Baby Furniture

For the first four to five months of your baby's life, you'll find some alternatives to a crib, including bassinets, Moses baskets, bedside sleepers, and cradles. But the best beds for babies are full-sized cribs, so consider all other options with caution.

If you've considered buying a rocking chair or glider but aren't sure you'll use it, think again. Babies and rocking chairs or gliders go together like macaroni and cheese. You'll get the most use out of one in your baby's first year.

You can diaper a baby almost anywhere if she's safe from falling, and changing her on the floor with a pad is as safe as you can get. But because you'll change more than 2,000 diapers in your baby's first year, your back and knees will benefit from something made for the task, either a standard changing table or a dresser that can serve as one.

Choosing the bedding for your baby's room can be a lot of fun. Just remember, basic is best. All you really need is a good mattress and a tight-fitting sheet.

Of all the items you'll need for your baby, a crib is one of the most challenging to choose. There's a wide array of styles and price ranges. Unlike bassinets, cradles, and bedside sleepers, cribs are the only beds for babies that are required to meet federal government mandated standards.