Nursery Blog

It's In The Details

 

It's not enough to tell you that our furniture is quality, we want to show you exactly what that means.  These are some of the steps we include to make sure our nursery furniture will last a lifetime, and truely grow with your baby.   

Spring Cleaning Projects for Moms

My daffodils are blooming, my fruit trees are budding, my grass is greener, and my child wants to be outside. What does that mean? Spring is here!

All winter long we have been cooped up inside the house and I now understand the meaning of spring cleaning. It has never really hit me before; I had a few things I would do every spring, like clean out my closet, but after keeping a toddler inside for 4 months I have some projects on my list!

This winter my son lost his playroom. I had a bedroom full of toys for him to play with where I could shut the door and not look at the mess. But, that room is going to be a nursery for the new baby. So, this winter, all the toys migrated into his room, the living room, and the basement. Because of this, I have a lot of organizing to do! Here are some of the projects I hope to accomplish. 

Project 1: Closet Organization

My son's closet is full of toys now. However, they are all on the floor or on a shelf that he can't reach. My goal for his closet is to add new shelving lower to the ground and make more toys accessible to him. I'm thinking something like this, only I would put the clothes higher and toys lower.

I will also take this closet organization time to store clothes that don't fit anymore and bring in some clothes that will fit later this summer.

I also like the idea of adding in a Toy Box like this one that can sit at the end of his bed and store away a lot of his toys, and then be used later on also when he gets older. This one is from Baby's Dream and is nice because the top has a hinge that prevents it from slamming, so my son's arm or fingers won't get pinched. 

Project 2: Clean up the main living area from toys

After I tackle that project, I will move to the living room. Our toy storage currently consists of a square ottoman and is full of toys. We also have toys scattered all over that cannot fit in our ottoman. Those need to find a new home in the basement or the closet I plan to redo. Then the ottoman needs to be emptied and filled with toys from the basement. In my house, I like to rotate toys. I put some away for a few months and when he's bored with what he has, I bring out the "new" toys that he hasn't seen in a while and is excited to play with again. It is that time again.

Project 3: Basement Toy Storage

The biggest spring cleaning project I have in mind is for the basement. It needs a total redo! It is an awkward L shape and currently isn't working well as we have it. Junk is piled up in almost every corner and under the ping pong table. I can't blame all of the craziness down there on my son, but he does contribute a good 50% to the total mess. Since actually finishing our basement is light-years away, I need to find a couple good storage devices for the zillion toys that have migrated downstairs. Where do I go for cheap storage? Craigslist! We are all getting into a "must get rid of stuff" mode and I hope to score a couple good deals on toy storage. Thankfully, with spring in the air, I will soon have yard sales to scour as well. I would love to find a toy storage bin and a bookcase where I can keep lots of toys up and off the floor.

 

Project 4: Outside

The last space I wish to tackle is the great outdoors. I have a sandbox that my mom let us use when she was vacationing last year, and I would love for it to go back to its original home. I have a couple of "broken" outdoor toys that need to be fixed or donated. One just requires a new battery, but my son has outgrown it, so it might get donated to the next family.

I also need to find a better way to contain all the outdoor toys in one place. I have a puppy that likes to chew on anything she can find outside, so toy storage is a must this year. Something like this storage bench would be nice to store balls and smaller toys that seem attractive to my young dog.

Or, even just a plain deck box like this could work too:

Both are out of my price range new, but that's where craigslist comes in! Just in my initial searching, I have already found a storage bench that is half off what it costs new! I think deals like this will only increase with the good weather, so I'll be keeping my eyes out.

What are some of your spring cleaning projects? How do you keep your indoors or outdoors clean and organized with kids?

