[Special Editors Note]
We are giving away The Ultimate Nursery for expectant and new parents (it’s complete with everything you need to build a beautiful space for your new bundle of joy from a crib to car seat, it even includes babysitting services!) For all the details, sign up here.
Filling a child’s room with furniture and accessories is as much about smarts
as it is about style. To help new families navigate the market and decide
what’s right for them, we’ve asked some of the best local retailers for their
tips and advice on buying beautiful, long-lasting and even eco-friendly
furnishings.
ALBEE BABY
What are the store’s
core offerings?
[We run] the gamut of children’s products from car seats and
strollers to cribs and nursery furniture, custom and designer bedding and décor,
diaper bags, toys, bottles and feeding [items]. We have also expanded our
layette and clothing offerings.
Notice any interesting
trends lately in nursery furnishings or accessories?
[A] contemporary to modern look is still strong but we are seeing the trend
turn to more of a traditional or transitional look.
How long has Albee
Baby been in business?
2013 will be our 80th year, owned and operated by our
founder’s children and grandsons.
Any advice for
parents shopping for a nursery or big kids room?
Know your space and lifestyle. Big kids rooms need your
child’s input—and should be flexible enough for growth in the child’s size and
personality.
715
Amsterdam Avenue, 212-662-7337, albeebaby.com
BABIES “R” US
What are the store’s
core offerings?
An unparalleled assortment of apparel, gear and furniture
for little ones, and our best-in-class [online] registry. Plus, our “R” Market
is very popular with parents who live or work in the area and need to make
quick trips for food, formula, diapers, wipes—even paper towels.
Notice any
interesting trends lately in nursery furnishings or accessories?
Convertible cribs, some of which even come with a conversion
kit that allow for a transition to a full-size bed.
Any new developments on the big kids front?
Actually, the store recently expanded its apparel,
accessories, footwear and furniture offerings to cater to big kids as well. 
Please tell us about
a home product you just love.
The Twilight Turtle by Cloud B is the first plush
constellation nightlight, transforming any room into a starry night.
24-30
Union Square East, 212-798-9905, babiesrus.com
BEHR’S SUPERSTORE
What are the store’s core offerings?
Behr’s
has the largest display of fine baby and kids furniture and accessories in the
Tri-Sate area (over 30,000 square feet). Plus, all warehousing, deliveries and service
is handled in-house.
Notice any interesting trends lately in nursery
or kids furnishings?
Parents
are much more knowledgeable and interested in matters of safety and health.
How long has the store been in business?
106
years! We’re now the fifth generation.
Any advice for parents shopping for a baby
or kids room?
Don’t
even think about a used crib as it’s unlikely to meet the current safety
standards.
Please tip us off to
a home product you just love.
We’re
big fans of the new Echelon line of furniture (above) by industry leader Muniré Furniture.
This nursery furniture is made entirely in the U.S.,
using native hardwoods and veneers, and the designs are among the best you’ll
find anywhere.
1220 Hicksville Road, Seaford, NY, 516-541-2347, behrsfurniture.com
BROOKLYN BABY WORLD
What are the store’s
core offerings, and what’s your most popular product category?
We sell high-quality furniture and strollers. Our customers
are mainly from the five boroughs as well as Long Island
and New Jersey. We offer furniture
delivery and assembly, as well as stroller assembly.
Notice any
interesting trends lately?
Most parents are now purchasing convertible cribs.
Any advice for
parents?
If you go with a convertible crib, purchase your conversion
kit when you buy the crib. 
Please tell us about
a home product you just love.
Most babies chew on the wood of the crib when they are
teething. Trend Lab makes a product called a crib wrap, a washable fabric that
protects the wood and also protects the child.
7302 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 718-331-9498, brooklynbabyworld.com
BUYBUY BABY
What are the store’s
core offerings?
We offer a full assortment of merchandise for children from
birth to four years of age, including strollers, car seats, bouncers,
bassinets, cribs, clothing, bottles, breast pumps, monitors and various
personal care items.
Any advice for
parents shopping for a nursery or big kids room?
Plan ahead. Think about what you’ll use beyond when the
child is a baby. Find something that fits your space and your design aesthetic.
Please tell us about
a home product you just love.
The Stokke Sleepi™
Walnut Crib System fits well within New York City
spaces and grows with the baby. It offers a classic, elegant oval design
void of hard edges, and goes from a bassinet to a crib in one simple step.
270 Seventh Avenue, 917-344-1555, buybuybaby.com
GIGGLE
What are the store’s
core offerings?
Nursery and gear, which includes cribs, car seats, strollers,
high chairs, bedding, layette and more—along with giggle’s own line of baby products, giggle Better
Basics and giggle’s Best Baby
Registry.
Notice any
interesting trends in nursery furnishings or accessories?
1. Lucite: Cribs with transparency.
2. iPhone-design inspired gadgets.
3. Bassinets meet cradles meet bouncers meet
loungers—the new hybrid.
4. Techno-parenting epitomized by the Momaroo & now the
Origami. 
5. Navy, navy, navy.
Please tell us about
a home product you just love.
