Where to buy nursery furniture?

Hi Ladies--

I need to pick some brains here...even though we don't know the gender of our baby yet, we're getting some hints/suggestions that we ought tobegin selecting/registering for nursery furniture and other non-gender-related baby items.

My assumption has long been that my husband and I would just go buy a nice nursery set...but a.) I haven't found one I liked and b.) my in-laws have made it clear they expect the nursery furniture items to be on the registry for them (and other family members) to purchase.

So, where did you buy your crib and other nursery furniture? Where did you register? When in your pregnancy did you register? I always though that registering was done in the second half of pregnancy. I don't plan on "giving in" to pressures (from friends/in-laws) to register before I'm ready.

(As an aside, I've had many issues with Babies'r'Us over the years...so I don't plan on registering with them or giving them my business.)

--Paula

The first time I bought my nursery furniture from BRUS - mistake, totally over priced for what I ended up with.

This time I bought from JCPennys and I LOVE IT!!!! Good quality, easy to put together and it came with the toddler rail (bonus since I have to pay an additional $100 for the BRUS one.

This is the stuff I got (mine is in Cherry finish. I only got the changing table - not the hutch)....

www2.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx

www2.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx

We're planning on buying ourselves a gently used crib on Craigslist, since so many get so very little use! And we're building a simple changing table in to the extra closet in the nursery, so there's not much nursery furniture to add. When/if I find the perfect rocker, I'll buy it for myself! As for pretty much everything else, we'll probably register at Target and maybe a little list on The Bump. 

Even if you're totally disinterested in buying used equipment (and of course I would never buy a used car seat!), you might check out a little stuff on CL just for ideas. I fell in love with a cherry-red crib a few weeks ago, but I'm waiting until I'm farther along! Yesterday, I saw a great changing table with a frosted "glass" door on one side and mod wire baskets on the other, so I know I want to build ours kinda like that. I'm also constantly checking out the best seller lists, celeb nurseries, and various "favorite item" lists on Parents magazine's website. And I just got a copy of Baby Bargains from the library, so I'll have more to check out soon! I do want something really cool for the crib (I'm quite eclectic and love retro), so I've been scouring every resource for ideas...


BTW, I'm 9wks, and as much as I love to shop, I can't wait to register! (Although most of the stuff I really, really want that I won't splurge on are handmade items you can't register for!) But I am definitely going to wait until I'm 20weeks or so. I do, however, have a document on my desktop that lists the strollers we want to compare, most wanted items, etc...

just don't register at target.

their return policies SUCK!!!!

I soooooooo agree with the Target comment!!!!  They don't keep up with their registry and I got duplicates and triplicates and when I tried to take these things back I got "BLACKBALLED" and couldn't return anything. 

Targets return policy is absolutely horrendous!!!

I registered at Target for our wedding and didn't have any problems with the returns. Sorry to hear that you ladies did!

When the time comes for us I will probably register at Target and Walmart. We don't have a Babies-R-Us near us and I thinki that most of their stuff is overpriced. I might register at somewhere likeJCPEnny or Macy's too for the snooty italian aunts I have and some of my Mom's customers! lol Had to do that for the wedding too... I will probably register over the summer (I am 7 weeks now) because I know my family and they like to plan - Mom has already made it clear that there will be some kind of shower.

As for our crib my Aunt saved her's from the kids and they are so gently used it is almost like getting it brand new! She is also giving us the dresser (if she can get her youngest to part with it!)

Happy Registering! Oh and don't do it until you are comfortable - they will get over it!

We bought are fist set from BRUS also.   I wouldn't do it again.   It was over-priced and not of good quality.    Scratches very easily.     Looks beautiful but just setting a basket on the changing table scratched it all up.      I would never spend that much again.     

I bought the crib (a 3 in 1) and dresser(opted not to get the changing table as the playpen-all in one had one) at Baby Depot which is part of Burlington Coat Factory. Not sure if they have that near you but they prices were good. I can't remember if I got the crib mattress there or not though....if not it was likely at Target or Wal Mart. I agree that although BRUS may have more selection they are over priced. JCPenneys has nice stuff too. In my case the deal was even better because the style, not brand, I bought was being discontinued. The crib was smaller than some but because our nursery was smaller bedroom it worked out. I did not have a baby shower, tradition is to do so after, but because friends and family and co workers wanted ideas of what we needed and liked I registered at Babies R US and Target to allow for variety and different price point options. Baby Depot also has a registry and you can also shop online with them.

Sears also has a registery and some very nice stuff, just like JCPenny's.

Our theme is all Western. We purchased our crib from Walmart.com, it is a Graco... Hickory color. I believe it was around $150 for the crib, not including the mattress.  Then we went to a Western Store and purchased a dresser that is huge and the top is low enough for me to use the top for a changing station. I have been buying things nonstop from Ebay for western bedding and other nik, naks.

I also had checked out Craigslist.com for a crib and was very "Iffy" about a used crib only due to the recalls, etc...