Of course, choosing children's furniture is a difficult and responsible task, since it must be not only functional, but also safe for the baby's health. It is especially important to choose the right crib, since in the first months of life the child spends a lot of time in it, and the most popular products today include models of cribs made of natural wood. The thing is that a crib made of natural wood is not only an aesthetically attractive, but also an environmentally friendly type of children's furniture.
The main advantages and disadvantages of cribs made of natural wood
The undoubted advantages of wooden cribs, compared to similar products made from MDF, chipboard, metal and plastic, include:
- durability, strength and reliability;
- resistance to mechanical damage (if we are talking about models made of hard wood, for example, beech or birch);
- environmental safety and naturalness;
- ease of care;
- attractive appearance due to the beautiful texture of wood;
- quite affordable price.
As for the disadvantages of cribs for newborns made of natural wood, some models, especially those made of soft wood, for example, pine, may begin to creak and dry out over time, which is especially typical when the wood is processed poorly. However, these disadvantages can be avoided by choosing a model made of durable material - in particular, birch or beech.
Which furniture to prefer - pine or birch
Natural material is durable, and therefore always in fashion. Especially when it comes to the interior. Therefore, the variety in stores often leads the buyer to a dead end before the banal question - what to choose? Indeed, what would you prefer if among the available ecological materials on sale - furniture made of pine and birch?
What do you need furniture for?
Specifically, it is this furniture that you are now standing in front of in the store and wondering whether it is worth buying or not. Let's say its purpose is clear to you and, when choosing furniture made of solid wood, you are aware of the durability and environmental friendliness of the natural material. But where will she stand? In the bedroom or in the kitchen? In an apartment or a country house? By answering these questions, it will be easier for you to decide which furniture to prefer. So, the pros and cons of natural wood furniture.
Birch cots
Wood is durable, but at the same time flexible, so it lends itself well to sanding and polishing, which allows you to create a perfectly smooth surface of the product.
Also, this material is very durable and hypoallergenic, so it is excellent for creating a variety of children's furniture, including cribs. And thanks to the attractive texture of birch, cribs made from this solid wood are not only beautiful, but also universal in design, so they look great in a children's room decorated in almost any style - from classic to modern.
The most famous manufacturers of baby cribs made from solid birch include the Mozhginsky timber plant, as well as “Red Star” (Mozhga).
What will last longer - pine or birch?
Now about strength - birch is stronger than pine. As a rule, pine products have strength elements made of birch, for example, the legs of beds and tables. The chairs are also made from birch. The chair experiences significant cyclic loads during the period of its use and over time these loads lead to loosening of the joints. Everyone remembers rocking stools. Therefore, birch is a stronger type of wood, which allows you to extend the service life of products.
Products made from pine are more susceptible to scratches and dents, because... Pine is softer than birch, so you shouldn’t buy pine furniture for children to use; it’s better to stick with the birch version. Birch is considered the best option for children's rooms. Pine, on the contrary, is most suitable for kitchens, since solid pine furniture has water-repellent properties. Another plus is the pleasant smell that pine will spread in your home.
Beech cribs for newborns
Beech is one of the most durable and hardest types of wood - it is very resistant to mechanical damage (for example, scratches) and does not lose its attractive appearance over many years of use. Due to this, a beech crib can serve more than one baby.
In general, a crib made of solid beech is distinguished by its reliability and quality, and also fits perfectly into the interior of any children's room. To a large extent, the aesthetic appeal of such products is due to the fact that they are easy to paint and process - the paint and varnish coatings (of course, hypoallergenic and safe for the health of the child) lie perfectly flat on the surface.
Some of the most famous manufacturers of beech wood cribs include Gandilyan (Gandylyan), “Lel” (Kubanlesstroy) and also “Red Star” (Mozhga).
To summarize, it can be noted that cribs made of natural wood for newborns are an excellent choice for parents who care about the health of their baby and want to choose for him not only high-quality and attractive, but also environmentally friendly furniture. And a wide range of crib models made from solid wood (with a longitudinal, transverse or universal swing pendulum, with or without drawers, with wheels, with height-adjustable sides and bed, and so on) will make it easy to choose a product that will suit everyone requirements.
Basic criteria and requirements when choosing a crib
Choosing a crib for a baby is of paramount importance.
It needs to be approached in advance, with due responsibility and scrupulousness, because the first crib for a child is not only a place to sleep, but also his comfort zone, where he begins to explore the world and learns to play. Therefore, it is better for new parents to take care of choosing a crib for a newborn in advance, despite all sorts of superstitions and speculation that a “dowry” for a baby cannot be purchased before his birth.
A crib must meet many requirements. Here, in my opinion, are the most important of them:
- safety;
— quality of materials and workmanship;
— comfort and coziness for the baby;
— aesthetics of the model;
- ergonomics.
What types of cribs are there for newborns?
Depending on where you want to install a crib for a child (as far as the square meters of free space and the general concept of the interior of the children's room allow), you can begin to select the type and model of the crib.
