Do I Need a Baby Crib Bedding Set?

Crib bedding sets are on every parent’s baby registry checklist, but they can be dangerous to babies in reality. Read on before you buy a crib bedding set.

Not all pieces include in a crib bedding sets are necessary, and some can be hazardous for newborn babies. Your baby doesn’t need complete crib bedding sets to get a good night of sleep. Parents should keep some bedding items for later or even skip them definitively.

This article will cover:

• What comes in a crib bedding set?
• Is crib bedding safe?
• What other parents are saying
• Best crib bedding features
• Takeaway

Now that you decide which baby crib and mattress to have purchased. You are reasonably looking into crib bedding sets online. It’ll be the perfect finish touch to the nursery, you think. But not so fast.

Seeking for the perfect baby crib, but you’re unsure where to start? Check out this list I created of the best baby cribs to buy.

While it’s tempting to make your baby’s sleeping area an eye candy, it can potentially do more harm than good. Adding all these fancy and soft sheets, pillows, and bumpers poses suffocation hazards to your precious one. Remember that all a newborn baby needs is a firm surface to sleep on with a tight-fitting sheet.

You might still be asking if crib bedding sets are necessary. And if not, why are these products still in the market if they can be dangerous to infants? Should you skip the crib beddings entirely and choose something else for your baby registry gift lists?

Don’t worry. You’re not alone. I had made the same decision when I was a new parent. Read on, and you’ll probably learn how to compromise and make better use of those expensive bedding items.

What comes in a crib bedding set?

A bedding set can come with 2 to 13 pieces. The basics included in crib bedding are the basics such as a crib skirt, a quilt or a blanket, a few pillowcases, and a fitted sheet. The best ones usually have accessories and essentials in combination.

Therefore, you might find it more convenient to buy a crib bedding set so you can have all the necessary items in just one purchase.

Let’s go over the 7 basics items of a crib bedding set:

1- Fitted Crib Sheet

It is the crib mattress’s topmost layer. It primarily makes your baby’s sleeping environment more comfortable while adding an aesthetic element to the nursery.

Crib sheets should remain perfectly fitted, even after washing. To avoid ending up with a thin crib sheet that cannot fit with the mattress, look for one that is stretchable around the corners and edges.

Cotton is the best material for a crib sheet that will retain its shape and fit; however, it can easily become wrinkly after several washes. You can choose blend sheets with a higher amount of cotton for better results.

2- Blankets

I can’t stress this enough; you must not use a blanket if your baby is not older than 2 months. Blankets increase the risk of suffocation and death. Your baby must at least reach 18 months of age before you can let him use a blanket when sleeping.

3- Quilt

If your child is not older than 6 months, don’t let him use the quilt no matter how pretty it is. Newborns are at greater risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) when you let them use extra blankets or cushions in their sleeping area.

For the time being, you can use it on your rocking chair or even as a décor item on your nursery wall. 

You can only use quilts when your baby had developed sufficient motor skills like crawling and standing. Only once your kid is a toddler or 12 months up can you use other soft sheets and clothes.

4- Comforter

Same as above, follow safety practices for your sleeping baby if he’s not older than 12 months. In the meantime, you can swaddle your baby to keep him warm at night.

Only once your little one reaches toddlerhood can you use comforters and other accessories for crib bedding.

5- Crib skirt

These are used outside the crib for decorative purposes. They are primarily ornamental. A crib skirt adds style and makes the nursery easier to the eyes by hiding whatever is underneath the crib.

Since crib skirts are not dangerous and can be used with a newborn baby crib, then go ahead and use it.

6- Pillows

Again, pillows (and plush toys) should not be placed inside a newborn baby crib. Once your kid is 1 ½ year or older, you can add in the pillows for added comfort and decorations. 

Diapotened? I know the feeling. I was bummed out of having to store for 12 months the lovely pillows I’ve found on Etsy. 

