Put Safety First When Buying Furniture for your Todder

It's fun to buy pint-sized furniture designed to be at the perfect height for youngsters and toddlers, but before you head out shopping, make sure that the furniture you're buying is safe for your child to use. There are more accident waiting to happen than many parents realize, and even furniture for kids can have its drawbacks. Here are some things to look for when considering which furniture for your child is best to buy:

Choose wood over plastic. Plastic furniture isn't going to last through rough play over the years or withstand the test of time. Kids are hard on their furniture. Not only that, while molded plastic may seem a good way to go for the budget conscious parent, plastic furniture tends to fade and doesn't clean well. Colors are often aimed at narrow age groups and are decorated with stickers that peel off, leaving a blemished, worn look. Also, certain plastic items don't have good stability, such as cheap plastic chairs that tip over easily. Wood offers a sturdier alternative that is easy to clean and care for, as well as being attractive to children of all ages.

Choose furniture that retains its value. Pressed wood furniture or MDF constructions don't retain their purchase value well at all. These types of furniture are easy on the wallet, but they certainly won't last the test of time to be passed down to your children's children. Solid wood furniture retains its value and sometimes can even increase in value. Also, the sentimental nostalgia that adults end up having for their childhood furniture is almost always for the well-crafted and better quality of construction. How many of you fondly remember a pressed wood bookcase?

Choose heavier furniture over light. Light furniture is tippy and can fall over onto a small mountain climber practicing his or her skills. Make sure the furniture you choose is stable and solid. Test it by pushing to see if you can tip it over or pull on it to see if you can make it fall. Also, if you buy furniture with drawers, pull them out as far as they go to know whether safety stoppers have been installed. Otherwise, the drawer will come right out of the dresser, which can hurt young children.

Choose stylish furniture that isn't based on a current cartoon favorite or with questionable color schemes. Many marketers cash in on the craze to have the latest cartoon favorite's clothing, movies, music, toys, dishes… almost anything you can think of is prone to being stamped with a cartoon figure's face and sold to parents who want to provide children with something they recognize. When the cartoon character fades from favor, so do the toys and furniture. Stylish furniture that has classic appeal built to last for years is a far better choice. After all, you don't want to have to replace furniture every year because trends have changed!

Choose furniture your child fits into. A child's bed is better than an adult one the toddler will grow into. A chair the child can easily sit on without having to struggle to climb is a better choice. Bookcases with shelves the child can reach or a vanity set built to be at the right height are smart decisions. Everything surrounding a toddler is big and clumsy, so if you're buying something specifically for your child, choose an item that reflects his or her size and ability to keep frustration levels and the risk of fall low.

With a little careful consideration of your child's needs and some attention to solid construction, as well as long-lasting durability and style, you can choose beautiful, functional furniture for your toddler. Also, by taking the time to make smart shopping choices, you'll have furniture that will become keepsake favorites of the family to pass down through the generations.

About the Author

Find helpful and creative ideas for parents and grandparents while you shop our great selection of kids furniture (including our popular toddler beds) and classic toys. Visit www.TheMagicalRockingHorse.com today!