Baby Bedding Sets and Infant Safety

It only makes sense that when you shop for your baby’s crib, you’ll be looking for bedding, too. The majority of baby crib bedding sets contain 3 to 6 pieces, but how many of those do you actually need? To be honest, the only thing you really need is a couple of crib sheets, because modern crib safety standards recommend keeping cribs free of all soft bedding. If you want to get the most for your money, skip the crib set and the useless (but cute) accessories. Instead, invest in a half dozen comfortable, high quality crib sheets.

It may come as a surprise to some, but neither crib bumpers nor blankets are recommended because they are a suffocation hazard. Babies don’t need to be any warmer than their parents, but in the winter it’s usually not practical to leave a baby without a blanket. The solution is to use a wearable blanket or even really warm PJs instead. Wearable blankets have become quite common and most people are now familiar with the concept. If you interested in a swaddling blanket, you might want to investigate some of the more modern styles that aid in getting the right fit. Swaddling is supposed to mimic the close quarters of the uterus, and it comforts many newborns. Your new baby will want to be held most of her waking hours, so it can be useful to buy a blanket to wrap around her. Just remember that you have to put your baby into the crib without the quilt.

You might be considering a sleep wedge for your baby. After all, it’s supposed to reduce the risk of SIDS, something most new parents worry about. Keep in mind, though, that babies can’t roll over until they are about 6 months old, at which point tummy-sleeping no longer seems to cause the same risk of SIDS. Since foam is a soft material, these wedges could do more harm than good, by contributing to suffocation risks.

Bedding sets are more than just quilts and bumper pads, though. They often include things like wall hangings, window valances, and even a mobile. While these add tremendously to the look of the nursery, they are quite honestly not needed.

If you do decide to get a bedding set, go for neutral baby bedding like a Hot Cocoa crib set. {It’s much more cost effective because you can use it again and again, regardless of the sex of your next baby.}