For first-time parents, the amount of belongings and information getting thrown your way can be very overwhelming. You want to know how to best take care of your child, yet you also know that you can’t take every piece of advice given to you from every source. For this reason, it’s important to know the basics about every aspect of child care, including your baby’s sleep accessories.
With a newborn, most of the day is spent sleeping while they continue to grow and strengthen their bodies. Because of the amount of time spent sleeping, picking the right bedding for your baby is pivotal. To help get you on the right track to make the appropriate decisions, here are three tips for choosing the right bedding for your newborn.
Start With A Good Foundation
Before you start picking out colors for sheets and blankets, make sure you’re giving your baby the proper foundation for hours of restful sleep. George Cohen, a pediatrician for Baby Center, recommends parents start by choosing a crib that fulfills all current safety regulations. You want to make sure you feel comfortable with where your baby is sleeping.
Also, Cohen reminds parents to be aware of the type of mattress included with the crib. A baby’s mattress should be firm rather than soft to minimize chances of suffocation by a mattress with too much bulk. It’s also pivotal that the mattress fits correctly in the crib to ensure no gaps or billowing that could also be harmful for your child.
Forgo Big, Fluffy Bedding
Although you may think that wrapping a big, fluffy blanket around your sleeping child will keep them safe and warm, you couldn’t be more wrong. According to Mom365.com, babies should not have any loose bedding in their crib. This includes blankets, stuffed animals, pillows, and comforters. This loose bedding could harm your baby if it gets wrapped up in it and can’t breathe.
Rather than keeping your baby warm with blankets, try dressing your sleeping baby in sleepers with feet that zip or button in the front. This type of clothing will help to keep your baby warm and cozy without putting its life in danger, helping both you and your child sleep more peacefully.
Protect Your Baby and Your Crib
Now that you know how to accessorize your child’s sleeping arrangement, it’s time to think about protecting and maintaining those items. To safeguard both your baby and your crib mattress, Giggle.com recommends for parents to use both a waterproof mattress pad and an antiallergen encasement in your crib. These items that go over the mattress but under the fitted sheet will help keep dust mites and allergens away from your baby while also keeping baby’s messes away from the crib mattress.
Babies don’t need much to fall asleep in the first few weeks of life. But by being prepared with a properly functioning crib and bedding accessories, you can feel confident that your child is getting the restful sleep it needs to grow and develop.
