Safety Before All Else: Finding the Perfect Infant Crib Bedding

If you’re a new parent, chances are you’re getting completely overwhelmed by the vast range of styles available for baby bedding and nursery decor. If you want animals, you can find everything from a caterpillar baby crib bedding set to gorillas. Are you considering angels as a theme? How many different angel styles can there be? Well over 100. If you’re looking for a really popular theme like cartoon characters or nursery rhymes, you may be doomed LOL.

Whether it’s boy crib bedding or baby girl, when you see all the super-cute options you have, you may be tempted to overspend or break your budget. Baby bedding can be incredibly cute, and every parent wants the best for their new baby. But you’ve got to realize that your baby isn’t going to know the difference. So here are a few suggestions for things your baby will need:

- If you are considering crib bumpers, be aware that they have certain risks associated with them. The idea behind a crib bumper is to protect baby from the hard bars of the crib, but if the bumper comes loose it may cause suffocation. It is generally recommended to keep bumper pads out of the crib until your child is at least 1 year old, but if you insist on keeping them in the crib, make sure they are secured tightly, with the ties on the outside of the crib.

- The term “crib sheet” refers only to the fitted sheet, because flat sheets are unnecessary (and potentially dangerous) for newborns. Be sure to check the size of the crib sheets you’re buying and confirm that they’re right for your mattress. Although crib mattress are basically all the same size, there can be minor variations in dimensions. If the sheets you buy don’t fit your mattress, they may come off and cause a suffocation risk for your child. White sheets are impractical because you WILL have diaper leaks. You mattress will probably be waterproof, but you may want to buy a mattress protector just in case.

- As far as blankets go, babies don’t need to be any warmer than adults, and loose blankets can also cause problems. Stick with a sleep sack instead. Also, keep pillows and stuffed animals out of the crib. Babies don’t need them and they can be a serious suffocation risk.

When it comes to buying crib bedding, be sure that it’s safe, then pick something cute – you don’t need to sacrifice one for the other.