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Here is the sixth part of our baby registry checklist guide, baby bedding essentials.
If you found this page and want to see the other parts, here are links to each:
- Comprehensive Baby Registry Checklist (this is long, the broken down “parts” are below if that is easier to read)
- Baby Registry Checklist Part 1: Clothes
- Baby Registry Checklist Part 2: Feeding
- Baby Registry Checklist Part 3: Bathtime
- Baby Registry Checklist Part 4: Diapering
- Baby Registry Checklist Part 5: Health and Safety
- Baby Registry Checklist Part 7: Baby Gear and Travel
- Baby Registry Checklist Part 8: Nursery and Toys
Supplemental Posts:
- Create Your Own First Aid Kit and Baby Medicine Stash
- Save Money on Your Remaining Baby Registry Items
- Postpartum Essentials for Mom
Baby Bedding Essentials
Crib
Duh, right?
Whether you decide to have a bassinet or not, you will probably eventually want a crib. Unless you plan on safely co-sleeping until your baby is using a toddler bed.
What should you look for in a crib? You want one that is safe, obviously. Get a crib that is free from harmful chemicals (GREENGUARD certified), JPMA-certified, safe, well-built, and in a style that you love. Bonus points if it can convert into a toddler bed if that is something that appeals to you.
We purchased the Babyletto Hudson crib in natural because it fit with the decor theme, was well built, and GREENGUARD gold certified. We also love the design and are so happy with our crib. Plus, these cribs aren’t crazy expensive and can convert into a toddler bed.
Here is a crib buying guide to help you find a safe crib.
Crib Mattress
Yup, definitely something you need.
There are so many crib mattresses out there, some are pretty inexpensive and others, well, not so much. You need to make sure your crib mattress fits snugly in your crib to create a safe sleep space.
We went with the Newton Mattress with the waterproof cover because we wanted something that would ease our anxious minds. Since the Newton is breathable (seriously, you can breathe straight through this thing) we sleep better at night knowing that our baby is just that much safer. These mattresses are also GREENGUARD Gold certified and meet safety standards.
We actually don’t even put crib sheets on the mattress yet. We have them, but we just want to keep the mattress as breathable as possible until our little girl is a little older.
If you decide to keep your Newton bare as well, I would think about getting another waterproof (or the regular one) cover just in case. We have had a night or two where our little girl decided to spit up all over her mattress and well, the cover isn’t the fastest thing to dry.
I would also look on Newton’s website for sales. We bought ours during a Father’s Day sale and got 20% off.
Fitted Crib Sheets
How many?: 2-3, depending on how often you do laundry.
Ok, so, you can do what we did and just use the Newton mattress without the crib sheets, or you can purchase a few crib sheets to go with your decor and cover your mattress. Just so you know, Newton does make crib sheets that don’t compromise how well you can breathe through the mattress.
And yes, I did try using our non-Newton sheets on our crib to see if I could breathe through them.. and it was noticeably more difficult, but not impossible. To me, if I was going to pay a premium for a breathable mattress, why cover it with something that took part of that away?
We have two sets of crib sheets (which we don’t even use yet and our baby is four months old) and I will probably buy one more when we start using them. That way if one gets dirty I will have one in the laundry, one on the mattress, and one backup just in case we have another accident before I can clean the dirty one.
That being said, we do laundry every day. Not all of our laundry, but usually at least a load or two.
So, I would suggest you get two or three to start with. You can always buy more if you need.
If you are looking for an organic crib sheet Burt’s Bees makes one that isn’t very expensive. The one in the picture above is from Spearmint LOVE. They have so many cute baby things! And you can set up a registry there and get 20% off for a completion discount.
Waterproof Mattress Pads
How many?: 2
This is something you can probably wait on. We haven’t had a mess that warranted having one of these yet..
If you aren’t getting the Newton mattress with the waterproof cover, get some waterproof mattress pads for under your crib sheets to protect your mattress. As a note, if you get the Newton regular covers, then buy waterproof mattress pads from another brand the mattress will not be as breathable because of the pads. So if you get the Newton it is just better to get their waterproof covers to make sure the mattress is as breathable as possible and protected.
If you get waterproof mattress pads I would order two of them so you have one as a backup.
Before I came to my senses and realized I didn’t need them, I ordered these waterproof bamboo mattress covers. They are great, but we don’t need them since we have the waterproof Newton.
Lightweight Blankets
How many?: One set of 3 or 4 on your registry, you will end up with more.
So, these would be your receiving or swaddling blankets. They may seem like the same thing (believe me, I still have a hard time telling the difference sometimes), but the swaddling blankets will be a little smaller and easier to swaddle baby in.
If you plan on actually swaddling your baby then go as crazy as you want with these. But, they do have swaddle sacks that we went over in the clothing part of this series. And let me tell ya, they make everything so much easier.
So, if you look at another baby registry checklist it will likely tell you you should get anywhere between ~4-8 of these. So then you put 8 of these on your registry to be prepared and all of the sudden you have 10 billion blankets. Don’t get me wrong, you will want several blankets, but you also don’t need enough to keep your whole town warm in winter.