According to functionality, cribs are divided into:
- Cot-cradle, cradle.
Such beds are intended, as a rule, for very young children - from birth until they reach 3-4 months. In them, the baby will feel as comfortable and cozy as possible due to the limited space, where in the first months of life the baby will feel protected (just like in his mother’s tummy).
This option is ideal for babies who need to be rocked to sleep before bed. The cradles are a rocking cradle attached to 2 high supports on the sides. They come on runners, on springs and on wheels. In the latter case, when choosing such a crib, parents need to make sure that the crib is equipped with locks for these same wheels.
Many models of rocking cradles are equipped with music and lighting, as well as an electronic rocking system, so parents do not have to constantly rock the baby themselves.
The main advantages of such a crib are its mobility and small size - ideal for small rooms, or if parents decide to move the crib from place to place.
But with all the obvious advantages of this type of crib for a newborn, there is a significant disadvantage: since such cradles are designed for babies up to 4 months (in rare cases up to six months), it will soon have to be replaced with a more durable one, which naturally affects the family budget.
- Classic crib.
It is a sleeping place, fenced with rods and mesh fabric and standing on fixed runners.
These cribs are easy to assemble and easy to use. Another indisputable advantage of this model is that it is a very economical option.
Its disadvantage is that it is not suitable for rocking a baby.
- Pendulum bed
(or as it is also called
rocking bed
). It is a variation of the classic crib, but is equipped with runners or a pendulum mechanism. This solves the problem of baby rocking in the crib.
There are models with wheels on runners, which, like a cradle, allow you to roll them around the room. The pendulum mechanism allows the crib to vibrate for a long time. There are models of pendulum beds with longitudinal and transverse swing and they, as a rule, have a spontaneous swing lock
.
Although convenient and practical at first glance, pendulum cribs are more expensive than a standard crib and over time the pendulum mechanism can begin to creak. Therefore, if you have chosen this type of crib, pay close attention to the materials from which it is made.
- Transformable bed.
The most economical option, especially for parents who want to kill all the birds with one stone. This is the most functional crib option of all presented. This bed includes a bed, a chest of drawers, and a changing table. Moreover, as the name implies, this design can be transformed and modified. Various components (drawers, shelves, table) are removable.
This crib for a newborn is multifunctional due to the design being completed with various cabinets, chests of drawers, drawers for toys and linen. The issue of additional purchase of children's furniture is immediately resolved. And it is also durable - by removing additional elements, such a bed will be an ideal sleeping place not only for a newborn baby, but also for a preschool child.
However, this model has a number of significant disadvantages. First of all, it is bulky and not suitable for small apartments. This crib is the most expensive of all (although I personally don’t consider this a big disadvantage, since buying all the elements separately (chest of drawers, cabinet, changing table) will cost more). And, finally, an older child may simply get tired of the monotony of his sleeping place, get bored with the colors and dislike the model itself.
What materials are best to choose a crib from?
When choosing a crib for a newborn, pay attention to the materials from which the crib itself and its accessories are made. Give preference to high-quality and natural materials that have passed sanitary control, because your baby will sleep in such a crib from birth, and for children, as they say, they choose the best.
The most natural and useful material is wood - a practical and hypoallergenic raw material. It is best if the entire structure of the crib for a newborn is made of wood. Solid wood is more environmentally friendly than chipboard, and you prefer varnishing to simply well-polished wood.
The most ideal types of wood for making cribs are considered to be beech, alder, maple, birch and pine.
- These are light and soft varieties. Pine is considered especially soft, and this is its disadvantage - it is easy to leave scratches and dents on the product, and when the baby begins to cut his teeth, and he tries to sharpen them on everything that comes to hand, the rods and crossbars of the crib will turn out to be the most “popular”.
Knowing this pattern, many manufacturers of cribs have included removable silicone teethers in some models. Opt for a crib for a newborn made of beech and birch - they are considered the most durable.
Some manufacturers, in an effort to reduce the cost of their products, make them from plastic (often these are crib beds). Such products are fragile, often toxic, and can cause allergies, so we recommend asking the seller for a hygiene certificate. Also, individual elements in the crib are made from plastic: handles, rods, various modules for hanging toys.
Metal is also used in the production of cribs. The entire bed can be made of metal (there is no direct contact with metal, since the crib must be covered with fabric covers, but such a bed is heavy, impractical, and as a result very inconvenient), as well as its individual parts - these are bolts and drawer handles. Such elements must be made of stainless material.
There are a great many recommendations for choosing the safest, most durable, comfortable and inexpensive crib for a newborn, and all of them are naturally related to ensuring that the child is safe and comfortable in his sleeping place.
If parents have decided that the newborn’s crib should be in the parent’s bedroom, then it is better to purchase a model with a removable or lowered side. Such a crib can be moved closer to the parent’s bed and thereby create the most comfortable conditions for night feedings for mother and baby (provided that the child is on breastfeeding). Also, a crib with drop-down sides makes it easier to lower the child into the sleeping bed.
