A baby's on the way! And like the well prepared parents you are, choosing equipment for your child's room and decorating it will occupy you for days on end. It is imperative though, that throughout this exciting activity, you plan well ahead of time and consider what should make its place in your child's room.

If we all had money to burn we could buy everything in sight for our little one. But even then, more is not necessarily better. So choosing your equipment wisely will be best for both your budget and for your child. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right furnishings for a baby room.

1. Crib

The crib is probably the most important part of a baby's room. This is where your child will spend much of his or her time unattended. It therefore has to be safe, sturdy, and convenient. Make sure the crib bars are sturdy and do not present a hazard to your child. Crib bars are usually built 2 and 3/8 inches apart. This prevents your child from sticking his or her head and body into the gaps and getting stuck. Good cribs do not have to be expensive. They only have to be functional, sturdy and safe. Check for breaks or large gaps. Also make sure that the mattress you install here is a little bit smaller than the crib space itself. Also check with the store if the crib is waterproof.

Also avoid cribs that have sharp edges as infants usually are prone to hitting parts of their body against cribs. If your crib has padding, then that would greatly reduce the chance for injuries.

2. Toys

You will have to choose toys carefully, especially when you consider the fact that some toys can do more harm than good. Some toys will pose a choking hazard to your infant. Some overexcited parents fill up their rooms with cute toys and games. Your baby, however will not have much use for these toys as of yet, so it would be better to go slow when adding toys and stuff to your baby's room. For starters a mobile and a rattle would do fine for babies starting to crawl. Also make sure that these toys are safe, and non-toxic, since babies will generally want to put anything that fits (and even those that don't) into their mouths. So you will want your toys to be non-toxic and non-choking. It is generally better to skip toys until they are a little older.

3. Décor

Babies are mesmerized by bright attractive colors. These colors do well to stimulate your baby's eyesight and curiosity. Try to choose colors that are not too striking, though, as they may be too much contrast for your young one's eyes. You could choose kiddie wall papers, and floorings to do the trick. Try to make the colors soothing however, and not too exciting. You will want your children to experience a calming environment when resting.

4. Mattresses and Pillows Choose mattresses that are comfortable, soft, but firm. Avoid fluffy and lacy mattresses as they can cause strangulation and choking. The mattress should be firm enough to support the child's body yet soft enough for comfort. If the mattress is too soft, it could promote bad sleeping positions and will produce much discomfort.

Parents are typically excited to fill up the room with stuff for their kids. However, it would be good to remember that the basics are the most important, and most of the products being hawked for your children are probably stuff they will not need yet. So go slow, and add other décor and equipment as the need arises.

You could also consider borrowing things from relatives and friends. Their equipment, as well as their advice, would come in handy.