Hands down the giggle Better Basics Harper Crib. It’s
everything we think baby furniture should be, from the quality construction
with solid birch wood to the clean, classic lines that fit every décor and
every budget!
Three Manhattan
locations in Soho, Upper West Side, Upper East Side, 800-495-8577, giggle.com
KID’S SUPPLY
What are the store’s
core offerings?
We make great furniture at a great price—no MDF (medium
density fiberboard), no particle board—just sophisticated, green, modern kid
furniture. Our forte is the ability to customize and modify our furniture.
Notice any
interesting trends lately in kids furnishings or accessories?
Silver, everything silver is selling.
Any advice for parents
shopping for a nursery? For a kids room?
Don’t pay a lot for the crib. It goes away [after] age 2 . One
should invest in a great dresser/changing table—that endures. Regarding a kids
room, some people think a bed has to match their nursery furniture. I tell our
clients: Go forward, don’t go back. 
Please tell us about
a home product you just love.
We love the fuzzy blankets and duvets, available in zillions
of colors. The product name is Minky.
1343
Madison Avenue, 212-426-1200, kidssupply.com
NESSALEE BABY
What are the store’s
core offerings?
We feature luxury
strollers, modern furniture, gear, layette and clothing. Plus, nessaleebaby.com
is the only place you can search for baby gear used by celebrity parents.
Notice any
interesting trends lately?
Acrylic is big in
nurseries right now—so is grey. There are many great shades of grey and it complements
so many colors to help make a fun but serene environment.
Any advice for parents shopping for a
nursery?
Pick one thing to
start with. It could be a color, the crib, a piece of artwork—having something to guide you will be a lot easier
than throwing a bunch of things together and hoping they mesh.
Please tell us about a home product you
just love.
I am loving Franklin & Ben. It’s a
new furniture line and the pieces are beautiful.
346 Mounts Corner Drive, Freehold,
NJ, 732-431-0008, nessaleebaby.com
PLANET KIDS
What are the store’s core offerings?
Anything you need from zero to four-years-old. We carry toys, baby furniture,
strollers, car seats, clothing, feeding, etc.
Notice any interesting trends lately in baby furnishings?
A contemporary look is in [as are] gliders.
Any advice for
parents shopping for a nursery?
You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get good quality
furniture.
Please tell us about a home product you just love.
Young America furniture is changing the construction of
their drawers. Starting mid-spring, they will now have gliding hardware.
Two Manhattan locations on the Upper East Side (212-426-2040) and Upper West Side (212-362-3931), planetkidsny.com
POSH BABY & TEEN
What are the store’s
core offerings?
We sell only the safest-rated baby and teen furniture from
Consumer Reports and the Baby Bargains
book. We also provide a white glove delivery service which includes
crib/bed assembly and room setup.
Notice any trends
lately?
The ‘60s and ‘80s are coming back in color! The hottest
new hue for bedding and accents? Bright orange! It’s a great gender-neutral
color for the nursery. Also, children’s gear is all about four themes: vintage
florals, outdoor adventure and spooky and fantastic surrealism.
Any advice for
parents shopping for a nursery or big kids room? 
New parents should make the crib their first nursery
purchase, because it will affect how you approach your other purchases.
Please tell us about
a home product you just love.
Young America’s The Bunkable Bed.
2935
Veterans Road West, Staten Island, NY,
718-227-7506,
poshbabyusa.com
POTTERY BARN KIDS
What are the store’s
core offerings?
Pottery Barn Kids offers exclusive designs that create
kid-friendly, stylish and innovative spaces for the nursery, bedroom and
playroom. Product categories include baby and kids furniture, bedding, bathroom
accessories, window treatments, nursery essentials, lighting and gear. We also
offer complimentary design services either in store or at the customer’s house.
Please tell us about
a home product you just love.
One of our classic, iconic pieces that is great for a
nursery, kids room or playroom is the Anywhere Chair. We offer a few different
sizes perfect for babies, toddlers and kids. There are a variety of colors and
patterns to choose from and they can be personalized which also makes them an
ideal gift.
1311
Second Avenue, 212-879-4746, potterybarnkids.com
RESOURCE FURNITURE
What are the store’s
core offerings and what is your most popular product category?
We provide
eco-friendly living solutions to any challenge, in any room, for any age—from toddler
to grandparent. For families, for example, one of our most popular items is our
bunk-bed system, which is only 12” deep when closed, and less than 40” deep
when open.
Notice any
interesting trends lately?
Parents are more
frequently seeking eco-friendly solutions, whether that means reducing your
carbon footprint in the materials you use, or by the sheer size of the physical
whole space you live in.
Any advice for
parents shopping for a nursery or kids room?
Over time you will
save money and aggravation by purchasing quality, high-end pieces that will
grow with your child.
Please tell us about
a home product you just love.
Our Cleopatra Revolving Book Stands in powder-coated steel.
Available with shelves or bins. [They have] a marble base so they are
exceptionally stable.
969 Third Avenue, 4th floor, 212-753-2039, resourcefurniture.com
