Having a baby and raising them is an expensive endeavor that requires proper planning and budget estimates to avoid overindulging in unnecessary items or missing out on essentials.
So, How Much Should You Spend On Nursery Furniture?
A middle-income family in the US can expect to spend an average of $ 13,000 per year on their baby, excluding the cost of giving birth. To break this down, most parents spend an average of $6000 on nursery furniture, bassinet, car seats, strollers, and other baby essentials.
Every parent wants the best nursery furniture for their baby. But you should know where to splurge and save. Design a budget and list the necessary items you want to include in the nursery furniture purchases. So, before you go about your nursery furniture expedition, do your research and plan well.
This article has researched cost estimates of some essential nursery furniture.
What To Consider Before Buying Your Baby Furniture
1. Space For Your Nursery Furniture
The amount of space you have will determine the type of crib you buy, your baby’s nursery layout, and the type of decorations to add.
So, if you have a small space, consider space-saving options like a mini crib.
2. Essential Items To Buy
Make a list of the most basic items and prioritize them based on your budget estimates.
Some of the basic items that should make it to your essentials list include crib, crib mattress, dresser, crib sheets, changing table, diaper bin, glider, and closet.
3. Closet Space
If your nursey has a lot of space, you would probably want to buy a bigger closet that can hold all your little one’s necessities.
But if you are running low on closet space, you should consider investing in an armoire.
It is a great alternative. It has shelving space, drawers, and a place for hanging clothes.
4. Long Lasting Furniture
Should you buy furniture to grow with or single-use furniture?
Nursery furniture tends to get beaten on with time, and you may have to change them from time to time.
That is why it is vital to invest in quality furniture that will last you into the future.
5. Nursery Decorations
It is essential to choose an aesthetic design for your baby’s nursery that is calming to your baby and enjoyable to you.
How Much Are The Nursery Furniture Essentials?
Nursery furniture comprises furniture items used to set up a baby nursery. It is tempting to buy all the nursery furniture pieces you can imagine if you are a first-time mom.
However, you may not afford to buy all the furniture you want for your baby’s nursery.
Therefore, you need to make a list of essential pieces of furniture and stick to your budget.
Here are some of the basic nursery furniture and their cost estimates to help you plan for your purchases:
1. Crib
Babies sleep a lot. Therefore, one of your must-have pieces of furniture is a crib.
However, not every crib you come across is worth buying.
Before you buy a crib, check out its visibility, strength, and mattress adjustable positions.
Talking about the best baby crib, you can get for the nursery furniture, you can expect it to cost you between $100 to $1000.
You should research the available options to get the best crib within your budget bracket.
One of the best cribs is the Charlie 4-in-1 convertible crib. It costs north of $200.
It boasts excellent finishing and easily converts from crib to toddler bed, daybed, and full-size bed.
It also has adjustable mattress positions, among other great features.
2. Rocker Chair
Babies feed almost every hour, which means you need a nursing chair where you can comfortably sit and breastfeed or rock your baby.
Some parents don’t see the need for it, but a nursing chair is convenient, especially when soothing a crying baby, cuddling your baby to sleep, or feeding your baby.
A rocker chair will cost you between $300 to $800.
You don’t have to bother to buy a quality, long-lasting chair as you will find that most of these chairs are only purposed for nursing.
You may not be able to use it past the breastfeeding stage of your baby.
If you are looking forward to using it when your baby is past the breastfeeding stage, it is recommended that you buy a rocking chair with full extension.
3. Drawers And Dressers
So, as you shop for drawers and dressers, look for one with enough storage and high enough so that you can utilize it as a changing table as well.
The cost of a drawer is between $85 to $400, depending on the quality and design.
On the other hand, dressers are costlier, and their cost ranges from $1000 to $2000.
4. Bassinet
A bassinet is a good cost saving alternative for a crib.
The bed level is raised to about an adult’s waistline making it easy to lay or pick your baby.
However, you can use it for only a few months, from the birth of your baby to about four months.
The budget of a bassinet starts from as low as $100, with most models going for an average of between $150 to $250.
A more sophisticated and high-quality bassinet can cost you up to $1000.
Three Cost-Saving Tips for Nursery Furniture
Furnishing your nursery doesn’t have to be a tall order.
With proper planning and budgeting, you will be able to afford that dream nursery furniture you want for your baby.
You can start by making prudent financial decisions and saving in advance to cover your baby’s living expenses after giving birth.
The other cost-saving options include:
1. Draw Up A Budget
This is a crucial step to take before making any purchases.
A budget will help you sieve through non-essential items and ensure you don’t miss out on the essential items.
So, you will know how much to spend on each item because you know the price range you are working on.
2. Reuse/recycle
Some baby furniture is reusable if they are still in good condition.
So, if you know of a parent whose kid has recently outgrown their baby furniture, find out if they are willing to sell or give away their nursery furniture.
This method will probably save you lots of money.
However, as you look for second-hand nursery furniture, make sure they meet safety standards regardless of the price or brand.
3. Multi Use Furniture
As your baby grows into a toddler, it demands furniture adjustments to accommodate their fast-growing body.
For instance, buying a crib instead of a bassinet.
A crib can be a toddler bed, a daybed, and later a full-sized bed, while a bassinet is only practical until your baby is six months old.
When Should You Shop For Nursery Furniture?
After the birth of your baby, relatives and parents are eager to splash you with baby gifts and presents.
So, if you are planning to host a baby shower party, it is better to wait until after the shower to find out what you will have to buy.
First-time uncles, grandparents, and aunties are excited to bring in baby clothes, toys, and other necessities to show support and welcome their new family member.
Final Thoughts
How much you should spend on nursery furniture depends on how much you have budgeted.
For low-key budgeting, we have highlighted the above cost-saving ideas, which will ensure that you don’t miss out on essential furniture for your baby.
So, if you are an expecting parent, we hope that this article helped you make the proper estimates for your nursery furniture.
Related
References
https://thefirsttimemamma.com/nursery-furniture-how-much-to-spend-on-it/
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/cost-furnishing-nursery-105527.html
