Safety and Babies Bedding

When you shop for your baby, or to get a gift for someone else's baby, you are confronted with some of the cutest things you will ever buy. While you may think of girl's stuff as the cutest, there are some pretty charming items out there for little boys too. Before you make your final choice when purchasing babies bedding, you have to think about safety as well as how cute something might be or how well it matches the baby's nursery. Babies need protection because they are so helpless. Do your part by shopping the right way.

One of the biggest concerns that new parents have, other than finding time to sleep, is to keep their baby safe while he or she sleeps. SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) is a growing concern in this country. Babies die in their sleep for what seems like no reason, though some deaths have been linked to suffocation. Babies bedding can be to blame. If a young baby gets his or her face covered by soft bedding they can not move away to breathe, or they breathe in their own carbon dioxide so long that they die. If you make sure you have safe babies bedding, the chances of this happening can be cut substantially.

Hospitals, doctors, and mid wives encourage new moms and dads to lay baby down to sleep on their back exclusively. The Back To Sleep program may be saving lives each day. Tummy time is strictly for what babies are awake. They also have recommendations about babies bedding. Sheets should be fitted and matched to a mattress exactly with no fringe or adornments. If a baby is to sleep in a cradle or Pack n Play, there are specific sheets for these as well. The Arms Reach Co-Sleeper has sheets that go with it that have Velcro attachments to make sure the sheet is fitted and taunt to protect the baby.

When it comes to babies bedding and SIDS, you have to think about more than just the proper fitted sheets. Babies should not be sleeping with any loose bedding items in the crib with them. Babies can be swaddled safely, but any blankets laid over them loosely can be a danger. It is far safer to dress baby warm enough to sleep comfortably without having to add blankets to keep them warm. Don't leave bibs on or near the baby either. Anything loose and made with fabric is a real danger to a sleeping baby. Stuffed animals should stay out of the sleeping space too.

Baby bumpers have always been a controversial part of babies bedding sets. Some parents use them while others understand that they may cause SIDS if baby rolls over and gets his or her face pressed into the bumper. Bumpers look great, but they are not worth the risk. If you can have it high enough on the crib for looks, but would in no way be close enough to hurt baby, you may be okay, but make sure the bumper is secured. Otherwise, you may want to leave it off the crib entirely until baby is one year old and until your doctor tells you that the risk of SIDS has passed.