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Original poster

Recommendation on where to buy a Cot, Changing Unit & Chest of drawers for nursery.

45 replies

SpringChicken · 12/01/2004 11:15

Any ideas?

DP and i have been looking into the type of furniture we want in the nursery but haven't really come up with any idea's. We definitely a cot (Or Cotbed, not fussed), a changing unit and either a wardrobe or chest of drawers.

We found a nice cot and changing unit on special offer in toys r us but they are all sold out - can anyone recommend any other places - have got mamas & papas catalogue & mothercare catalogue, have looked in boots and toys R us.

OP posts:
Jaybee · 12/01/2004 11:34

John Lewis always have some lovely stuff - a bit pricey though - Ikea stuff is good and reasonably priced - personally, didn't bother with the smaller sized wardrobe for the nursery and bought some wire type drawers from Ikea to fit in the bottom of the wardrobe which were perfect for bibs and/or bogof baby wipe offers.

Blackduck · 12/01/2004 11:39

I bought a chest of drawers where the top comes down as a changing unit from Ikea. Its great, the changing bit is at just the right height, and when ds nolonger needs changing then the top flips up to become a little shelf...Part of the Diktad range...

melsy · 12/01/2004 11:43

Spring chicken were do you live ??

In finchely there is a shop called ALL SEASONS , were you can get most makes on order. If you buy it all there you may get a discount, rather than buy Mamas and Papas direct.

I used to buy furniture for a well known catalogue and then a v well known dept store , when testing British standards we were concerned with the BS standards of IKEA COTS. Everything else is fine there.

Twinkie · 12/01/2004 12:22

Message withdrawn

Azure · 12/01/2004 12:34

I've never yet hung up any of DS's (2 yrs 4 mths) clothes in a wardrobe - a chest of drawers is a lot handier. Never bothered with a changing unit either. I'm afraid I find a lot of special nursery furniture to be expensive and of limited use - although they look very sweet.

StressyHead · 12/01/2004 12:41

message withdrawn

prufrock · 12/01/2004 12:42

We had fitted wardrobes so just got a hanging bar thing from blooming marvelous which doubles the hanging space. Don't bother with a changing table. We bought a huge chest of drawers/dresser from Ikea which has a big enough top to fit a changing mat and other bits on, and an open shelf underneath which is perfect for all the nappies etc.

Original poster
SpringChicken · 12/01/2004 12:47

Thanks everyone - not sure i'll bother with the changing unit then - all the ones i have seen look a bit awkward aswell - as if you could be trying to change the baby from the side rather than straight on.

Will keep my eyes peeled for any good deals on wardrobe/drawers - the main thing is the cot, have seen lots i like in mamas and papas but they are just so bloody expensive - i know DP will say "If that's the one you really want then buy it" but there is going to be so much more worthwhile stuff to spend all that money on.

Thanks anyway guys - SC x

OP posts:
prufrock · 12/01/2004 13:47

Hold on a sec - aren't you meant to change babies from the side? I've never done anything different. Left hand holds up the legs, right hand wipes bum. Or have I been doing it wrong for 22 months?

uplate · 12/01/2004 14:08

try Kiddicare

We bought a drop sided cotbed including sprung mattress for £180, and other bargains too(car seat, pram etc).

Found delivery service v good.

We bought a small wicker chest of 4 drawers from next sale and DH made a changing area from MDF to fit on top - much cheaper than nursery furniture.

Chandra · 12/01/2004 14:23

I have found the toys-r-us cot that can be placed at the side of your bed a blessing, it was really convenient when DS was very young and is very sturdy now that he is older, I also liked the idea of being able to remove one of its sides as I think this would make the change from cot to bed easier. It also looks great and costed just around £100
As the changing unit can only be safely used during the first year -or less than that as some babies become very mobile or very big sooner- I would not spend a lot of money in it or would buy one that is also a chest of drawers.I have got a very basic changing unit at IKEA for 20 punds and has done the work nicely. IKEA cots are rather in the small size so probably not a good idea, they are not the regular standard size but as long as you use IKEA matresses on them they are safe. (However using the smaller IKEA matresses on other cot makes is definitively not)

Chandra · 12/01/2004 14:25

pounds, is pOOOunds not punds Chandra!!!!