Packing the Bag: Labor & Delivery Hospital Stay

A friend of mine is in the last week of her pregnancy and while I was talking with her today, I felt obligated to bring up the Hospital Bag. We're all told to have our bags packed and ready to go a couple weeks before our due date, but no one really tells you what to put in it. All the baby books have lists, and you can find lists online. But, what is really necessary? Here's what I packed in my first hospital bag:

• Clothes to go home in for me and the baby
• A fun book and a pregnancy/childbirth book
• Underwear, socks, shoes, slippers and an underwire nursing bra
• A cooler full of Popsicles/Snacks
• Pillow, blanket, and clothes for the husband
• A cotton nightgown
• My Birth plan
• Toiletries
• Camera

Here's what I actually used: Clothes to go home in and toiletries. I wore the underwire nursing bra the first day, but man was that a bad idea! Why did they put underwire in a nursing bra? Not only can it clog your ducts, it is very uncomfortable to sleep in! The books I never cracked. When my son was sleeping, I was sleeping or eating. My birth plan was never even read, or followed, by anyone.

I did wear my own slippers one day, but after a not so fun incident involving a burst ice pack, they went in the trash. I wore the non-skid socks the hospital provided the rest of the time. The cotton nightgown was a good idea in theory, but there wasn't easy access to nurse. So, I ended up just wearing the hospital gowns the whole time.

Everything the baby will need, diapers, wipes, receiving blanket, hat, etc will all be at the hospital for your use. You can pack a diaper bag with these things in it; just leave it in the car. The hospital food wasn't bad, and I could order as much of it as I wanted. So, the snacks were only used by my husband. Plus, the hospital I delivered at had a fridge stocked full of jell-o and different flavors of pudding just down the hall from my room. The camera we used, but not a lot. While we did take a few pictures, we were more so enjoying the moment.

Here's the list of items I will bring this time around:

• Lanolin (Lansinoh is my favorite)
• Nursing Pads (Medela makes my favorite)
• Sleeping nursing bras
• Toiletries
• Digital camera that also records video
• Gift for my son from the baby (sounds corny, but I've heard it helps. Will probably be a Hot Wheels.)
• Candy for the nurses (Yes, bring a treat for the people who are taking care of you. It's a tough job and they will appreciate the thought.)

As you could see, my priorities have changed. I know for me, the most important thing is to be comfortable while nursing. The hospital will provide basically everything my newborn and I will need. The hospital will have mesh underwear (you either love them or hate them) and gowns. Neither of which will I ever need to wash. If you're not aware, the aftermath of childbirth is messy, so the less stuff you use that belongs to you, the easier time you will have. When you're filling your bag, think about what you use at home. Do I sleep in underwire bras at home? Not at all! So, why did I pack one? Hindsight is 20/20.

When you're packing your hospital bag, ask yourself these questions:

• Will I care if I never see this again? (Clothing, pillow, blanket, etc.)
• How much stuff do I really want to haul out of the hospital? (They give you more stuff to take home too. While I'm on it, you might want to send someone on a trip to your house with all the flowers/balloons that you will have.)
• What will I be most comfortable wearing? (If you've never worn a hospital gown, you'll probably like it. But, the mesh underwear is about 50/50, so you might want to bring some cheap cotton ones just in case. )
• Do I have everything I need to capture the moment? (Video Camera, Photo Camera, even a laptop to share your pictures to family out of town. Do you want to write in a journal everything that happened before you forget?)
• What are the bare necessities I couldn't live without? (Comb, toothbrush, gel?)
• What will the hospital have for me to use? (They typically have birthing balls, so no need to bring your own.) If you don't know, call the hospital you are going to deliver at, or ask during your tour of the facility.

I am sure you will bring more than you need. It is difficult to be truly prepared when you have never done it before, but take the wisdom of those who have. Good luck!!

A Peek Inside Our Production

Come with me, I'm going to walk you through some of the steps we take to produce our nursery furniture, hopefully giving you a glimpse into the quality, safety, and care used throughout our production.   

