Nursery Bedding and Newborn Safety
When buying the crib for your nursery, your mind will naturally turn to bedding next. Many baby crib bedding sets contain 3 to 6 pieces, but how many of those do you actually need? Bare is best when it comes to baby bedding: pediatricians recommend keeping all unnecessary bedding out of the crib. If you’re on a tight budget, you’re much better off spending your money on a few high-quality crib sheets than on a bedding set that can’t be used for much more than decoration.
It may come as a surprise to some, but neither crib bumpers nor blankets are recommended because they are a suffocation hazard. Swaddling blankets or sleep sacks are the best alternative to loose blankets and quilts. Sleep sacks have become a commonplace item these days. While a bit difficult to explain to someone who’s never seen one before, a photograph will clear things up instantly. Swaddling blankets are now much more than just a square of cloth. There are various styles that come with fasteners so you can make sure the blanket fits snugly and won’t come loose. Swaddling helps some babies sleep better, but others find it constricting and do not like it. You will be holding your baby a lot, so you might still want a blanket or comforter for those times, especially if you’ve had a winter baby. However, when baby goes in the crib, be sure to take the blanket off.
You may have seen the foam wedges that are sometimes recommended for young babies, to keep them sleeping on their backs. 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. Soft bedding of any kind should be kept out of the crib due to suffocation concerns, and these foam wedges are themselves soft.
Some of the items in a bedding set may not even be bedding - window valances or diaper stackers, for example. These can make the nursery look great, but aren’t necessary if you’re on a budget.
But if you do want a bedding set, it’s much more affordable to buy gender neutral baby bedding like a Hot Cocoa baby crib bedding set. {It’s much more cost effective because you can use it again and again, regardless of the sex of your next baby.}
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