Do you know how many we have used? Two. And we only really used them for a picture or to have a light blanket for our baby. We never swaddled her in them for sleep because well, I am not a swaddling master and they make things that are way easier to swaddle babies in. (More on that in the clothes section)
I would not put more than one set of receiving or swaddling blankets on your registry. People LOVE giving blankets, so you will likely end up with more than you registered for. I would pick one out for a newborn hospital picture that you like though, that way you have one ready for baby’s first picture.
These are the ones in the picture above.
Here are some super cute and Insta-worthly styles too.
Thicker Blankets
How many?: 1-2 heavy blankets, 1-2 midweight
Regardless of when your baby is born, it will eventually get colder. Well, unless you live somewhere amazing where it is never cold. Then move on.
If you live somewhere, like we do, where the winter is cold and well, when it is finally 50 degrees out everyone is in shorts, get 2 thicker blankets. That way if your baby decides to spit up all over one blanket you have another clean one.
If you live in an area with mild winters you can probably get by with just one and if your baby makes a mess of it you can use the midweight ones.
We have two heavier blankets for our baby, two midweight, and so freaking many lightweight blankets. And we do end up using all of the midweight or thicker blankets. They make great extra tummy time mats and are perfect for stroller walks.
This is the one in the image above with the pattern, and this is the one that is solid (not as heavy). And here is a highly rated one that isn’t expensive that comes in a bunch of colors. We have one that is similar and use it most for our baby. Because here’s the deal, it is nice to have one nice blanket for your baby and others that you are fine having dropped on the floor, spit on, pooped and peed on, etc.
A nice tip with the blankets is to keep one in the car that matches the season. That way, if you leave the house in a hurry or get somewhere and it is a little colder than you thought, your baby can still keep warm.
Depends on You & Your Situation
Bassinet or Mini crib
We never used a bassinet after we left the hospital and our baby slept fine in her crib from the day we got home. I know that people say that babies like the smaller space of the bassinet, but I am also reading all of these moms in my pregnancy group on the Babycenter app talking about how difficult it has been for some of them to transition to the crib after baby outgrew the bassinet.
We followed safe sleep practices for our baby and since she was comfortable in the crib and it fit easily in our bedroom we went with that.
One thing that is nice about a bassinet is that you are going to be able to keep it by your bed easier than a full-size crib. So you can have peace of mind that your baby is right next to you. Also, if you have a bedroom that isn’t large enough to accommodate a full-size crib a bassinet or a mini crib may be a better option for you.
Or, you can do what we did and have your baby sleep in her crib in your room and have the baby monitor pulled up all night on your phone so you can easily look over and see how the baby is doing.
We have a few friends who have purchased the Snoo as their bassinet and LOVE it. If we get a bassinet for any future kids we will definitely purchase the Snoo. The only issue I have with it is that it is so expensive! The Snoo is great though because it has breathable sides and helps soothe your baby back to sleep. Plus, every mom I know that has the Snoo swears by it.
We also really liked the Halo bassinet our hospital had since we could swing the bassinet arm over our bed and have our baby right there.
Looking for a more cost effective option? You can use a Pack and Play with a bassinet on it. The nice thing about these is that when your baby outgrows the bassinet you can still have a space for your baby to safely play in. Or, a travel crib since you can use the bottom part as a crib while on the go. Some Pack and Plays also have a changing station on them.
Mini cribs are another option if you want something smaller than a crib to start with but don’t like bassinets.
Bassinet or Mini Crib Sheets
How many?: Start with two and see how it goes.
If you get a bassinet, pack and play or mini crib you are obviously going to need sheets. Before you purchase any make sure they are either universal or designed for your bassinet (if that is the way you are going).
Get two (or three) to start with depending on how often you do your laundry. That way if one gets messy you can still have one clean sheet. But make sure to wash the dirty one ASAP to prevent not having any sheets!
These sheets need to be fitted to create a safe sleep space.
Bassinet sheets in the image above are from PobiBaby. They have a ton of cute designs! Plus, a lot of their designs come in changing pad covers, crib sheets, and pack and play sheets. So you can have the same theme/style throughout.
Don’t need
Crib Bumpers
They are a suffocation hazard, enough said.
Crib Tents
Yes, they are super adorable on Pinterest and on that influencer’s Instagram you follow, but the AAP doesn’t recommend them for safe sleep.
Crib Skirt
You don’t need this, but if you would like one for the style go for it.
Bedding Sets
These usually come with skirts, crib sheets, quilts, sometimes rail covers, etc. You only really need the crib sheets and can’t use the quilt for sleeping until your baby is much older to avoid suffocation. By that time, who knows, maybe you will have moved past that design.
I would just get some crib sheets you like and skip this. Get a quilt down the road if you want one.
That’s the end of the baby bedding essentials part of our registry checklist guide, to continue to part 7 click here.