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Original poster

Best furniture option for nursery?

41 replies

Strawberry06 · 31/08/2023 10:07

Starting to think about baby's room and I'm stuck whether to get a chest of drawers or wardrobe alongside the cot.

Only one option will fit in the room.

Wardrobe allows me to hang stuff which I'd prefer and allows storage for other large items but most of the clothes are likely to be folded in which case chest of drawers is better.

What's worked better in peoples experience?

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ASGIRC · 31/08/2023 10:12

Wont you have a changing station? Surely that can be a chest of drawers, and then you can have a wardrobe? I would struggle to only have one or the other...

Ttcdcno1 · 31/08/2023 10:14

Space is a premium for us too. We’ve got no room for both. I’m going chest of drawers and then making a changing table/station on top. Then I’ll have a some sort of hook design on the wall if I want to hang the next days outfit if I wanted to

Original poster
Strawberry06 · 31/08/2023 10:15

ASGIRC · 31/08/2023 10:12

Wont you have a changing station? Surely that can be a chest of drawers, and then you can have a wardrobe? I would struggle to only have one or the other...

I don't think a changing station is necessary. Nice to have if you've got the space but I plan on just using a mat on the floor!

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Original poster
Strawberry06 · 31/08/2023 10:16

Ttcdcno1 · 31/08/2023 10:14

Space is a premium for us too. We’ve got no room for both. I’m going chest of drawers and then making a changing table/station on top. Then I’ll have a some sort of hook design on the wall if I want to hang the next days outfit if I wanted to

That's very true. I will be having the book shelves that can be used upside down to create a rail but wasn't planning on having loads of clothes hanging off it, just an outfit as you say. Hmmm

OP posts:
ASGIRC · 31/08/2023 10:23

Strawberry06 · 31/08/2023 10:15

I don't think a changing station is necessary. Nice to have if you've got the space but I plan on just using a mat on the floor!

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A mat on the floor sounds like a nightmare for the back.

Like the PP said, I would get the chest of drawers, make it a changing station on top, and then put some rails to hang stuff in!

Peony654 · 31/08/2023 10:25

I’d definitely get a chest of drawers with a changing mat on top. Baby clothes don’t need hanging! Get a few hooks somewhere if you do want to hang anything

Cowlover89 · 31/08/2023 10:27

I used a changing mat on the floor had no issues :)

Original poster
Strawberry06 · 31/08/2023 10:32

@ASGIRC I get what you are saying about it being bad for your back but I'm fine with it. I'll suffer much worse through lack of sleep I think! I just know my sister had one and barely used it, found herself just changing baby on the floor cause it was always so spur of the moment! Then baby got too active and it was no longer safe anyway. Its not about changing though its about the practicality of staring clothes and things

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Peachyscream · 31/08/2023 10:32

I have a wardrobe, and I'm planning on putting shelves underneath the rail, so folded clothes/basket of socks can go on those.
Also I have an ikea changing table, and I used the shelves for clothes, sorted into rattan baskets. Dd2s clothes are a bit big for that now. So it'll be used for toy storage instead

Sickscared · 31/08/2023 10:40

I've just ordered a 3 piece furniture package which includes a wardrobe, chest of drawers with a changing station and cotbed, but the cot bed comes with a changing station thing that sits above the cot - I'd maybe go for something like that and a wardrobe with some drawers in? Tutti bambini do that style of cot bed if it's something you're interested in.

When we were going to put baby in our box room initially, I thought of getting a non-nursery wardrobe as child wardrobes are obviously smaller and I wanted to maximise storage, so would have gone for a combi wardrobe with drawers at the bottom.

Good luck!

Original poster
Strawberry06 · 31/08/2023 10:47

@Sickscared yes if we did go for a wardrobe it would be one with loads of storage for futureproofing. I know most baby clothes are folded but as baby gets older and clothes get bigger not everything will fit in chest of drawers so I'm trying to think ahead when planning - if that's possible haha

OP posts:
toddlermum27 · 31/08/2023 10:50

Have never had a wardrobe for kids - might be different if you have lots of dresses to hang, but if you don't have dresses everything can be folded.

