Conference moira::parenting_v3

    there is a place in Lemonister called Norm's Discount, they sell
    all types of baby furniture there.  We brought all of my son's stuff
    here.  They are very resonalbly priced too.  You might also want
    to check out Child World, they have some there.
    
    
    Liz

    I second Norm's (in Fitchburg, I thought) for good prices and a 
    reasonable selection.   Since you're in the Worcester area, I'd
    definitely recommend at least going to Baby Specialties on 
    Grove Street...what a huge selection of beautifully decorated
    cribs, etc... a bit pricey, though.   I know that they have lots
    of the dresser/changing tables that you are looking for.  There
    is also a small baby furniture store at Webster Square called
    Rock-A-Bye Baby.   Perhaps cheaper than Baby Specialities but not
    near the selection.
    
    Good luck!
    cj/

    Look into Spag's.  They have a baby room also have some furnitures.
    We bought our son's furnitures from Child World.  We ordered them
    via catalog.  It takes about 2 months for delivery.  Make sure you
    order them early.
    
    Wendy

    
    Thanks for the info. I had heard of the "Baby Specialties" store, but I
    couldn't for the life of me, remember where it was located. I'm sure I
    will find what I need there.
    
    
    Thanks again
    
    Sandy  (8 weeks to go and counting!)

    Yup, you have to go to Baby Specialties just to see how beautiful
    a $250 comforter set can be....awesome stuff!
    
    cj/

    
    Sure, for $250 you can bet that would be all I would do is (LOOK) at it! 
    Sounds nice though. I'll have to take hubby and check it out this week! 
    
    
    
    
    
    Sandy
    

    	I have also used Norm's , but the prices are NOT very good. I
    suggest that you use Norm's to find what you want (they have
    everything) and then shop around. We found that Bradlees and Sears are
    competitive, and have since bought form both of them after going to
    Norm's.
    
    Bob

    I agree with Bob, Norm's prices are up there..... ANd Bradless and
    K-Mart is alot cheaper...
    
    REK

    There's also a small store near the Central Street Post Office, off 290
    in Worcester. Small, but packed with stuff, and their prices were
    pretty good. We lucked out and had a $50 coupon at the time, and got a
    beautiful hardwood crib there.
    
    

I second "Baby Specialties" on Grove Street in Worcester, and also on
Rt. 9 Framingham.  We bought ALL our baby furniture and bedding there.
Yes, the bedding was expensive, but I just fell in love with it! :-)

They have catalogs from all the major baby furniture makers, so if they
don't have it, you can order it.  We got a VERY good price on the crib
because we bought the floor model (last year's model).  January is definitely
the time to buy!

    There's a baby furniture/clothing place in the Millbury Street area
    of Worcester (I pass by it everyday on 290 on the way home, think
    I could remember the name of the place...naaah).  Anyway, it may
    be worth looking into.
    
    
    jean

    
    Oh, hey!  Have you tried a furniture store like Rotmans or Chevaliar
    in Worcester?  I believe they have baby furniture... not sure of
    the costs though, but if you're into shopping around.
    
    
    jean

    re: .7 & .8
    
    I went to Bradlees and Sears looking for baby strollers/carriages and 
    there was absolutely no one in the store that knew diddly about baby
    strollers/carriages.  I left the mall and went to Norm's.  Norm had to
    be the most helpful salesman I've ever encountered.  He showed us
    exactly what to look for when purchasing a stroller/carriage.  He told
    us that it didn't make a difference how much/little money we spent to
    get the quality we desired.  He said the higher priced ($300)
    stroller/carriages were a waste of money, and he was not at all pushey. 
    We saw the same stroller/carriage that Bradlees had on sale for less at
    Norm's.  When I buy my stroller/carriage I'm definately going to
    Norm's.  I'd buy my baby furniture there too, but fortunately I got
    mine given to me.
    
    Lori B.

    re .13  I agree...some of the stores that do not specialize in this
    type of stuff are not very organized or eager/prepared to help!
    The thing that irritates me about stores such as Bradlees/Sears
    is that often times there isn't a floor sample of the item but
    if there is, it's the only one they have left!   For what its worth,
    ToysRUs seems to have a nice selection of strollers/carriages.
    
    cj/

    My husband and I were looking for something at Prime Value in the
    Leominster Area and ended up walking into a baby area. They had several
    different types of each item (i.e., stroller, play pens, cribs, car
    seats, and assorted swings, lamps, and clothing).  
    
    Now, since we just started looking for a few things, (I have had alot
    given to me by my sisters), and I haven't researched alot of issues 
    (what type of what is best), we have only bought a stroller.  However,
    my sister is in the childcare industry and she has recommended Graco 
    products as well as several of my friends who have recently become
    parents.  We ended up spending 1/2 hour zooming up and down the isles
    and comparing this carriage to that one.  The best stroller we found
    for $100.00 was a Graco stroller.  
    
    I don't know if that's alot of money, but when we figured safety,
    comfort, and the fact that this was our first child and would need
    something that wouldn't fall apart within 2 years of use....it was
    our best bet.  
    
    So, on that note, I would suggest just LOOKING into Prime Value, you
    might be surprised.
    
