Choosing nursery furniture is one of the fun parts of getting ready for a baby. You start saving inspiration photos, picking out colors and imagining what the room will look like when everything comes together.
But there's something worth thinking about beyond how a crib or dresser looks in a picture: how it's actually made.
Baby furniture gets used every day. Drawers are opened and closed countless times, little hands eventually explore every corner, and before you know it, that tiny newborn is climbing into a toddler bed, and the tiny clothes keep getting bigger and bigger. It's worth taking a closer look at the materials, construction and details that go into the furniture you bring home.
Whether you're shopping for your first crib or putting together an entire nursery, here's what we'd recommend looking for when shopping for baby furniture.
1. Solid Wood vs. Sustainably Sourced Wood: What Should Parents Know?
When shopping for nursery furniture, you'll probably come across terms like solid wood, sustainably sourced wood, eco-friendly materials and wood construction. They all sound reassuring, but they don't necessarily mean the same thing.
One important distinction worth understanding is that where wood comes from and how furniture is built are two different things.
Sustainably sourced wood refers to how timber is harvested and managed. Responsible sourcing is important because it helps support forests, reduce environmental impact and encourage responsible manufacturing practices.
Solid wood, on the other hand, describes the material used to construct the furniture. Solid wood furniture is made from actual pieces of lumber rather than relying primarily on wood fibers, particles or composite boards.
So why does this matter when furnishing your baby's room?
Why consider solid wood furniture?
A nursery dresser or crib isn't necessarily a short-term purchase. These are pieces you'll use day after day, and ideally, they'll have a place in your home long after the diaper-changing days are over.
Here are a few reasons to look closely at solid wood construction:
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Durability: Quality solid wood offers strength and durability for furniture that gets plenty of everyday use.
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Long-term maintenance: Solid wood can often be repaired, maintained or refinished, helping extend its useful life.
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Natural character: Every piece of wood has its own grain, texture and subtle variations. It's a natural look and feel that's difficult to replicate with printed wood-look finishes.
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Furniture that grows with your family: A well-made dresser can move from the nursery into a toddler's room, a child's bedroom and beyond.
Don't stop at the word "sustainable."
Responsible sourcing is absolutely worth looking for, but it's only one part of the bigger picture.
When comparing nursery furniture, ask a few more questions:
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Is the furniture made from 100% solid wood, engineered wood or a combination?
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What materials are used for the drawer boxes and backs?
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How are the drawers constructed?
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What type of hardware is used?
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Can the furniture be repaired or refinished if needed?
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What kind of warranty does the manufacturer offer?
A piece of furniture can use responsibly sourced materials and still vary significantly in its construction and overall quality.
Our advice? Look beyond the label. Pay attention to the materials, craftsmanship and details that determine how your furniture will hold up over time.
For an example of what thoughtful construction looks like, explore our collections of Romina Furniture and take a closer look at the materials and craftsmanship found in the collections we carry at Galt Baby.
2. Look Inside the Drawers.
A dresser can look beautiful from the outside, but some of the most important details are hiding where you might not think to look.
When you're shopping in person, pull open a drawer and take a peek inside.
Look at how the corners are joined. One detail worth knowing about is English dovetail construction. This traditional woodworking technique uses interlocking, angled joints to connect the sides of a drawer. Rather than relying only on screws or staples to hold the corners together, the pieces fit together.
Why does that matter? Drawers get a lot of use. From tiny pajamas and blankets to years of clothes and toys, they're constantly being opened, closed and filled. Well-constructed drawer boxes are an important part of a dresser's overall durability.
What to check in store:
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Are the drawer corners neatly joined?
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Do the drawer sides and bottom feel sturdy?
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Does the drawer feel secure when opened?
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Is the construction as thoughtful inside as it is outside?
At Galt Baby, take a look inside the drawers of any of the Romina Furniture dressers. You'll find English dovetail construction, a detail that reflects the attention given to the parts you don't always see.
3. Test the Hardware. Don't Just Look at It.
Here's your permission to open every drawer in the showroom!
Hardware might seem like a small detail, but it makes a big difference in everyday use. Pay attention to how smoothly the drawers move, whether they close quietly and how they feel when you open them.