Blondeshavemorefun · 31/08/2023 10:54

Get a cot top changer so slides along cot

Tutti Bambini Universal Cot Top Changer in Fresh White | 2 Pull-Out Shelves, Fits Most Standard Cots & Cot Beds, Suitable for Use Up to 10kg (Approx. 12 Months) | L87 x W50 x H10cm amzn.eu/d/522CVra

TheCraicDealer · 31/08/2023 11:06

I have both and the wardrobe is “nice to have” but the drawers imho are essential. I tended to use the wardrobe for naice stuff (dresses etc), coats and items the kids don’t fit yet. The day to day stuff is in their drawers. If you’re set on just a wardrobe you can get hanging organisers for vests etc, but you might find them hard to keep tidy.

Fwiw I think you’re mad planning on changing them on the floor for every change. If you have a section that will be a no go for a good few weeks, plus back or pelvic floor problems (arising from weakened core strength during the pregnancy) are not uncommon in the postnatal period. We use the change mat on the chest of drawers upstairs or a mat on the footsool in the livingroom during the day. That one’s great actually as you don’t even need to get off the sofa.

JenniferBarkley · 31/08/2023 11:06

Drawers, eldest is 5 and the only thing in her wardrobe is her school uniform and spare bedding. Youngest is 3 and has possibly never worn an item of clothing that has been hung up. Blush Their clothes are soft cotton comfy things that fold well, for years.

Get one with a changing table top and save your back, especially if you end up with a section. Still use mine for my 3 yo to put her bedtime nappy on and off - on the floor she can run away, on the table I have her hemmed in!

SnapdragonToadflax · 31/08/2023 11:10

We had a chest of drawers with changing table on top. I loved it - so much easier than getting down on the floor after a c section, and harder for a wriggly older baby/toddler to roll/crawl away. I hardly ever changed a nappy on the floor, especially past 8 months. Mine was constantly looking for escape!

Also it's much easier having the clothes right under the changing table in the drawers, as you need to keep one hand on baby at all times. The clothes need to be where you can grab them. We do also have a wardrobe but it's mainly used for coats, jumpers and out of season/too big clothes storage.

Original poster
Strawberry06 · 31/08/2023 11:15

TheCraicDealer · 31/08/2023 11:06

I have both and the wardrobe is “nice to have” but the drawers imho are essential. I tended to use the wardrobe for naice stuff (dresses etc), coats and items the kids don’t fit yet. The day to day stuff is in their drawers. If you’re set on just a wardrobe you can get hanging organisers for vests etc, but you might find them hard to keep tidy.

Fwiw I think you’re mad planning on changing them on the floor for every change. If you have a section that will be a no go for a good few weeks, plus back or pelvic floor problems (arising from weakened core strength during the pregnancy) are not uncommon in the postnatal period. We use the change mat on the chest of drawers upstairs or a mat on the footsool in the livingroom during the day. That one’s great actually as you don’t even need to get off the sofa.

Thanks for this advice, its all very true. I could always get a board to go over the cot as others have suggested. Where a chest of drawers would go in the room is a space behind the door meaning its blocked in so there isn't really an option to stand sideways to change baby (unless the door is closed) and I'd find it very awkward!

OP posts:
Abfab63 · 31/08/2023 11:16

Wardrobe with draws at bottom? You don't need a changing station (I never used mine, always a mat on the floor).

Original poster
Strawberry06 · 31/08/2023 11:18

@Greenbin the wardrobe we are looking at just has a small section for hanging (but hanging none the less) but loads of deep shelves so things would still be folded/in baskets.

OP posts:
Greenbin · 31/08/2023 11:19

They actually do a single wardrobe and a narrow tall set of drawers in that range I just posted so you might even be able to fit both?

I also changed on a mat on the floor and no issues.

teenysaladandsniffofarose · 31/08/2023 11:21

I'd go for a wardrobe with a couple of drawers underneath it and hand up one of those wardrobe organisers inside to fold up babygrows socks etc

ShineBright1209 · 31/08/2023 11:27

A chest of drawers or something with shelves is more practical, even when they get older the majority of clothes will go into drawers/shelves.
Never had a changing table with any of mine, it was either a mat on floor/bed/sofa or I did them on my knee a lot. Don’t really see the obsession with everyone saying about getting one.

teenysaladandsniffofarose · 31/08/2023 11:31

Also I bought drawers with a changing mat on top and didn't used it once! I always used the on floor one.

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