What does bo bébé look for in their furniture suppliers?

 

bo bébé was started as a company with a unique vision. We are always looking to do things differently and to only carry the best of what was available from around the world. This means that every furniture company we represent is microscopically checked out to ensure that all level of safety, business ethics and manufacturing are carried out according to our expectations. We are proud to say that we have never carried a line of furniture that has ever been involved in any recalls and we proudly support Canadian wood and manufacturing wherever possible.

Our cribs and furniture are all made of solid wood; either beech, birch, anegre, pine & rubberwood. We prefer the hardwoods such as beech or birch as they will stand the test of time and age beautifully.

All of our cribs meet the strictest guidelines in terms of non-toxic and/or low-VOC stains and paints. For the discerning consumer, we also offer unfinished furniture and cribs that can be stained to your liking at home.

All of our furniture is custom ordered and we also stock our 3 Calgary warehouses with our best selling pieces. If you are in a hurry for your items, we suggest asking your bo bébé store Manager what is currently in stock; or alternatively, request to see our quick ship program catalogue.

Expect to wait anywhere from 2 to 12 weeks for most furniture; although the average wait time is running approximately 8 weeks right now.

Our web site will soon allow you to track your order on-line with our online Order Tracker. You will be given a PO# from your Sales Rep along with instructions on how and where to track your furniture.

I've seen cribs and dressers with veneer, anegre or rubberwood? What are those?

Veneers:

In woodworking, veneer refers to thin slices of wood, usually thinner than 3 mm (1/8 inch), that are typically glued onto core panels (typically, solid wood, particle board or medium density fiberboard or MDF) to produce flat panels such as doors, tops and panels for cabinets, parquet floors and parts of furniture. Veneer is obtained either by "peeling" the trunk of a tree or by slicing large rectangular blocks of wood known as flitches. The appearance of the grain and figure in wood comes from slicing through the growth rings of a tree and depends upon the angle at which the wood is sliced. There are many types of veneers on the market.

Anegre:

Is a hardwood that is native to Africa. A tall tree commonly found in Ghana, Anegre is a very good substitute for Tasmanian Oak due to it’s closeness in colour and hardness. Anegre is more consistent in colour and it is an easier timber for polishing. Also commonly used in creating veneers for finishing.

 

Rubberwood:

Rubber plantations have existed for hundreds of years in tropical countries. These plantations have been used mainly for the production of latex. After the economic life of the rubber tree, which is generally 30 years, the latex yields become extremely low and the planters then fell the rubber trees and plant new ones. This eco-friendly Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) is an excellent timber to use and is resistant to many fungal, bacterial and mould attacks. Many characteristics of Rubberwood are similar to Ramin wood.

 

What about MDF listed in crib and furniture components?

 

bo bébé has chosen NOT to carry MDF furniture for the past 8 1/2 years; being very eco-conscious due to the chemicals usually found in MDF. Luckily the industry is shifting to a new, formaldehyde-free MDF compound. The new MDF products are growing in popularity because of its quality and ecological & economic appeal. So when you go shopping for furniture, check out the creations the MDF furniture market has available. **Just be sure to ask if it is "green" MDF.

 

What does Health Canada say?

Health Canada - Crib Safety 2009 Crib Safety

 

What does bo bébé recommend for your nursery?

 

Our industry professionals recommend a bassinet for the first few months for ease of mobility around the house and for going out. Baby is healthiest when in a prone/lying down position and a bassinet offers a safe, secure sleeping environment as opposed to the over-used infant car seats.

When looking to buy a crib, be sure to test the hardware and make sure that it fits your personal height requirements. Some shorter parents do not like the convertible cribs as the front rails are stationary and make placing baby in and out more difficult when the mattress is at the bottom setting. Also, be sure to check for noisy hardware or rails as nobody wants a rail to wake a sleeping baby when it moves!

Skip the change table all together and go for a permanent piece such as a 4 drawer dresser or a double-wide dresser. This acts as a perfect change table and the progresses to a functional dresser later on.

Mattresses have evolved in the past 10 years and bo bébé highly recommends staying away from vinyl and PVC plastic mattresses. We recommend the 100% Organic mattresses for peace of mind and zero off-gassing concerns.

A Glider or Rocking Chair is very useful for the first year of breastfeeding and is also perfect for reading and quiet time with your baby. Many styles and prices exist for every budget so be sure to ask for a full catalogue during your next visit!

 

What does buying Canadian products mean to you?

 

The low US currency and the ability to travel to US, make it easy to consider a purchase from the US. We would like to take only a few minutes to explain to you some of the things you should consider. A crib or stroller purchase is a substantial one and should be taken seriously. Health and Transport Canada spend millions every year ensuring that the products coming into the country are SAFE and properly tested to our standards. By purchasing an item from across the border; you are not guaranteed to be getting a safe, Canadian, certified product.

Should your item require servicing, after-purchase warranty work, parts or replacement; many US retailers do NOT service outside of the US. And often, the service, parts and after-warranty will differ from their standard American customers and will be at your cost.

Did you know that cribs are strictly monitored in Canada and any cribs that have not been subjected to mandatory testing can be confiscated at the border? At your expense? The US retailers will not tell you that their crib is not certified for Canada. We have even had suppliers try to encourage us to carry their cribs, knowing they are not certified for Canada! it is your purchase, so please educate yourself before making the decision to buy US.

We pride ourselves in selecting certain options and features for our cribs and furniture on a model-by-model basis for our stores. That way, we believe we are choosing the best items suited for Canada's climatic conditions; especially the dryness in Alberta and the humidity in Ontario. We have dropped lines in the past that did not pass the climatic requirements of Alberta (with cribs and dressers cracking)

By supporting Canadian business you are also helping to enrich YOUR economy and Canada's business growth. You are also inadvertently supporting fewer travel miles between you and your purchase; vastly reducing carbon and green house gas emissions used in shipping products huge distances.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of our knowledgeable sales staff.

 

What can you do to ensure you are getting a quality product?

By asking the right questions - is it solid wood? Is it Canadian approved? Can you provide me with statement or insurance certificates from the suppliers regarding paints, stains and safe processing? bo bébé will happily provide you with any certification documents that you may wish to see.

What does bo bébé recommend for type of wood?

We always tell our customers that Birch and Beech are the most affordable in the quality chain of hard woods. Pine is a very inexpensive alternative but it is not considered a hard wood, actually a soft one. Therefore it will show dings and marks a lot quicker than actual harder woods.

 

How long will my furniture take to come in?

That will depend on which brand you are ordering. We have some quick ship programs and we have custom, hand-made pieces. The range is usually a happy medium around 7-8 weeks. Rush orders can be placed with some of our vendors, be sure to ask the staff for quicker options if you are in a hurry. Some of the more labour intensive pieces (worth the wait!) like Natart are a classic 12-14 week wait. This is because each piece is hand-made to order and not part of an assembly line production. This is why they have dove-tailed joints and cedar lined drawers. With the quality pieces we represent, it will be well worth the wait!

 

Our Featured Vendor: STOKKE

 

Beautiful to look at and designed to make the transition into the world a softer experience for your newborn child, the award-winning Stokke® Sleepi™ crib system is an elegant children's bed with modern soft curves.

Providing the security and comfort for your baby’s bassinet with the flexibility and functionality to expand later into a small and full-sized children’s bed, Stokke® Sleepi™ is an evolving product that adapts to the development and needs of your growing child.

Available in five different colors designed to complement your nursery color scheme and home, Stokke® Sleepi™ is the only children’s bed designed to provide the optimal sleeping environment that supports your child from infancy and throughout their childhood.

To see the benefits of a Stokke crib, click here..