Baby Freebies

Safety guidelines are important to know and understand before undergoing the simple process of purchasing crib bedding for your new baby. Many recommendations have been issued by various child safety organizations concerning the selection and use of crib bedding. Newborns are unable to protect themselves from suffocation so there are guidelines in place to promote their safety.

Experts say that babies should only be sleeping on their back and they should not be allowed any soft bedding. Among things that should never be allowed in an infant’s crib, blankets and other soft items are included. Only a mattress covered with fitted sheets in the crib should be adhered to. To maintain a blanket’s suitability, make sure it is strongly tucked in at the end of the bed and does not go up past the baby’s chest.

Crib bumpers are a matter for debate, while they are often tightly affixed to the crib rails and unlikely to obstruct an infant’s breathing, many pediatricians still recommend against their use to maximize airflow. Problems with bumpers have led to the production of many alternate methods. People are uncertain about the role played by crib bumpers, as illustrated by their inclusion in most modern sets of baby bedding. Crib bumper advice can be a source of confusion for many parents searching for clarity about their child’s current need for this crib safety protection.

You should follow the American Academy of Pediatrics guidance on keeping crib bedding to a minimum for the baby’s first year, until the child can move enough to keep bedding out of his or her face. Parents should realize that until a baby is a year old, safety precautions should still be used when modifying the crib area. The mattress height can be lowered when the baby can sit upright, and all items that he or she can climb onto should be removed at that time. To prevent babies from climbing over crib rails, crib bumpers should be taken out.

Comfortable and decorative bedding items can be put in a child’s crib after age 1 when the risk of SIDS drops. People use comforters and bed skirts to enhance the nursery decoration. Child-sized fuzzy blankets are great for snuggling as well as providing warmth. While pillows are the usual bedding choice for parents with children under two years of age, toddlers generally enjoy a plush toy to keep them company as they fall asleep.