Baby Girl Crib Bedding Safety
You might not intuitively associate any sort of potential danger for your baby girl in regards to the type of baby girl nursery bedding you select, but as with any preparations for babies, safety is the first factor to consider. You should make sure that the crib you purchase has very good baby crib safety ratings, and that you buy an accompanying baby girl bedding set that is properly sized to fit the dimensions. You can safeguard your baby girl by acting proactively as you shop. That way you can prevent unnecessary dangers from befalling your little bundle of joy. Most baby crib safety issues have to do with size and construction, so read on to find out how to best outfit your baby girl nursery bedding to follow safety standards.
Baby Mattress Safety
Make sure that you only purchase a crib that meets current baby crib safety standards, and you should test the sturdiness of the crib after assembling it before moving onto bedding choices. Whether the mattress for the crib comes with the purchase of the frame or if you need to purchase it separately, make sure that you check the size of the mattress in relation to the frame of the crib. Baby crib safety ratings also dictate that the mattress should have a very tight fit within the crib frame, because babies could slip between the mattress and the bed frame, which in some cases can lead to suffocation. You will also want to test the firmness of the mattress to once again safeguard against suffocation. Making sure that the mattress is firm both in the center and around all of the edges is a very important thing to check for in any crib. Cases of sudden infant death syndrome almost always occur at night when babies are sleeping, so every precaution you can take is absolutely necessary. Once your nursery is set up and you determine it is safe for your baby to sleep in their crib alone, make sure to place her on her back in the middle of the mattress. Babies are not able to sleep on their stomach because they don’t have fully formed neck muscles yet.
Do Babies Need Sheets?
You are probably used to purchasing sheet sets that contain both a fitted sheet and a flat sheet. Babies actually don’t need a flat sheet in their crib because it is just another safety hazard. The fitted sheet (a sheet with elastic corners to secure directly to the mattress) is all they need, so if you purchase baby girl crib bedding with both, please find another use for the flat sheet! The flat sheet can come loose even if you tuck in it, and anything loose can lead to suffocation for your little one. You might be concerned that your baby will get cold sleeping without a sheet, but if you dress them warmly enough the fitted sheet is sufficient. You might even consider buying a few back-up fitted sheets in case of late night accidents. Your baby girl bedding set will probably come with a large quilt or comforter too, and while these look great, your baby really should not be sleeping with them in their crib before they are 12 months old. Just as with the flat sheets, comforters are loose and your baby could end up getting wrapped up in it. You can save the comforter for use during the daytime, and spread it out on the floor for your baby to play or nap on. Also make sure to remove any other loose objects like pillows and stuffed animals from your baby girl’s crib, if you want something to soothe her to sleep, consider a mobile hanging above the crib or other décor options like a nightlight that she can see from her crib.
Playing it Safe with Bumpers
Bumpers are actually a great thing for your baby’s crib; they will protect your little one’s head from hitting the rails of their crib, which are most often made of wood or some other hard surface. However, you have to make sure you handle the bumper properly to avoid some of the risks that can come along with their use. Once again, you want to avoid any loose fabric hanging in your baby’s crib. So when you attach the bumper along the rails of the crib, make sure that you secure it as tight as possible, and check on it regularly to ensure that it hasn’t come undone. Bumpers can be attached different ways depending on how the manufacturer makes them, some use snaps, buttons, or ties. If the bumper that comes with your baby girl bedding set uses ties to attach to the crib railing, make sure you cut down the excess string so that once your baby can move freely around their crib they don’t get their little fingers caught up in any strings hanging down.
Some of these precautions may seem a bit extreme but babies are extremely delicate so it is always best to make sure you are taking whatever safety measures you can to avoid any problems before they have a chance to arise. Take the time to inspect the larger items you purchase such as the crib frame and mattress to ensure that they meet baby crib safety standards, and find baby girl bedding that fits properly in the crib you select. If you remember this advice as you look for your baby girl bedding, you can sleep easier at night knowing your baby will be happy and healthy in their crib.
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