Conference moira::parenting_v3

    Have you tried going to a resale/consignment shop.  I am in Dallas and 
    have been in many of the ones here.  I have seen some real nice baby 
    furniture of all kinds (in excellent condition) for very reasonable prices.
    You may want to try a place like that.  They also sell clothes, swings, 
    highchairs, strollers etc...  I bought a like new walker there for $5.
    
    Kathy

    
    Rachel, 
    
    Where is that Kids Convertables store located in Natick???  I saw the
    add for that crib/combo once before and have been waiting to find it
    again.  Also, did they come in White???   Did it seem sturdy?  
    (I may go look today after work)
    
    Also, if anyone is interested, my husband and I went out looking at
    cribs last night, and found a real neat store in Fitchburg with a TON
    of stuff, furniture, bedding, everything.  It was called Norms Baby
    Warehouse.  The prices were comparable to other places, with a very
    wide selection.  Its at 55 Faluhla Rd.   I was shocked at how much
    inventory was in this small looking store... must of been about 30
    cribs alone!
    
    Am I the only one who is getting confused trying to pick all of this
    stuff out???  Between the crib and strollers, etc...Its hard to tell
    whats better/worse/good/bad...if you've never had to use one before..?
    I'm getting anxiety attacks over it all. And unfortunatly money is a
    factor in my choices, so I can't just pick what I want all the time.
    
    Chris
    

    
    I found Childcraft products to be superb. They have sturdy construction
    and seen to wear better. We have a Childcraft crib it's white and brass. 
    It is a $400 crib, but we got it as a gift. As far as the
    dressing table, we went to Toys r Us and got a nice white and brass one 
    with two shelves, pad included. You would never know they weren't a matched
    set! The dressing table cost us about $85.  Everything my daughters
    room is white, and all the furniture is so easy to clean. We just
    take a damp cloth and all fingerprints and stuff come right off.
    
    Isn't it funny how we parents scramble around trying to find the
    perfect furniture and wallpaper for the nursery, after all, the baby
    doesn't care what the room looks like! We spent a good lump of money
    decorating our nursery, and Danielle won't even be able to appreciate
    it untill she's at least 5!!!!
    
    
    Happy hunting......
    
    
    Sandy

    
    	We picked up a crib, end table and changing table/dresser at
    	Norms Discount in Fitchburg.  Did they change the name to Norm's
    	Warehouse?  All furniture is Bassett, and is really good quality. 
    	We've been happy with it for the 13 months we've had it..We really
    	shopped around, and found that Norm had the best prices for
    	furniture.  There very pleasant to deal with too.  Don't buy your
    	mattress there though...very overpriced.
    
    	We couldn't decide if we wanted to buy a seperate changing table,
    	and a dresser...but I'm happy we went the route we did.  It'll make
    	a lot more sense in the long run to be able to use it as a dresser.
    
    	The combo bed sounds interesting...wish they had them when I was	
    	looking...13 months ago.  
    
    	Ellen

    	We decided against the combo crib/bed because we'd like
    to have another baby sometime in the next couple years. Thus
    having to search for a new crib again.  We went with a Child Craft
    crib and an inexpensive changing table - they both work great!
    
    	                                 -Dave-

    
    	RE: .0
    
    	Well, I, too, looked at Norm's Furniture (not warehouse)
    	in Fitchburg but found a better deal at Spag's - yes, 
    	Spag's - they've got a room set up in the Old Schoolhouse
    	full of baby cribs, car seats, etc.  The prices were
    	less than Norm's, but depending on where you live, may
    	or may not be worth the trip. (FWIW, the brand name is
    	Bassett..very sturdy, very easy to assemble and works
    	great!)
    
    	For our dressing table, my two girlfriends got it at
    	Prime Value Mart in Fitchburg.  Sorry, I don't know the
    	cost (it was a shower gift) and while they don't have
    	much in the way of cribs, their prices are pretty good
    	for other things.
    
    	/Kim
    	

We have gotten some things from resale shops too, though mostly clothes and 
a few toys.  But some of the baby furniture you can find in them is really 
nice, and priced very reasonably.  You can also sometimes find nice crib 
sets; e.g. dust ruffle, bumper pad, comforter, etc.

