Bedding Sets and Baby Safeguards

Now that you've got a baby crib, the next thing you'll need to get is a crib set. A big portion of baby 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. Babies are a messy lot, so 4 or 5 crib sheets will serve you well. Spend your money on getting really good sheets, instead of on a designer bedding set that isn't even recommended to stay in the crib.

Quilts and crib bumper pads both pose a risk of suffocation, so use them for decoration or just don't use them. Most parents worry about their baby getting too cold, but this problem is easily solved with swaddling blankets or a sleep sack. Wearable blankets have become quite common and most people are now familiar with the concept. Swaddling blankets have come a long way, with many mow featuring special fasteners to keep the blanket snug. Swaddling is supposed to mimic the close quarters of the uterus, and it comforts many newborns. If you rock your baby a lot, you might still want a quilt or blanket to wrap around him or her. However, when baby goes in the crib, be sure to take the blanket off.

Some people choose to use a sleep wedge, which is designed to keep babies off their tummies (believed to increase the risk of SIDS). 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. The argument becomes even less convincing when you realize that foam wedges are a kind of soft bedding that can become a suffocation hazard.

Some of the less obvious items you can find in a bedding set are wall decor, a crib skirt, and a window valance. These can make the nursery look great, but aren't necessary if you're on a budget.

It is understandable, however, that you might want a bedding set to complete the look of your baby's room. If so, just get unisex crib 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.}