A newborn baby is often called a “bundle of joy” for new parents, and once the newborn is taken home from the hospital, the parents must have the right bedding for their child, the safest and most comfortable they can manage. A baby’s sleep area is more than just the wooden frame itself; crib sheets are a major factor to consider, from thread count and density to special fabrics, such as a waterproof crib sheet, hypoallergenic sheets, or even waterproof bed sheets for children. Getting the proper crib sheets, along with basic crib safety and know how, can allow any infant to get a good night’s sleep, and the new parents can rest easy.
The Sheets
Crib sheets, and even bed sheets for adults, are more than just a large piece of fabric. They come in different qualities and specifications for users, and getting the right ones can make all the difference. One factor is the thread count, or the number of threads per square inch of fabric. The weft is the number of threads going horizontally, and the warp is the number of threads that are woven vertically. Sometimes, a sheet’s thread count can be boosted by adding threads to the weft, and experts say that weavers have determined that 500 to 600 is the maximum number of threads per square inch. For lighter and moderately soft sheets, a thread count of 400 is ideal, while softer and denser sheets may have a count of 800. Keeping them clean is recommended, too: 75% of adults say that they are more interested in going to bed if the sheets smell fresh. Pillowcases can follow similar rules.
Crib sheets follow the rules of thread count, but sheets for babies must factor in safety and consideration, given the sleeper’s small size and vulnerability. Often, the fitted crib sheets and mattress will be the only features in a crib for a baby’s sleep time, with other items being removed for safety’ sake. According to Parenting, the American Academy of Pediatrics, or AAP, advises that blankets, stuffed toys, and pillows be removed from the crib, leaving only the mattress and fitted sheet, at least for the first year of the child’s life. Bumpers can be left in until the baby is old enough to stand, and mobiles can remain in place, out of the child’s reach, until he or she is old enough to stand up and touch it.
Baby Center recommends that a flannel backed, waterproof mattress cover be used in a crib, since it is safe, cool, and comfortable compared to rubber ones. Crib sheets are fitted over it securely, and for warmth, a baby should wear full-body sleeper wear that covers the feet rather than soft blankets, which are a potential suffocation hazard. However, if a blanket is thin, and it is tucked into the bottom and sides of the mattress and only reaches the child’s chest, it may be safe to use. Aside from a baby crib sheet, a pillow may be added once the child is older than age two.
Some crib sheets are tailor for particular needs of the infant. Those with allergies may be given hypoallergenic crib sheets, and waterproof fitted sheets are also available. These sheets can all come in a variety of colors and patterns to suit the nursery’s decor, and some are for baby boys or girls, and some are unisex in color and pattern. What a newborn does not need is sleep adjusters, a quilt, or a bumper with decorative ribbons. All these things look attractive in the parents’ eyes, but they are in fact suffocation hazards, so instead, a crib should be “bare bones” compared to ad images of fully decorated cribs. A quality mattress, solid and safe crib frame, inch-thick mattress cover, and fitted sheets are all a baby needs, besides pajamas, for comfortable, safe sleep each night. If the baby can sleep easy, then the parents can, too.