Our furniture came from a baby store here in Dallas, but we really lucked
out.  We found an oak-finish Simmons crib, brand new, that had been
discontinued and apparently in their inventory for some time.  Price: $139.
We bought a Childcraft changing table/dresser combination with a matching
oak finish that will convert to a 3-drawer chest later.  And, our
extravagance, a glider-rocker with an oak finish to match the other
furniture, along with a matching glider footstool.  That rocker has gotten
enough use that we've had no regrets about the money we spent on it! 

My advice would be to look around.  The more time you have to shop, the
better buys you'll probably find.  Check the classifieds in the paper, and
save yourself some wasted trips by asking about the condition of the
furniture when you call about the ad.  Go to baby stores and check sale
prices, and ask about one-of-a-kind or discontinued items at specially low
prices. 

Good luck!

Steve

    
    
    	I'm sorry...I was wrong in saying it was called 
    	Norm's "warehouse"...
    
    	Chris
    

    I'd recommend the "Want Advertiser" magazine they alway have cribs and
    all sorts of baby furniture for sale often selling entire sets hardly
    used.  
    
    A warning about buying all the things that it looks like you'll need
    from the babystores...
    
    I bought my highchair from Want Advertiser - never used looking for $75 when
    I found the same chair in the store it was over $200.  The
    child had always sat at the table in one of the (hook on the table) seats
    and never used the high chair.  Of course even though the couple
    selling the chair told me that, I thought "I'll use the high chair" but 
    so far at 18 months old Emily still sits in the "hook on the counter" 
    chair and doesn't care to be in the high chair away from the action.  
    I prepare meals and we eat at this island counter and that is where she 
    likes to be too soooo...
    
    sometimes it's best to try an old used one and then if you like using
    it you can always upgrade.  I bought the counter chair for $1 at a yard
    sale and finally decided that she was going to continue to use it and
    just went out and bought an new clean and matching hook on chair.
    
    So the final analysis - buy used if in doubt and if you like it
    upgrade...if you don't sell it again and you won't be out a bundle.
    
    Cheers, Marcelle
    

    
    	Yeah...same thing happened to me.  We have an alcove type
    	bar table in our kitchen.  We bought an expensive century
    	high chair for Matt.  He received a tot-loc chair (the kind
    	that attaches to the table) for his 1 year bday last month.  Ever
    	since he got it, he's been in it.  He loves being at the table
    	eating with Mom and Dad.  And he never uses the high chair!  So,
    	like note .9....a word of warning. 
    
    	Racheal...if you want to talk baby furniture....please call...
    	How are you feeling????
    
    	Ellen

    There's a new place in Webster (OK I live at the other end of the
    world!) called Love me TWO times.  Someone thought they might be one of
    several stores of the same name.  They carry furniture in excellent
    shape of all kinds.  The get consignment stuff, but also sell things
    like reposessed, or previously rented furniture.  I looked in the
    window last week and it's all spotless and looks brand new.  Lots of
    baby furniture.  It's on Route 16, at the intersection of route 12 very
    near to Cranston Print works in a small shopping center with Friendly's
    in it.
    
    Lyn

Thanks for all the helpful replies!

Kids Convertibles is on Rt. 9 	680 Worc. Turnpike
				Framingham, MA  (oops, before I said Natick)
				508-626-0011

The cribs were the most sturdy of any I"ve seen.  

Resale and consignment shops sound like a great idea.  So do yard sales.


Rachel

    
    Hello there,
    
    	I bought the set from Kid Convertibles.  I was very impressed on
    the sturdiness of the crib.  Also what we like is the way it is put
    together.  The baby is due in Sept. so I can't say much more.  We
    shopped lots and were sold on Kid Convertables. 
    
    For the person that asked do the cribs come in white... It is a Maple
    crib that is stained in White.  They also come in Maple without stain.
    Then the Pine come in Nuetural, Megan (CHerry), and a Brown.
    
    My sister is also a buyer out west and I called her to talk to her
    about the value and she was amazed on the cost.  She thought it was
    cheap.
    
    Hope this helps
    
    Mary

    
    Well, Kids Convertables won our vote also. I bought the crib there this 
    weekend. I had bought one at Sears on their last sale, wasn't totally
    impressed with it, but it was within our budget (moms actually), and
    said "what the heck".  But I waited in opening the box and setting it
    up, until I could get to Kids Convertables this past Saturday. Mom and
    I took one look at how sturdy it was, and well made, that we were sold
    in 15 mins. Much more sturdy than any I have seen. And nice looking I
    thought too. And the convertable feature I very much like. Crib to
    Toddler bed, to full size bed.  
    