Look for quality drawer glides and soft-close mechanisms. These features make everyday use easier and help prevent drawers from slamming shut.
Romina uses German-engineered soft-close drawer systems designed for smooth, quiet operation. It's one of those details that might not catch your eye in a nursery photo, but you'll appreciate during those early mornings and late-night diaper changes.
What to check in store:
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Open and close the drawers a few times.
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Notice whether they glide smoothly.
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Listen to how quietly they close.
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Ask about the hardware manufacturer and warranty.
You can see these details up close when you explore our collection of Romina Furniture at our store.
4. Ask About the Finish
A furniture finish does more than give a crib or dresser its color. It also plays a role in how the piece looks, feels and holds up over time.
When shopping for baby furniture, ask what type of finish is used and whether the furniture has been independently tested for chemical emissions.
One certification worth knowing about is GREENGUARD Gold. This certification evaluates chemical emissions from products and sets stringent limits for VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which can affect indoor air quality.
Romina Furniture is GREENGUARD Gold Certified, with water-based and organic finish options. It's another detail worth considering when furnishing a room where your baby will spend so much time.
What to check in a baby store when shopping:
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Ask what type of finish is used.
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Look closely at the surface for an even, consistent finish.
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Ask whether the product is GREENGUARD Gold Certified.
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Find out how to care for and clean the furniture.
5. Check the Details That Make Furniture Last
Sometimes quality is found in the little things.
Look at the edges, corners, drawer fronts and overall construction. Are the pieces aligned? Does the finish feel consistent? Are the details thoughtfully finished?
For a crib, ask about adjustable mattress heights, conversion options and what additional parts may be needed as your child grows.
For a dresser, consider drawer capacity, stability, anti-tip hardware and whether it will still work in your child's room years from now.
A nursery is only one chapter. Choosing furniture that can transition into a toddler room, big-kid room or even another space in your home can make a purchase go further. Will it hold up, or will the wear and tear show up over the years?
Explore our cribs to compare quality, styles, finishes and features.
6. See It, Touch It and Compare It in Person
Shopping online is convenient, and photos are a great place to start. But furniture is one of those purchases where seeing it in person can make a real difference.
You can compare finishes, feel the materials and construction, open drawers, test the hardware and get a better sense of the scale than you might from a screen.
You can also ask questions and get help understanding which features matter most for your family's needs.
At Galt Baby, we believe choosing nursery furniture should feel exciting, not overwhelming. That's why we love helping parents look beyond the style and understand the craftsmanship behind the pieces they're considering.
What does thoughtful furniture construction look like?
We're drawn to furniture that puts as much thought into what's underneath the finish as what's on the outside. That's one of the reasons we love carrying brands like Romina Furniture.
With 100% solid wood construction, English dovetail drawer joints, German-engineered soft-close hardware and GREENGUARD Gold-certified finishes, Romina Furniture pays attention to the details that matter in everyday use.
It's the kind of craftsmanship we encourage parents to see for themselves. Open the drawers, feel the construction and take a closer look. Sometimes the difference is in the details you wouldn't notice in a product photo.
Explore Romina Furniture to see the available styles and finishes.
Your Baby Furniture Shopping Checklist
Save this list for your next nursery furniture shopping trip!
- Ask whether the furniture is made from solid wood, engineered wood or a combination.
- Find out where the wood is sourced and whether it is responsibly harvested.
- Look inside the drawers and inspect the joinery.
- Open and close drawers to test the hardware.
- Ask about the finish and GREENGUARD Gold certification.
- Check the crib's conversion options and available accessories.
- Ask about warranties, care instructions and replacement parts.
- Consider whether the furniture will work beyond the nursery years.
Come See the Details at Galt Baby
If you're shopping for nursery furniture in Chicagoland area we'd love to help you take a closer look.
Visit Galt Baby in Northbrook to explore our nursery furniture selections, compare finishes and see the craftsmanship of Romina Furniture in person.
Sometimes the details that make the biggest difference are the ones you can't see in a picture or on social media post. We'd be happy to show you what to look for, answer your questions and help you find furniture that feels right for your family.
We'd love to welcome you in, show you the details and help make choosing your nursery furniture a little easier.
