baby boy's nursery: the crib, a changing table/dresser combination piece and a rocking chair or glider.  Of course there are plenty of accessory items that you can add such as a lamp, window coverings, rugs, framed pictures and over sized stuffed animals, but start with the basics and then you can have fun personalizing the space. 

The Crib

The most important thing to consider when purchasing a crib is your infant's safety.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission has recently decided to ban drop side cribs in the United States based on dozens of infant deaths that have occurred as a result of these types of cribs.  It's probably best to purchase a new crib for your baby rather than have him sleep in a used crib to ensure that it meets all current safety guidelines.  Furthermore, follow assembly instructions closely.  Not so great at attaching Part A to Part B?  Ask someone to help you if you have any doubts about whether or not you have properly assembled your baby's crib.  The next thing to consider when shopping for cribs is aesthetics.  Do you plan to buy all white nursery furniture?  Or is dark wood more your style?  If you are not buying your crib and changing table as a set, you will want to make sure that the pieces match.  Also, measure the room you
intend to use as your nursery if you have any question as to how the pieces will fit.  When making the final decision on the purchase of your crib, you may even want to have your bedding selections picked out to make sure that everything looks the way you are envisioning in your mind.  You will need to purchase a crib mattress separately, as well as a waterproof cover.  Make sure that the maker of the crib mattress, as well as other baby products you purchase, is a member of the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association.

The Changing Table

A changing table/dresser combination piece is the most practical and space conscious choice for your baby boy's nursery.  Some pieces have built in storage overhead as well which can also be used for decorative items.  Just make sure you do not place anything heavy that could fall on your baby on these shelves! Many changing table/dresser pieces look just like a dresser that you add a changing pad on top of, which allows you to use this piece long after diapers are a thing of the past.  For safety reasons it is imperative that you purchase a piece intended for a nursery rather than placing a changing pad on top of a dresser you may already own.  Changing tables will have safety straps or buckles for you to properly secure the changing pad so that it does not slide off during use.  Sometimes there will even be apparatus in place to secure the actual piece to the wall so that it your baby does not pull it
down on himself when he is big enough to play on the floor. 

The Rocking Chair/Glider

You will want a place to sit down and rock your baby in the nursery, especially when he is a newborn and will likely be getting up in the night for a feeding.  Keep comfort in mind when selecting your rocker, since this will be especially important at 3:00 AM!  Testing out some rockers in store can be a welcome break for a tired pregnant woman who has been on her feet inspecting cribs all afternoon.  You may also want to buy an ottoman to support your feet during a late night feeding.  If you know exactly how you want to decorate your nursery, you will have a good idea of what upholstery matches your aesthetic.  If not, pick something neutral, especially if you may have more babies to rock to sleep sometime in the future.