Home Suzanne Browne on 30 Jun 2008 04:17 am
How Can I Make Sure My Baby’s Bedding is Safe?
As a new parent, you probably find that it is easier to choose baby bedding based upon its looks instead of its functionality. However, this really is not the way in which you should go about doing this type of shopping, especially since your baby’s safety and comfort depend upon it. With this in mind, here are some things that you should NOT do:
1. Make sure that you never ignore your baby’s safety. While this is not something that you would willingly do, you should know that the government has actually established some safety rules that you should follow. These include making sure that your crib has no sharp corners, flimsy wheels or slats that are more than 2.5 inches apart. This does not mean that you cannot purchase a used crib but you do need to make sure that these rules are adhered to.
2. Make sure that you never use any bedding material that your baby could possibly be allergic to. You should stick to using wool, cotton or other types of baby-friendly synthetic material.
3. Make sure that the baby bedding you use is not soft. Instead, your baby’s bedding should be firm. This is really important because soft baby bedding is one of the leading causes of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
4. Do not stuff your baby’s crib full of cushions or too many other items. In fact, the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) will tell you that pillows, cushions and other soft items should not be left in your crib while your baby is sleeping.
5. You should never use bumper pads. The AAP says that these too increase your baby’s risk of SIDs. If you feel that you really must use them, then you should make sure that the bumper pads are not soft or bulky and that they are securely attached to your crib with any extra string having been removed.
6. You need to be sure that you never use rubber sheets. These use to be quite popular as they keep things dry but you should know that they will also irritate your baby’s skin. So, today flannel-lined mattress pads are being used instead since they have been specifically designed to keep things dry without irritating your baby’s skin.
Now that you are more knowledgeable about making sure not to do certain things, you should also feel as though you are more knowledgeable about those things that you should do and those things that you should purchase for inside of your baby’s bed. If you keep these things in mind whenever you do your shopping, your baby will be safe and feel secure.
