Choosing and Setting Up Baby Crib Bedding

Give your little bubs sweet dreams by selecting cozy bedding and setting it up for ultimate safety and comfort. 

Time for Bed, Sleepyheads

Bedtime and nap time are essential for little ones. Sleep helps them reset, improves their mood and also contributes to their growth and development. We know how cute babies are when they’re tiny and sleeping, which is why we put a great deal of emphasis on quality bedding for a good rest. 

Though it may be tempting to fill a crib with cute teddies, blankets, bumpers, pillows, and other decorative items, parents should hold off for a year or so. Setting up a crib for a baby is a lot more simple than you may expect.

Little babies sleep around nine hours during the day, and another eight hours at night. With so much time snoozing, it’s crucial that baby crib bedding is safe. 

What Should and Shouldn't Go in a Baby's Crib

When you make up your little bub’s crib, have you considered safety? Babies need a flat sleeping surface to support their heads, whether it’s a crib, bassinet, or other bed that is up to current safety standards. Do not leave a baby sleeping in a car seat, stroller, swing, or other item that is not a proper bed. 

The crib should be clear of all items when your little one catches up on their rest. Anything loose in a crib may become a hazard, and that includes blankets, toys, mattress toppers, loose sheets, or anything else that can be removed easily.

To prevent your baby from being too cold, make sure the room is warm, and they are dressed in layers that keep them at just the right temperature. When you put them down to sleep in the crib, simple items without added fluff are the best—items with ribbons, extra buttons, and other bits should be avoided for something more streamlined during the sleeping hours.

How to Choose Crib Bedding

Baby bedding comes with special considerations. As mentioned previously, baby cribs should not have extra additions—including the sheets, pillows, blankets, and other items you typically find on a bed. As babies get older, you can start to add items like a quilted blanket or toddler pillow. 

Don’t fret, dear parent! We’ll walk you through the crib bedding you actually need for your little bubs to enjoy their slumber.

Quality Fabric

Babies are known for their soft, sensitive skin, making fabric selection an important part of crib bedding. Ideally you want a breathable and gentle fabric that comes with the comfort of a warm hug. Selecting eco-friendly materials that meet these criteria can offer your little one a clean and comfortable sleep.

Nest Designs uses several types of fabrics in our baby bedding products including GOTS certified organic cotton, bamboo, eco-efficient Sorona fill, and more.

Mattress Protectors and Fitted Crib Sheets

Let’s face it, baby leaks and messes happen at all times of the day and night. Adding a well-fitting mattress protector over your crib mattress will help keep the mattress clean and dry, even when diapers fail.

For babies, a fitted crib sheet is a must. It is the base layer of your crib set-up. When setting up the crib, just like your mattress protector, this sheet must fit snugly onto your baby's crib mattress. Any extra fabric creates a potential choking hazard, making the perfect fit extremely important. Aesthetics also play a part in choosing a fitted crib sheet, as babies should not have blankets until they are around 12 to 18 months old.

We are huge believers in sweet, evergreen designs that maintain their charm—even if you use the same crib sheets for each of your babies. The Nest Designs fitted bamboo crib sheet comes in several different patterns, so you can find something that fits the style of your little bubs’ nursery.

Swaddle Sleep Bags

Keep a swaddle sleep bag in the crib for easy access when it’s time for your little bubs to rest. These sleep bags help limit a baby’s movements, imitating what it was like for them in the womb—safe, snugly, and warm. If you choose to swaddle your baby, make sure you wrap it tight enough to restrain their movements, and ensure they have room to breathe. 

Sleep Suits

Until your little one is old enough to sleep safely with a blanket, a sleep sack is a safer alternative. Think of these as cute, wearable blankets, much like a comfy body suit that zips up to keep your little bubs warm and safe at night. Choose a sleep suit that has an appropriate TOG rating that aligns with the weather or season to keep your baby at just the right temperature. 

TOG Rating

What is a TOG rating? TOG stands for Thermal Overall Grade—it is an industry measurement for a product’s thermal insulation. The higher the TOG rating, the warmer the product. Before selecting a sleep bag or sleep suit, determine the TOG you need by considering the temperature of the room, what clothing they wear at bedtime, and the baby’s overall temperature.

Bedding Changes as Babies Grow

A crib setup is very simple, and keeping it free of extras when your baby is small helps keep them safe while they sleep. 

After approximately one year, babies can start sleeping with different bedding. At this stage, you can re-evaluate their bedding and make changes or additions as you see fit. Remember all those cute things you wanted to put in the crib earlier? This age is a better time to introduce a bedtime stuffy, blanket, or small pillow. 

Goodnight, Sleep Tight

When babies have a better sleep, it gives parents and guardians time to catch up on some snoozing too. Setting up a baby crib with the right kind of bedding helps you rest easier knowing you’ve given them a safe environment to reach the land of nod. 

Have you tried out Nest Designs bedding? Let us know in the comments.