1. Our manufacturing process begins all the way at the beginning, deep in the forests of Chile, South America, where we harvest the wood used to make our products.  We work to provide a healthier and safer environment.   For every tree used in our manufacturing process two are replanted in its place. We care about sustainability and future generations and place a strong emphasis on sustaining more than 2,000 acres of forests. 

2.  Our wood is handpicked from areas in Southern Chile where cold long winters produce pine trees that are stronger and the most durable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. After going through our own rough mill process to remove branches, bark, etc each piece of wood is cut and is hand picked for the best possible quality. Lumber that has large knots or unattractive qualities are removed and recycled. 

  

4. Pieces then go through the mill to become smooth and begin the process of being transformed from raw wood into drawer fronts, crib posts, dresser tops, and more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Intricate details, such as the curved posts on Generation Next (shown here) are carved into pieces by hand or with programmed machines.

 

6. Before finishing takes place, crib parts are pulled from the production line and assembled to ensure quality control and that cribs assemble correctly.            

7. Non toxic and safe finishes and lacquer are applied through multistep processes to ensure each piece is durable and easy to clean. All finishes are oven cured to ensure uniformity and a long lasting beautiful stain.

 

8. Parts are then boxed and shipped to the USA for the remainder of the production.  Our factory is located in Buena Vista, Georgia, about 2.5 hours south of Atlanta.  Look for the Georgia Peach logo on our boxes!

 

 

 

 

 

9. Parts are hand drilled and constructed into drawers and crib parts.  Many people are amazed that still much of our production is done by hand, not by machines, to ensure that a personal touch and human eye sees each piece at every stage of the manufacturing process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Case pieces are fully assembled including corner blocks for added strength, mortise and tennon joints to ensure each piece will last the test of time, and areas where wood fits together are not only glued but also pinned.  Drawer glides and door hinges are all screwed into place and knobs are inserted into drawer fronts.

11. Baby's Dream patented "safety-gates" are installed onto crib fronts with this design.

12. All items are hand wrapped with foam and packaging material.  Our cribs and cases are now ready for delivery with our company owned trucks to your local retailer! 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed this visual peak inside our manufacturing process!  There are many elements involved and we do recommend shopping for and making your purchasing decisions early on in your pregnancy because sometimes furniture items can take time to make it through the labor intensive process. 

Baby Proofing Your Home

From outlets to cabinets, there are a multitude of places a baby or child can get into that can cause harm. While undivided attention is your number one asset to keeping your baby safe, it is nearly impossible to watch your child every second of the day. So, here are some safety measures you could take to prevent some injuries or accidents from happening.

Fireplace bumpers

• My son has fallen a couple times onto the bumpers. Thankfully, he "bounced" back both times without injury. Well worth the price to avoid a trip to the ER.

Corner guards

• If you can live without a coffee table for a couple years, it's worth it. You could also replace the coffee table with a storage ottoman: It doubles as a toy box and coffee table.
• You could also buy an edge bumper to go completely around all sides of a table.
• Place corner guards on all pointy edges: my desk is modern and has 11 of them... Ouch.

Outlet covers

• Put an outlet cover on every outlet accessible to your child.
• The safest outlet covers are ones that cover the entire socket; I have found some that even I can't pull out easily.
• If you use an outlet so much that you get tired of taking off the cover: install a Tamper Resistant outlet. A simple process that can be achieved in less than 10 minutes. (I did two by myself in my son's room)

Power strip cover

• For all the power strips within reach, use a cover. I have one over the power strip under my desk.

Baby gates

• Use hardware mounted gates for the top and bottom of stairs
• Use tension gates to block room access.
• I took a couple tension gates apart, and zip tied them together to prevent my son from playing with the electronics and cords in our glass entertainment center.

