Experienced Moms - Nursery to Toddler Room - REALLY NEED ADVICE?

Question

Okay. I really need some help here.

Last night we bought (and can still cancel the order/return) a beautiful nicely crafted nursery set where the crib converts to a bed. The "idea" behind the really nice nursery furniture is that it will follow our son (yes, we are having a boy) through his life. The set is beautiful and we all have images of the perfect nursery right?

NOW - I woke up this morning (morning is when my mind is most clear) and I started thinking about Alex in his room. First, if he chews up his crib will it really be a lifetime set?? Even assuming you can patch/stain the tooth marks on it will my teenage son really want to sleep in the bed he has had when he was a baby and will everything just look bashed up anyhow?? Nice furniture with soft elegant wood and finish? Hmmmm - thoughts?

My thoughts then meandered to two different things - (1) the idea that his room should be "his" space and should be a fun place for him to explore and that we should be conservative about furnishings early on and really spunk it up and cater it to his fun interests as he gets a little older or (2) maybe his bedroom really should be a calm sanctuary and a nice furniture set is just fine. Is turning a bedroom into a sort of playroom too distracting for him to sleep in? I mean, if a child has chalkboard paint on the walls to draw, built-in counters to color, use play-dough, etc. on will he EVER want to actually "sleep" in the room? How many of your children "play" in their bedrooms?? Really, I have no idea.

Please give me any advice you can on this. I really don't know what to do. Am I kidding myself with these "lifetime" type sets? Is it just a more expensive set of what will truly amount to disposable furniture? Is having nice furniture going to turn what "should" be a fun space for him into another stiffling grown-up space?? Do kids really just chew the heck out of furniture in their rooms (especially the cribs?)

Anyhow, could just use some guidance here :-0

Answer 1

I don't think he'll care about whether it's the bed he had when he was a baby, to be honest. If he does, and it's all battered and baby toothmarks, you can always buy him a can of black paint and let him "teenify" it to his heart's content :) But I certainly wouldn't presume that as a teen he's going to be happy with the cute stained wood look :)

My kids don't play in their bedrooms and never have - but my oldest does consider it very much her private space now she's twelve. She goes up there to do "mature" things like read or play Nintendo, and comes downstairs when she wants to be a kid and play with her little brother :)

Answer 2

Are you only going to have the one kid? Because if kid number one doesn't like the set you can then hand it down to number two.

Kids are all different, no one can predict what they will chew or what furniture they will like. The most importand thing is to buy furniture which meets the current safety standards so that they don't hurt themselves with it.

Answer 3

Here's my experience, for what it's worth.  We got the nice "last a life time set".  Turns out my son (now 20 months) is less the problem...it's me!  I can't wait to get rid of the crib (and I don't mean transform it into a toddler bed) so I can get him this cute little "big boy bed" in the shape of a car/train/whatever and decorate his room to the hilt, depending on what he's into here in a few months.  You gotta think about what the baby might do to the furniture, and also how you might feel in 2 years!

Answer 4

I think like others have said that it depends on the kid. When I was pregnant with our son(who is also Alex) we also bought a nice set that converts to a toddler bed and then a full bed. We knew that we wanted at least two kids and that this set would last as long as we needed it. When I got pregnant with my daughter we moved our son out of the crib into a new twin bed and used the crib for our daughter. We have just taken the rail off of the crib and now use it as a toddler bed for our daughter. So far the bed is still in good shape, and I have two very active children, the jumping on the bed type.  We plan on using the furniture until my daughter moves out of the house, but if we need to, we will get her new furniture.

As for playing in their rooms, we have NO toys in their rooms, just a few books. That is what works for us. We are lucky enough to have a house that has room for a seperate play room, and that is where we keep the toys. My kids would never sleep if we kept toys in their rooms, but that is my kids, they have never been sleepers to begin with. Not having toys in their rooms did make the transition from crib to bed easier, when they got out of bed, there was nothing for them to do, so they got bored and got back in bed and went to sleep.

If you are worried about the baby chewing on the rail, there are things you can buy to put on the rail to prevent the wood from getting ruined.

http://www.buybuybaby.com/product.asp?or...

I have never had to use these, but friends who have used them, loved them.

In my opinion you got the right furniture, but ultimatly you have to decide what is right for your family.  And if you are pregnant, don't forget about the hormones and the nesting, I was constantly second guessing all my decisions while I was pregnant. I found that usually my first instinct was the right one.

Answer 5

It depends what type of child Alex is. A nice set like the one you ordered wouldn't last more than two years in this house - our two kids are pretty destructive although they're becoming better. My youngest sister was an extremely neat and careful child though - if your son is like her, the set could last.

Children like to change their rooms and update them because they're growing up. My daughter who is four has requested numerous "big girl" changes. I think by the time she is a teenager, her room will look entirely different. I imagine Alex would want some changes, too.

As for the playroom, I keep most of the kids toys out of their bedrooms because I want their bedrooms to be a place to sleep and relax. They have a separate playroom and I think it's much better that way.

I would cancel the order and go with more disposable furniture. Your little one may destroy the furniture by the time he's 3, you never know.

Answer 6

nothing lasts a life time now it isnt made to and it doesnt have to,my grandson age 6 is in his 3rd bed  now not including crib and cot,not because he spoilt them either but because of fashion