The next factor that determines the choice of crib is the price factor. You can’t save on such a piece of furniture, but you don’t want to overpay. Therefore, when comparing price and quality, we recommend focusing on quality. The price category of each type of crib is mentioned above.
Give preference to products made from environmentally friendly “living” material - wood, and with metal fastenings, rather than plastic or wood, so the crib will be stronger (which means safer), and its mechanisms will be more durable. We also recommend purchasing models without paint or varnish.
A crib with height adjustment will be very comfortable. The child grows, develops, begins to rise, and the high sides will protect the baby from falling out of the crib.
Also convenient for the baby and her parents will be a crib that has fastenings for hanging toys, drawers for storing linen, clothes and hygiene items - so that everything is at hand.
Safety when choosing a crib
Having chosen a crib on wheels or a crib on skids with wheels, you will understand: it is convenient because it will not be difficult to move it during cleaning.
Based on safety criteria, make sure that the crib does not have sharp corners, is equipped with wheel or pendulum locks, and that these locks are not accessible to the child from a lying position.
Make sure that the bars in the bed are not sparse so that the child cannot stick his head through and get stuck between them. The optimal distance between the twigs is 5-6 centimeters. A slatted bottom is better than a solid one. This will allow the children's mattress to be ventilated, because ideal children's mattresses are made of natural and “breathable” materials (coconut coir, cotton, linen, etc.).
The choice will be most optimal if parents first study the technical characteristics and certificates of compliance with international standards, and then determine an acceptable price category and design for themselves. By following our tips and recommendations, I hope that choosing the best crib for your newborn will not only be correct, but also easy and enjoyable.
Solid wood ─ is a natural material that is solid or laminated wood. Natural wood has a beneficial effect on health, does not cause allergies and is an environmentally friendly material. Children's beds made of solid wood are made from raw materials of different species with differences in hardness and strength. The price for such structures is much higher than for chipboard or MDF, but it is worth it. The child spends a lot of time in his room and the furniture should be comfortable and safe.
High demands are always placed on children's furniture. It must be strong, durable, and resistant to increased loads. Only wooden beds can cope with the tasks and withstand the irrepressible energy of the baby.
Thanks to the strength of the material, solid wood bunk beds have become so popular. They are quite expensive, but the price is fully justified by the performance.
Furniture manufacturers have the opportunity to satisfy the most demanding consumers. There are all kinds of wooden children's beds available in the market. They can be classified according to functional use and size.
- Cradle ─ intended for newborns. It is a movable cradle fixed between two posts. The oscillatory movements of the cradle calm the baby and he falls asleep faster. Today, cradles are equipped with an electronic rocking system, flashing lights, and hanging toys with musical accompaniment. Progressive bassinets have a remote control, making it easier for parents to care for their children. The average dimensions of a crib designed for children from 1 to 6-9 months are ─ 90 x 45 cm;
- A bed for newborns is a design with lattice sides with dimensions of 120x60 cm. Designed for children from birth to 3-4 years. Typically, in such models the sides are adjustable, and the bottom tends to rise and fall. Modern standard cribs are equipped with drawers for bedding and are also equipped with wheels, which makes it easy to move the product to a place convenient for parents;
- Transformer - thanks to removable parts and sliding runners, infant children's beds made of wood have the opportunity to “grow” with the child. The maximum size of the transforming structure is 190 (200) x 80 (90) cm;
- Playpen – designed for games and sleeping. In this design, the child will be protected from injury. Many products are equipped with fabric or mesh walls. The absence of solid partitions will allow him to see his mother and feel calm in a confined space;
- Two-tier - if there are two children in a family, then this design is the best option. And if there is only one child, then the first floor can be converted into a built-in desk. Great importance is given to the second floor of the crib. Here the height of the sides must be maintained, which will provide the child with safe sleep.
The low price of a baby crib made of solid wood should alert parents. In this case, you should make sure of the quality of the material and ask the seller for the appropriate documents for the goods.
Cradle
For newborns
Transformer
Bunk
A few tips for choosing a solid wood bed
In order for a bed made of natural wood to last a long time and fully demonstrate all its useful qualities, when choosing it it is worth considering several factors - such as the area of the room, its microclimate and access to direct sunlight. A good solution for a small bedroom would be a bed made of light birch, while oak will visually weigh it down, adding gloom. In rooms with high humidity, it is better to use bedroom furniture made of alder and avoid beech, which can become deformed or begin to rot over time. A large amount of sunlight in the room will worsen the condition of a linden bed, but will perfectly reveal the best properties of pine furniture, which, under the influence of the sun, will evaporate pine resins and disinfect the space.
To summarize, we can say that the highest quality materials for making beds, as well as other furniture, are oak and ash. But not everyone can afford such furniture. If there is no temperature or humidity difference in your home, beech is also perfect. Well, if you still want to replace the furniture with new ones in a few years, then you can safely buy a bed made of pine.
