The Safest and Most Comfortable Bedding for Your Baby

Safety is the most important thing to be considered when selecting bedding for your baby. Proper baby bedding material is a crucial factor in keeping your baby safe, healthy and happy.

Baby bedding should not be too soft, when the bedding is too soft the baby's nose and mouth may get covered causing the baby to breath its own exhaled air, meaning the baby is breathing carbon dioxide instead of oxygen and the effects could lead to drowsiness, coma or death. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) has been attributed to overly soft baby bedding.

The sheets for a baby bed must fit the mattress or pad perfectly. Cotton sheets are the best choice, it is a natural fiber that is absorbent and cool to the baby's skin. Cotton is soft, durable, washable and hypoallergenic. Colorful designed sheets will help stimulate the baby's color and pattern recognition.

A bassinet or cradle may be suitable for a newborn for the first few weeks and is handy for daytime naps. Bassinets and cradles may have oval shaped pads, therefore it is very important the sheets and other bedding has a perfect fit. Bassinets are usually trimmed with ruffles and lace. Babies like to suck, therefore anything that is loose can become a choking hazard. All ribbons and ties must be out of the babies reach and well secured.

A crib or standard baby bed offers more room and support for the babies spine and is the best choice for nighttime. Baby beds come in many styles and sizes that may be more suitable as the baby grows. A baby bed or crib has high side bars which offers safety for an infant or toddler and is more economical because it can be used from infancy to two years.

For the health and comfort of your baby cleanliness is very important. Bedding for the baby must be kept clean and dry. Padding and sheets must be changed frequently.

Any items added to the baby bed for entertainment must be well secured with all ties and cords completely out of the baby's reach. The baby bed must be positioned away from windows or any areas with curtains or corded blinds.

Quote from: Dr. Mark Brandenburg (http://www.baby-place.com/crib_safety.html), "the number one rule to follow in choosing the right baby bedding for your precious infant is safety."