Original poster
SpringChicken · 12/01/2004 14:39

Your probably right Prufock - just they way they show it in pictures look s abit arse about face!

Just had a giggle to myself - i spelt your name Profuck at first

OP posts:
JeniN · 12/01/2004 14:52

Got our chest of drawers from Argos, part of a set, i think. Has a changer top, but you can also get a shelf to go on it when they're a bit older for extra storage. We changed the handles to Jazz it up a bit and co-ordinate with the nursery.

prettycandles · 12/01/2004 20:18

I second the bedside cots (got ours from John Lewis), they made the night feeds so much easier and they're so sturdy that 3yo ds is still in his. Personally, I wouldn't bother with a cotbed, as it's just extra expense: you'll have to get a single eventually.

We got an excellent chest of drawers changing unit from Ikea. It has a shelf on top that folds over to make a very roomy changing area.

Blackduck · 12/01/2004 20:29

Blimey those Ikea chest of drawers are getting around! I suspect Prufrock and prettycandles are talking about the same one I mentioned!
Do think it is a pretty neat item thou'

SueW · 12/01/2004 22:25

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

prettycandles · 13/01/2004 15:26

We have that toychest too. It has excellent hinges that don't let the lid slam down but just keep it in the position in which it is released. I've been searching high and low for more of those hinges to put on other boxes - Ikea won't sell them individually!

Kayleigh · 13/01/2004 15:36

We also had the ikea changing table bought for ds1 6 years ago and used for ds2 and it was still like new. We had the matching wardrobe too.
Have passed the changing table on to Grommit now as she looked at current Ikea offering and found it a darker stain and not as strong/sturdy as the original.
If you could get a second hand older model you may be better off than a new one.
Maybe check Ebay ?

Hulababy · 13/01/2004 15:43

We had a bedside cot from Mothercare - Brio. It was great and did DD well. She came out of it in October after 18 months use, and it looks brand new.

SofiaAmes · 13/01/2004 23:36

I got a hand me down cot and bought a new mattress. Try loot for used stuff. Don't bother with the changing unit. I just used a chest of drawers (from ikea, but not a baby one) and put a padded plastic changing mat on it. It then put a baby moses basket sheet over the changing mat so that it wouldn't be cold plastic. Also when the baby pees on it (seems to happen a lot with boys) then you put a new one on in a flash and put the soiled one in the wash...can all be done with one hand while baby feet are held in the other. Definitely am a changing from the side mum. My friend however swears by changing from the feet end.

CountessDracula · 13/01/2004 23:40

Ditto Sofia, we had hand me down cot (still has little bite marks from my godson awwww!) and bought new matress, also use lovely old pine chest of drawers as changing area too, with the plastic mat with raised sides on it. I just put a muslin on it to avoid cold botty.

prufrock · 14/01/2004 09:12

No mines not the same Ikea one - we didn't like the wood effect on it. It's just a normal chest of drawers with a shelf and a this blue piece of wood under the top bit.
Am no realising what a cruel mother I ma - never even considered not putting dd's bum onto bare plastic!

Bozza · 14/01/2004 10:10

We had the playbeads cot from mothercare and drawers from Ikea. Visalden (white front with wood top). They were too high for changing but at antenatal classes they had stressed the safety aspect and that the best place to change baby was on the floor. Omitted to mention that it would be a few days before I could get onto the floor while holding baby.... Also had a chest from Ikea with "safe" hinges. Think it was marketed as a blanket box rather than toy box. It was unfinished and DH did it in white and wood stain to match drawers and we stuck wooden letters of DS's name on it. Also had a chair from Ikea for feeding/reading stories etc.

Have subsequently added wardrobe to match drawers but not until DS was 2 and in other bedroom because short of space. Also had to move drawers out to make toy space. DS will (when we get round to decorating) be moving fully into bigger bedroom leaving nursery for baby. So will need new nursery furniture (apart from cot and chair).

Hulababy · 14/01/2004 10:28

I never had a changing unit at all. I always just used to (and still do) change DD on the changing mat on the floor.

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