    I was the one who wanted to hold out for "white" too, but once I saw
    the "honey" colored pine one, I changed my mind. (FYI- the maple is $50
    more).  
    
    When we walked in and looked around, I saw this nice crib, then I went
    up to the man to ask him about the $179.00 crib I had seen on TV.  I
    fully expected him to take me into another room to some cheaper looking
    model....  But no, it was the original one out in the front room!
    
    And as the previous notes said, I was very impressed with the bureaus
    that went with the crib. the conversion of them is really neat.
    (drawers turn upside down, etc).  
    
    We'll pick it up Sept 14th. Can't wait.
    
    Chris
    :-)
    

    
    For people around NJ there is a Childcraft factory and outlet
    store in Edison on Kilmer Road.......
    
    

     RE :.15
    
    My mistake it is not the crib maker after all....... Hard to
    believe they can have the same name.
    
    Has anyone had experience with NH Buyers Service Catalog??
    Their prices are great!
    
    

The last note dedicated to high chairs was in Parenting V2. What is the
contemporary opinion on high chair brands? When I last looked the
Fisher Price high chair was the popular choice. This afternoon, while
aimlessly wandering around Toys 'R' Us, I spotted a smart looking chair
made by Little Tikes. Seemed to have all the oft-quoted features of the
Fisher Price chair. Anybody have any experience it? Or with any others?

Thanks, bc

    This reply is late but perhaps it will still be of interest...
    
    We have been extremly happy with the Perego high chair---the seat
    slides up and down, the tray is removable, it's on wheels for easy
    clean-up and for pushing the baby around to watch us cook and then
    back to the table for eating.  It's a large seat (room to grow) but 
    contoured so  that she started sitting in it quite early--before 5
    months.
    
    The adjustable height means we can put it in a low position and feel 
    comfortable about walking away from her,  and that we can leave it in 
    a low position between meals to reduce the risk of injury when she climbs 
    in and says "eating time now!" for a snack.  At one point I read a 
    statistic about high chair accidents and head injuries that convinced
    me this was a good investment.
    
    When she's not an awful good eater at mealtime, sometimes we lower the
    seat with the tray on it and let her snack from her leftovers as she
    runs around letting of steam.
    
    I really like being able to adjust the seat in the higher settings
    as well, to bring her to the appropriate height for our table depending 
    on whether we use the tray or not.
    
    If you are in very tight quarters, or on a tight budget, you might want to
    consider just getting the Dolly Go'N'Grow booster seat: it comes with a
    tray, can be used by a small baby,  washes up very well, has plenty of
    straps for safety (the only booster seat I know of that does.)
    

    Geez, Andrea... we must have the exact same taste in baby equipment! 
    We have been using the Perego high chair also since Marc was about 6
    months old (he's now 2.2 yrs.), and aside from the vinyl covering not
    being as white as it was when we got it :-)  we've been extremely happy
    also.  Two improvement I would make would be some kind of lock for the
    wheels (to prevent the whole thing from being rocked back and forth),
    and maybe attaching the footrest to the frame so a kid stamping his
    feet doesn't shake the tray as well!  I really like the oversized tray
    and the high sides.  Really keeps everything well contained.
    
    And, yes, before Marc got big enough to sit in restaurant booster seats
    (or on his knees in regular chairs), we used the Dolly seat also.  I
    think he's outgrown it now, though.

    quickly as relates to the last couple on Booster seats.
    
    AJ is now 5, is 42ish inches tall, he's really just a little too tall to 
    use the booster seat (it's the yellow sesamie St one that looks like a
    school bus), but when we remove it, he's just a little too low.
    
    Any suggestions for what to do during the interum period?  We run into
    the same problem in restaurants too.  But trust me I'm really NOT
    looking for another growth spurt, the budget can't handle it this soon!
    
    Lyn

    
    Phone books always work for me when we have people over with small
    children.
    
    Trudy

    Other things that we've used over the years:
    
    A folded-up blanket
    A couple of folded-up towels
    One or two volumes of an encyclopedia, large dictionary, or other
        large thick books
    
    The towels work especially well because they're firm yet
    comfortable.  They're absorbent and washable.  And they don't
    slide around much even when wet, though on a very slick chair like
    those plastic benches at McDonalds they can be slippery.  
    
    --bonnie