When it comes to shopping for your baby, things can get very confusing if you do not have a premeditated plan to follow. Needless to say, you are both excited and nervous as a new parent and want to think all your decisions through before confirming any of them. As opposed to common belief, determining the kinds of furniture you would need for your child doesn't necessarily have to be overwhelming. The only thing you must remember is that you know your baby and his requirements the best; hence, do not get influenced by the opinions of fancy websites and magazines that pretty much abide by the one-size-fits-all policy.

To help you understand better and spare you the horror of stepping into a maze of infinite choices, in the following segment, we will be jotting down some of the baby furniture essentials that you must get your hands on.

• Baby crib

No points for guessing; the first item on our list has to be a baby crib. If you look up the internet, you will come across innumerable variations of cribs that are meant for children of different ages. We would suggest that you choose a convertible crib that can be expanded into a full-size bed, if necessary. Apart from this, you can also opt for a co-sleeping crib, bassinet, cradle, combination crib, or mini crib, depending on the size and design you are looking forward to acquiring.

• Mattress

One thing that must be made clear in this case is, a mattress for your child's crib or bassinet should be as firm as it could get. For the unversed, firm mattresses are designed to support a baby's growing bones and enhance his breathing. The more you crowd the space with feather-soft materials like blankets, pillows, and soft toys, the greater are his chances of feeling suffocated. While choosing the matters, ensure that it fits perfectly into the nursery. Leaving the edges loose can prove hazardous for your child because the chances of his hands and legs getting stuck in between are quite broad.

• Changing table

A changing table or dresser for the baby can be, undoubtedly, used for multiple purposes. Besides making it easy for you to change your newborn's clothes, it expands his storage space to comply with his varying needs as he grows. Some parents settle for changing tables that can be used by adults as well just after adding a changing pad on the top. Nevertheless, if you are on the lookout for a dresser only for your child, sway towards the ones that have drawers because it is no amount of space for your tot's belongings that can be adequate!

• Rocking chair

Baby furniture doesn't strictly have to be for your little one; a number of them can be functional for you too. Even though some parents prefer skipping this piece assuming it is an unnecessary expense, we beg to differ. During the initial months of parenthood, it is but natural for you to get exhausted more frequently than you usually do and reach out for some comfort. Nonetheless, in such a scenario, no matter how much how to crave for it, you cannot leave your child alone and rest, unless he falls asleep. This is where the role of a rocking chair comes into play. It provides support to your arm and back when you are feeding or nursing the kid thereby, making certain that you will not have to go through the agonizing physical pain at the end of each day.

• High chair

You can skip procuring a high chair within the first few months after your child is born because this is something you will call for at your disposal once he starts growing. It is so because when the toddler becomes independent, the feeding time will shift from the nursing chair to the high chair and you will no longer have to hold him close to you.

The bottom line

Regardless of the types of baby furniture you invest in, bear in mind that the pieces of material they are made up of are non-toxic and doesn't have any synthetic substance added to them. This is your child's health and wellbeing that we are talking about and there cannot be the slightest room for compromise.