Cabinet/drawer locks

• I have found the adhesive/magnetic locks very useful for the cabinets under the sink where I keep all chemicals and cleaning supplies. I loved the adhesive ones because I literally could not drill through my maple cabinets. I have had the adhesive locks on for over a year and they're still holding strong!
• Traditional cabinet/drawer locks are useful inside dresser drawers. I installed some in my son's dresser after I woke to find him standing in the top drawer one morning.
• It is OK to leave some kitchen cabinets unlocked... you might just get tired of shoving all the pieces back in. However, there is nothing wrong with letting your child play in the Tupperware cabinet while you make dinner, it keeps them in eyesight.

Multi-purpose Adhesive Latches

• Can be used on trashcans, dishwasher, and refrigerator. Basically, anything you don't want baby to open that you can't drill into.

Stove Guards

• For any stove with controls on the front, get knob covers. Especially if you have a gas stove.
• Consider purchasing a stove guard if you will do any cooking on the front burners. A young toddlers hand can reach just enough to burn fingers.

Tipping Restraints

• Use on all objects that can tip. Bookcases, dressers, armoires, stoves, etc.
• According to a new study, TVs cause about 7,000 injuries while scissors are responsible for about 6,000 (less serious) injuries a year. Mount flat-screen TVs to a wall if you can. Or, make use of vent holes in the back of a TV. Zip tie a hoop in the back and connect with a zip tie through an eye hook, that is screwed into a wall stud.
• Bonus: All case pieces (dressers, hutches, armoires, etc) from Baby's Dream come with a free tipping restraint kit.

Childproof Door Knob Covers

• I used one of these inside my son's room once he was in a toddler bed. With an open stair case next to his room, I was worried he would leave his room the one night we forgot to close the baby gate. The knob cover kept him safe in his room while I was sleeping at night.
• Also, great for closets (Where do you keep cleaning supplies?)
• Used on every exit door in my home. Never can be too safe on that one, especially with a pond in my back yard.

Solid Door Stops

• The kind with removable caps can be a choking hazard.

Safety Belts

• The belts on a high chair and changing pad were installed for a reason. Children are likely to fall and be injured when the belts are not used.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

• Consider investing in a linked system; where if one goes off, they all go off.

Scald Prevention Tools

• H2ot Stop makes bath and shower fixtures to prevent hot water burns. Consider replacing the fixtures in your child's bathroom with scald stops. There are also valves that can be used in sink faucets too.

Window Locks

• Do not rely on window screens: they are designed to keep bugs out, not kids in. Open the top half of a window, not the bottom.

Window Blind Cord Covers

• If your blinds have a loop, cut it.
• If the cords are long, you can use a window cord cover to keep cords out of reach. Or, a clothespin will work in a pinch.

Drywall Anchors

• Simple? Yes. Use dry wall anchors when not screwing into studs. Especially, when you are hanging something heavy.

Crib Safety

• Do not hang anything heavy on the wall above the baby's crib; unless it is properly anchored and you are confident it will not fall.
• Once your child is tall enough to pull up, be sure to lower the mattress level down. 
• Baby's Dream safety-gate cribs provide an extra 5-6 inches of height on the front frame, so typically babies can stay sleeping in the crib an extra 6 months. 
• Be sure to convert to toddler bed stage when your baby starts to stand and climb. 
• According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CPSC: to prevent suffocation and reduce the risk of SIDS, practice the following for children under 12 months:
• Place baby on his/her back in a crib with a firm, tight-fitting mattress
• Do not put pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, pillow-like bumper pads or pillow-like stuffed toys in the crib
• Consider using a sleeper instead of a blanket.
• If you do use a blanket, place baby with feet to foot of the crib. Tuck a thin blanket around the crib mattress, covering baby only as high as his/her chest.

It only takes a second of inattention for your child to find something dangerous. If you don't know what to look for, get down to their level and explore. While this list is not all inclusive, hopefully it has helped you see where you need to focus most of your childproofing efforts.

What safety hazard has your child encountered that you didn't know about until it was almost too late? What childproofing product have you found most valuable?

Video of Baby's Dream Furniture benefits

Watch and learn more about Baby's Dream products from Jim Lillo, owner of Crib 4 Life stores in Florida.