How to Buy Baby Bedding

When you find out you're expecting a little one, nothing is more enticing than decorating the nursery in your favorite baby décor. But some products you might love could be a hazard to your baby. When it comes to baby bedding, there are some products you need, and some you do not.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Purchase a firm mattress. The mattress should fit tightly inside the crib, so there's no chance of your baby getting trapped between the mattress and the crib bars. Also, make sure the mattress meets current safety standards.
2. Choose several fitted sheets. Manufacturers make special sheets that are designed to fit the dimensions of a crib mattress. It's important that this sheet fits tightly, or else it could pose a suffocation threat. Some sheets have elastic corners, while others are elastic all the way around. It doesn't matter what you choose, but it does matter that the sheet fits your crib mattress.
3. Throw in some sheet protectors. Diapers are better today than ever at stopping leaks. But they still leak, especially at night when parents don't change the diaper as frequently as daytime. Sheet protectors do exactly as their name implies, protecting your cute little sheets from those annoying leaks.
4. Find bumpers that fit. Some safety experts say bumper pads should not be in the crib because of suffocation dangers. Other experts say the benefits outweigh the risks. Bumpers are useful to help keep your baby from banging his head on the crib bars. If you do decide to have bumper pads, make sure they fit tightly around your crib. You should also cut all ties so they are short enough that your baby, or his sweet little fingers and toes, won't someday become tangled in them.
5. Keep blankets, stuffed animals, pillows and other fluffy items out of the crib. These items increase the risk of SIDS, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. You can add these items to your child's bedding when he gets older. If you worry about your baby getting cold at night, invest in some warm pajamas.
6. Select a bedding set that can grow with your child. For safety reasons, bumper pads and mobiles will need to be removed as your baby gets older. It's important to find a bedding set that you will enjoy now and in the future.