7- Rail guard covers

Every parent knows that once those little enameled things begin poking out of your kid’s gums, everything is fair game for your teething baby-boom. That’s why rail guard covers can be helpful! You can attach covers to prevent your baby from chewing his way out of the crib. 

Rail guard covers can come in a pretty design, so you can protect the crib’s integrity while keeping everything in style. To be safe, just make sure no strings are dangling into to crib!

Is crib bedding safe?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly advises not to use loose beddings, extra blankets, and other soft objects inside an infant’s sleeping area within the first 12 months. Data shows a significant relationship between using crib bedding items with young babies and SIDS.

Baby bedding sets are available in the market despite the warning. If ever you’re buying, make sure to inspect the products to ensure they are high quality. For your kid’s safety, only introduce these items once they have reached the specific age and milestones mentioned above.

Safety tips: the crib’s mattress should have a bare and firm surface, or if using a sheet, it should fit tightly over the mattress-like skin.

When can you use crib bedding?

Most experts would suggest using crib beddings once the baby is older than 12 months, or if possible, at 18 months and beyond. This is the only time parents can be sure that their young ones are away from any risks.

I couldn’t find a study that ascertains the safest age for the little ones to use a comforter or a blanket. But parents should be vigilant and always keep their kids’ safety in mind when using such products.

How to reduce the risks of SIDS associated with crib bedding?

Cases of SIDS are rare, so you should not worry too much. As long as you follow these safety practices, your baby will be far away from harm.

• Don’t let your baby get too hot or too cold: Use thin blankets to wrap around your baby. If they’re sweating, reduce the layers. Lightweight sleeping sacks are also a good option for your baby to sleep in.
• Keep your baby’s head uncovered: Besides avoiding risks of suffocation, keeping their heads uncovered makes it easier for them to cool off. If using a blanket, tuck it at the level of the shoulders and not any higher.
• How to keep your baby warm: The use of sleeping sacks and swaddle wraps are better choices than blankets in keeping your baby warm. Babies love this because it mimics the comfortable environment of the womb. Swaddles reduce SIDS risk and promote better development by helping your little one sleep longer.

What are other parents saying?

If you ask experienced parents about the necessity of crib bedding sets, you’ll most likely get a resounding NO. Many advise you to get a fitted sheet if you don’t like a bare mattress for your baby’s sleeping area.

For the most pragmatic parents, they deem such expensive sets unnecessary for their babies.

In my opinion, it’s not all that bad. Suppose you’ll be patient and use some creativity and resourcefulness. In that case, you can still make the most out of these products until it’s time for your toddler to enjoy their value.

Best crib bedding features

Not all crib beddings are made equal, and that’s why you should keep an eye open for the following features.

1. Machine—washable: It’s so much more convenient for busy parents to toss those filthy sheets into the washing machine. However, not all products are safe from the chaos of machine-washing. Get those that are.
2. Healthy & organic: For your baby’s sensitive skin, use beddings made of organic fabric. Only use chemical-free detergent in washing the bedding as well.
3. Fabric options: It’s a good idea to have crib beddings with different fabrics to choose from for your baby. You can change the fabric depending on the season.

If your baby is born in winter, try sheets that are flannel and cotton blend. This fabric blend is good at retaining heat to keep your little one warm through the night. In the summer months, fabrics with more cotton provide excellent air circulation to keep your baby cool and comfy.

In any case, observe how your baby reacts to the fabrics and see which one helps them sleep longer.

Takeaway

If you haven’t purchased a crib bedding set, it’s probably a better idea to save your money for more essential things. You can put that money on crib sheets of the best quality. It’s the one you’d want to live through the abuse of constant washing. Knowing that you’ve saved your cash for better use and, in the process, kept your little away from risks should help you sleep as soundly as your baby.

All babies are unique, and parents understandably would want to celebrate that by making the nursery extravagant as they are willing to make it. But there other ways of expressing your joy without putting your precious one at risk. So, make a good choice of things for your baby to keep them safe.