What bedding?

[EricaW]

Obviously, I'm a first time mom to be... :shuffle:

What bedding did you put in the crib? I know they aren't supposed to use a blanket to sleep but I'm wondering baout matteress pads etc. I'm assuming you put a matteress pad on the matteress, then the fitted sheet. Is that correct?

Also, do you need some sort of waterproof layer in there? Or are most the matteress pads waterproof?

[Bridget]

With Caleb we used a waterproof mattress cover and a crib sheet and also one of those pads that stretched across where their butt goes. The extra pad was a waste because if they make a mess it's almost never right on that pad and you have to change everything anyway.

Even the mattress cover I've questionned because the crib mattresses tend to be waterproofed anyway, but we still use them because who wants to have to wash the mattress? :dead:

With Ahna we use the mattress cover and crib sheet.

At first you swaddle them, then we put them to sleep wearing a sleeper with feet and made sure the room wasn't too cold. :)

[Jen]

Every crib mattress I've seen is waterproof. If you want a waterproof sheet protector, it's to protect the sheet, not the mattress.

I used a crib skirt, bumpers, and a crib sheet. That's it. I don't think they suggest using a mattress pad. The more expensive mattresses are really firm (hard even) and it's supposed to be for safety. I personally think they would be uncomfortable but my 3rd didn't have a problem with it. None of my other 2 kids ever slept in a crib (even though we had them with each).

I'd forget about the blanket that comes with the crib set unless you find one that you could use as a cute wall hanging. That's about all they are useful for.

After the baby is older, I usually give them a really soft blanket to cuddle with. I'm sure it would be once they were over a year before you do that.

You may also want a sleep positioner (wedges that keep the baby on his back or side). I've also seen some specialty sheets with a wedge pillow built in to keep the baby's head elevated in case they have severe reflux (spitting up). It looked like a good idea but then again, there is going to be a ton of stuff you buy and don't actually use.

Another useful tip for those tiny babies who prefer not to sleep flat on their backs is to use your infant carrier (carseat). The babies seem to prefer to be a bit scrunched up in the early weeks and the seat also keeps them a bit upright so you don't have to worry about spitting up as much. I put receiving blankets around the baby's body so it would feel snuggly.

You can sit the carseat right inside the crib. I never strapped them in while they were sleeping but be careful not to leave them unstrapped and put them in the car. That happened to me once and I nearly passed out when I realized I forgot to latch the straps over the baby!.

ETA: I use that new Clorox Anywhere Hard Surface Sanitize spray on the mattress in the event there is a diaper leak.

[gulp!]

We put a waterproof mattress pad over the mattress, then a fitted crib sheet. We had a crib skirt and bumpers in there, and that's it. (we wove the bumper in and out of the slats, so the baby couldn't really grab at it much)

I was nervous about blankets in the crib, so we used blanket sleepers pretty heavily. They zip up over the pj's, so it's like baby has a blanket on, but can't get tangled up in it. The crib quilt that came with the bedding set made a nice throw over the futon. :rolleyes:

[Jen]

The Halo sleep sacks are pretty good. I didn't like the gowns that were open with elastic in the bottom because the baby always gets their legs tangled up in it and gets mad.

Also, I know you are supposed to take the crib bumpers out once they start pulling up but I always left mine in because otherwise everything ends up falling out the crib slats (bottle, paci, toys, etc.).

[olcott]

We use a bumper, ruffle, waterproof matress pad and crib sheets. I do something different though, I put the waterproof pad on (which looks like a sheet), do a crib sheet, then I put another mattress pad that just sits on top (it doesn't have the edges like a sheet), and then another crib sheet. That way, if Conner leaks in the middle of the night, I just have to strip off the top two layers and I don't have to worry about taking the crib apart to remake the bed.

[Lyoshka]

We use the mattress, sheet, skirt, bumper and blankets. I never used the blanket from the bedding set for sleeping (not flowy and cuddly enough), but because Nikita scoots all over the place, i put it on top of the sheet, and that way, it was a bit more padded for him and not quite so slidey.... I think I will find a white rod and put it up on the wall as decoration pretty soon here.

I know they advise against blankets, but I have always used one. Of course, Nikita was in a cradle by our bed until he was 4 months old, and every sigh I heard out of him, I checked on him hehe........ We just use a blanket that's jersey and fleece, so it's warm, but soft and cuddly at the same time. Now, when it's hot at nights, I often just use a cotton receiving blanket that is really light... and now, it doesn't make much difference, because now he totally goes all over the crib-from back to tummy to back from one corner to the other and in each and every direction.

[Kristen]

At first Camille slept in a portacrib where she used a positioner and knitted blanket (one she couldn't kick off.)

In the crib we use a sheet and sometimes a pad on top. She moves around so much that the pad usually ends up bunching up and is pretty much useless. I just change sheets most mornings and spray the mattress with the Clorox Anywhere Cleaner.

[Bridget]

Kristen you change sheets every morning?!?!?! :bowdown: Not me!! I'm lazy man. :lol:

[EricaW]

Thanks girls! How many fitted sheets and mattress pads should we have. I'm guessing at least 2 mattress pads and maybe 4-5 sheets? What about sleep sacks or swaddling blankets?

I didn't buy a crib set since I was pretty sure you aren't supposed to put them in the crib with blankets so thankfully I won't have a quilt around doing nothing. :lol:

[Bev]

I have 4 fitted sheets. I don't change them anywhere near as often as Kristen! :lol: When he was a newborn I had a mattress pad under the sheet and then a little cheapo changing pad (very thin, plastic one side and cloth the other) that I put on the sheet and then I put Graham on that.

I used a thin blanket when he was a baby but I haven't used a blanket for months because he flips onto his tummy and gets tangled up and it wakes him up and he doesn't like being tangled.

Now I just have the mattress pad and sheet and plunk him right down with no blanket or anything (he's 1; I've been doing that since about 8 months). He ends up with me in the middle of the night anyway and he doesn't like blankets then either. :)