Toddler Furniture

From LoveToKnow Baby

When you first began planning your baby nursery, you probably imagined his sweet, little body snuggled securely into a bassinet or crib and didn't give a second thought to toddler furniture. He would be all helpless and tiny, waiting for you to answer his every need. What you may not have realized is how quickly your angelic infant would become an adorable and precocious toddler! That lovely antique table that was covered with beautiful, glass or porcelain baby ornaments may now hold small plastic blocks, stuffed animals, and assorted board books. Toddler furniture obviously takes on a different meaning from nursery furniture!

Antique Toddler Furniture Anyone?

Is it wise to use antiques in your toddler's bedroom? Why not? As long as the furniture is sturdy, antiques can make perfect bedroom furniture. In fact, if you love the eclectic look of mismatched furniture, antiques can give a room a classical, elegant look that still appears put together.

Convertibles Aren't Just Cars!

Did you know that you can purchase convertible furniture for your baby's room? This means that the furniture can be used for several years. As your child grows, the furniture will adapt to her needs. Sound high tech? It isn't really! There are two main types of convertible furniture.

Convertible Cribs-Convertible cribs start out as simple cribs for you to use until your child is around two to three years old, or until he has outgrown his baby bed. You can then disassemble the crib and reassemble it into a toddler bed, using the same crib mattress. Once your child has outgrown his toddler bed, some convertible cribs can still be used. They become a standard twin size bed with a head and foot board. You will have to buy a twin size mattress, however.

Convertible Changing Tables-When your baby is still in diapers, you'll need a changing table complete with storage for diapers, wipes, ointments, lotions, etc. Once she becomes potty trained, though, what can you do with the changing table? If it is a convertible changing table, you can use it as a dresser, if it has drawers. You simply remove the changing pad and rails from the top of the dresser, add a mirror if you like, and there you have it! Some convertible changing tables have shelves instead of drawers, but instead of using this storage space for diapering paraphernalia, you can use it to store books, toys, etc.

Toddler Necessities

What kind of furniture does a toddler really need? Well, it is always nice to create a space for your child that he can call his own. You can do this quite easily even if he shares his room with a sibling. Toddlers love bright colors, and they love seeing their name on things. If your toddler is sharing his room, why not carve out a corner for each child with his own little desk and chair? Maybe you can fit it at the end of each bed. On the back of the chairs, stencil each child's name.

All toddlers really need in their rooms is a bed and maybe a dresser or chest for clothing storage. If your toddler's room has plenty of closet space, however, you can get by without a dresser, creating more space for toys and such. Toddlers love to color, so why not look for an inexpensive table and chairs? You don't have to spend a lot of money to decorate your child's room. Don't forget to check out consignment shops and sales, along with garage and yard sales for some really good bargains.

Furniture Danger

Finally, when you are furnishing your toddler's room don't forget safety. There are several safety issues that you should consider.

Paint-If you have purchased older furniture for your child's room, you need to make sure that there isn't any old paint that is flaking or chipping. In fact, you may need to strip the old furniture completely (working outside, of course) and repaint it to eliminate the risk of lead poisoning.
Hinged Lids-If you have purchased a toy box, new or old, that has a lid on it, you will need to make sure that it has a safety latch preventing it from slamming down on a little one's head or hands.
Tipping Furniture-Top heavy furniture can tip over, severely injuring a child. If you have furniture that could tip over either by pulling on it or stepping on a drawer or shelf, you will need to buy wall anchor kits to eliminate this risk.
Beds-When you move your toddler from a crib to a bed, you need to make sure that the mattress fits the bed frame snuggly to reduce the risk of your child getting trapped between the mattress and bed. If you are placing one side of the bed against a wall, be sure there isn't an area that your child could get caught in.

Your child will grow quickly, and before you know it, she'll have left the toddler and pre-school years behind. Have fun searching for the perfect toddler furniture for now!