    Rebecca
    

    If I'm understanding what you're looking for in a crib, that's crib,
    drawers setup that converts to a youth bed later, it's made by Bassett.
    Child World in White City SHR/Worcester line has (or had it recently).
    I too wanted this set up for our son, now 3.5, but found the price
    prohibitive.  We got a good Childcraft Crib, Simmons interspring
    mattress and Bassett double wide changing table all for less than the
    price of the combo/convertable one.  If I recall the side doesn't go
    down either, just a portion of if "flips" over, leaving quite a back
    angle for picking up the baby.  Child world is my first recomendation
    for most baby things, Toys R Us is good for high chair, playpens and
    strollers.  Also try Service Merchandise in Auburn for strollers etc.
    
    P.S. Definitely recommend Raschels for quilts, bumpers, linens etc.!!
    
    Good Luck!
    Lyn

    J.C. Penney also has many items in the catalog.  Each page has a
    nursery all set up with crib, dresser, changing table, lamps,
    comforter, etc.
    
    When I was expecting I spent many an evening glancing through the
    catalogs planning the nursery.
    
    I look back and remember how much fun it was.
    Cheryl

    Yes, the JC Penney catalog is nice for browsing.   However, aren't
    their prices quite high by the time you add on the shipping charges
    (for furniture, that is)?
    

    They may be a little higher than some places, but I found that Baby
    Specialties in Framingham was very high.  But I chose to spend the
    extra because I couldn't find what I wanted anywhere else.
    
    It's all in what you want and what can afford to spend.
    
    Cheryl

    I fell in love with a crib/youth bed in the JC Penney catalog. I also
    noticed that Lechmere advertises the same thing for $100.00 less.
    
    Just my 2 cents worth, nothing against JC Penney.
    
    Norma

    Just some quick input on this, if you're *in love* with the JC Penny
    Catalog thing try taking a ride worth the savings.  JCP has a catalog
    outlet store in Manchester CT.  It's (I believe) exit 62 off of I-84,
    just this side of Hartford.  About 30 minutes from Sturbridge Village. 
    For the most part they carry a little of everything in the catalog,
    current things included. (Someone here mentioned a second store in the
    Burlington/Billerica area of MA, but not sure of it's location) Generally 
    everything is about half of the current catalog prices.  Plus a section of 
    catalog returns, just a lot of things not in the orginal cartons.  Those 
    are even cheaper yet.  Of course we can't forget they carry the maternity 
    clothes too at reduced prices, and of course kid's clothes too.
    
    Just a word of warning from experience, bring good walking shoes the
    store is HUGE!  and don't forget CT state sales tax is worse than 
    MA at 8%!!
    
    Lyn!
    

	My sister-in-law also mentioned she does lots of shopping at 
the JCP Outlet in Billerica, MA.  She said they had great savings on 
everything from maternity closes to bathroom vanities. I think she 
said it was on Route 3A.  I'll ask her for directions and post them 
here.

Meg

    The JC Penney Outlet is in Billerica on Route 3A about halfway between
    the Burlington line and Billerica center. To get there from the north, 
    take Route 3 South to the Concord Road exit. In Billerica Center turn 
    right on Route 3A south. The JC Penney Outlet is in the Towne Plaza Shopping
    Center, a couple of miles on the left. There is also a Stuarts and a 
    Market Basket in that shopping center. 
    
    From the South, either go north on Route 3 and follow the above
    directions or take Route 3A north from 128. Towne Plaza is a couple 
    miles beyond MacDonalds on the right.
    
    Be very cautious driving on Route 3A. Although the road is marked for 
    four lanes, the pavement isn't really four lanes wide. There are a lot 
    of accidents on that road. 
    
    
    Linda (a Billerica resident)

    Can someone reccomend an inexpensive BABY furniture store, or a
    furniture store w/inexpensive baby furniture??  Looking in MA or NH
    
    Thanks,
    
    Melissa  :^)

    Depending on what type of furniture your looking for. I found Toys R Us
    to be the best place around. I bought a beautiful brass and white
    dressing table there for about 80.00. Which wasn't bad considering
    specialty store were asking 100.00 or more.  As far as cribs go, Baby
    Specialties on Grove Street, Worcester, has a huge selection, some of
    the prices are high but it depends on what your looking for. 
    
    Happy shopping!
    
    Sandy

    The JC Penney outlet store in Burlington MA has some great deals, but
    you have to hit it right.
    
    I bought a used canopy crib for a song, just bought a new mattress. 
    Also Jordans Furniture has some good deals on some solid dressers from
    time to time.
    
    Note 5.* has items for sale.

    Try Service Merchandise.

    Can someone give me locations for Service Merchandise????  I live in
    Leominster, MA and I don't know where the nearest one to me is.
    
    Thanx,
    
    Mel

    The Service Merchandise's I an think of would be either Auburn (next
    to Worcester or Tewkesbury).  There is a Prime Value in Fitchburg, they
    have alot of similar items.
    
    

    I believe there's a Service Merchandise in the "Stadium Mall" in
    Tewksbury. Take the Rt. 38 exit off of Rt. 495. In the same mall
    there's a Calvert's which usually has some decent prices on baby
    clothes, too.

    
    Has anyone heard of a place call Heir Apparent?  Some time ago, I
    saw an ad from them stating that that had a 5 piece nursery set for
    $369.95.  It claimed that it was solid wood.  Is this stuff any good?
    Is it a bait-and-switch?  Just seems too good to be true.
    
    I think the maker of the furniture is COSCO.