Babys First Year

Cotton sheets and blankets are the traditional cot bedding choices for parents. Using cot blankets and cot sheets gives a parent the ability to keep their baby at the perfect temperature through removing or adding layers when needed.

Some parents even choose to make their own cot sheets by cutting and sewing sheets from adult bedding if they don’t want to buy those made specifically for a cot. For parents who wish to buy cot bedding there are some great choices which are easily available in stores and also online.

Don’t forget that you should use specially sized sheets if you use a pram, carrycot or moses basket. These are designed to be smaller than normal cot-sized bedding. Usually, you should begin with about three blankets and four sheets.

This amount lets you to have enough spare sheets and blankets ready if you need to make a speedy change. Sheets are generally made of the following different materials: traditional cotton, brushed flannelette (which is warm to the touch), cotton jersey or stretch cotton terry.

Stretch fitted sheets are practical bedding additions as they are not likely to come untucked during the night and are easy to remove on and off.

You can use acrylic cellular baby blankets,which wash well, rather than the cotton ones if your baby’s bedroom is quite cool. You should remember to check if traditional wool blankets you get are machine-washable .

This is because you will find yourself washing your baby’s cot bedding many times and having dry clean only cot bedding would not be very practical.

Cuddly fleece blankets, which are made from polyester, are also very popular and can be used in prams and strollers during colder weather, but be careful if you use them indoors as they can become too warm.

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Before spending a lot of money on baby nursery bedding, keep in mind the age of your baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics and several other health minded organizations recommend not having a lot of extraneous baby bedding in the cribs of infants. The risk of SIDS related deaths increases significantly when too many loose or heavy baby blankets are piled around a newborn.

Ideally a baby crib needs to be fitted for only a crib sheet and perhaps some bumpers around the railing. The jury is still out however regarding the safety of bumpers. While some books still recommend use of them for
infant cribs, others suggest that bumpers also pose a safety hazard. Be sure to consult with your baby’s pediatrician before deciding whether or not to use this piece of baby bedding.

Stuffed animals and pillows are also a no-no for baby’s first year. Again, these items might provide a choking hazard for young infants, especially those that are four months of age or under.

A variety of baby bedding is available for older babies and toddlers. Very often you’ll find bed sets with themes including Peter Pan, Strawberry Shortcake or Blue’s Clues. To complement a cute set such as this and add to the theme of baby’s bedroom, you might consider adding some flair with wallpaper and curtains or valences that match baby’s bedding. Any of these items can be found online.

One common mistake new parents make is assuming that a girl will definitely be a girl. Though the accuracy of ultrasounds is relatively high, there have been many new parents surprised when their newborn girl is born a boy! If you have purchased a great deal of pink bedding before baby’s birth, you might find yourself regretting this decision once your bouncing baby boy arrives unexpectedly.

To prevent such mishap, consider selecting colors and patterns that are neutral in nature. Various shades of green, yellow, orange and purple are wonderful choices for a new nursery, and can be used regardless of whether baby comes out a boy or a girl. Using solid colors also allows the possibility for theme changes as your baby grows older. At some point your baby will decide that a change is in order for the bedroom.

Buying neutral baby blankets will also present the opportunity that you can use the material over again if you decide to have baby number two or more.

Consider using vibrantly colored items to complement the babies theme and bedding. Infants are often intrigued by bright colors and interesting patterns. Baby might be more excited about bedtime if the possibility exists of looking at some interesting and exciting patterns and styles. A mobile might also be considered an accessory to the baby’s bedding and nursery theme, to engage your infant’s senses for hours on end. Keep in mind however if you do decide to purchase a mobile for your newborns crib, it should be removed after about the five month mark, when baby might be old enough to grab and pull down the equipment.

As your infant becomes a toddler, many new selections of baby bedding will present themselves. Consider taking your older child with you shopping to select new colors and themes.

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