Crib Sets - Everything You Need For Your Newborn to Sleep Soundly From Day One
The best crib sets come with everything you need for your newborn to rest comfortably from the first day. They are pre-shrunk and washable. They are designed to sit comfortably around the mattress, without the risk of bunching, which is a serious safety risk for babies.
One parent testigator said that she had used hers for two babies and then passed it on to a different friend. This makes it a smart buy. Its sleek design makes it a good option for nursery spaces that are minimalist.
Bedding
There are a lot of options when it comes to bedding for your crib. It's not just about choosing the right pattern that fits your personal style. It is also important to ensure that the sheet fits tightly and does not gather in areas that could create a choking hazard for your child. It should be soft and durable to withstand blowouts from diapers spills, and other messes for months without wearing out.
The Avocado set is one of our favorite. It contains two sheets made with 100% certified organic GOTS cotton. The fabrics are MADE SAFE certified, which is an independent third-party certification that assures that the company's products are in compliance with strict standards for quality and safety. They're pre-shrunk so they won't shrink or stretch after washing, and they're designed to fit a standard crib mattress (27 1 The blanket's dimensions is 4 inches wide and 51 5/8 inches long. They're also machine-washable for the inevitable mess that your little child is bound to create.
A crib mattress pad is a great option for babies and toddlers. It provides an additional layer of comfort and shields the mattress from accidents and stains. Find mattresses that are less than an inch thick to ensure your child can still breathe easily. Avoid anything that is too fluffy, or with bows, long ribbons or other ornaments. These can come off and create an injury to strangulation.
You should consider buying an adjustable crib if you intend to keep your child in the crib for a long time. They typically convert to a toddler bed, and sometimes, to a full-size or daybed as well. Some cribs come with necessary conversion kits but some require a separate purchase.
Some of our top cribs include this Dream On Me Ashton 5-in-1 crib that is sleigh-style, made of solid wood and features one of the taller mattress heights in the group (for parents who are worried about reaching down to a low mattress). We love that it's also Greenguard Gold certified, meaning it complies with stringent environmental standards to reduce off-gassing.
Mattress
When it is about crib mattresses, firmness and size are crucial. The AAP recommends a mattress that is firm that fits comfortably and does not leave an indentation on the surface when you put sheets over it. The mattress must also be the proper size for the crib, and it should stay in place even after your child is old enough to leave it.
You should also determine whether the mattress is made up of substances that could harm your child. Find a mattress that is free of volatile organic compound (VOCs) that emit an unpleasant chemical odor. CertiPUR US certification is a positive sign. It is a certifiable sign that the foam used in the mattress is free of ozone depleters as well as other harmful chemicals.
Other things to consider are the weight of the mattress and whether or not it's waterproof. You'll likely have to deal with nighttime sheet changes, so an easily wipeable or waterproof surface will make cleaning easier. The Naturepedic Organic Cotton Classic 150 Seamless 2Stage is the heaviest product we've tested, weighing in at 20 lbs. This may be a major issue for some parents.
A dual-sided mattress may have a firm side for infants and a softer side for toddlers. Pediatricians recommend flipping the mattress once your child reaches the height of their normal growth, which is usually at around 12 months.
We weighed the mattresses and observed how easily they folded to cover the sides of the crib with sheets. We also put an 8-pound tin, slightly heavier than a newborn, on each one to observe how the mattress reacted. The top mattresses did not sink, meaning they have enough support to keep your child from falling or suffocating in bed. Some of the mattresses we tested have an easily washable, removable cover that is waterproof and zips shut. This makes cleaning and maintaining them a breeze.
Crib Rails
A crib would not be complete without the right set of fixed rails. Some furniture companies for babies offer baby rails as part of the crib. Others offer them separately. If you decide to purchase them separately, make sure they meet all safety standards. For example, they should be free of missing or loose screws, brackets and other hardware. They must also be able to support the weight of your child without becoming too fragile. They should also lock securely in place to ensure that they are not removed from your child.
The crib rails should not only be sturdy, but also fit snugly within the frame of the crib. This will stop the mattress from being too flimsy, which can cause harm to your baby. Be sure to measure inside the crib frame before purchasing a crib rail. There are a few slight variations in the sizes of the crib. Ideally, the space should not be more than three fingers wide.
Also, you should ensure that the crib rails are free of decorative cut-outs and other ornaments which could be dangers for suffocation. Avoid placing quilts, pillows, blankets and sheepskins inside the crib. They can result in the accumulation of carbon dioxide, increasing the risk of SIDS for your baby. Consider a crib cover and pad combination for a comfortable sleeping mattress for your baby. They consist of mattress pads with a waterproof lining and a fitted "skirt" that stretches around the mattress like an oversized sheet.
You'll also need to ensure that you have the right crib rail guards. These are designed to cushion the baby's head when it comes into contact with the crib railings while you feed them or cradling them beside the bed. They can also prevent the formation of marks from teeth and drool on the crib's fixed side railings.
As your baby grows out of the crib, you'll need a toddler guard rail to keep your child safe in the bed until they're ready to move on to a bigger bed for their child. Sweetpea Baby has a convertible crib toddler guard rail that works with all cribs that are standard. It is simple to install and meets the CPSC safety standards.
Crib Hardware
Some of the crib's design features are purely aesthetic and are based on personal taste, but others -- like the design of the slats on the crib or the possibility of it converting into a toddler bed -can have a major impact on the user-friendliness of the crib as well as its durability. The most durable cribs are made of solid wood, comply with numerous safety standards, and can be easily configured to different mattress heights. Certain cribs have distinct features that make them more efficient like the Quick Zip Crib Sheet that allows you to change the sheets without taking the entire mattress from the crib.
Generally speaking, you should avoid cribs with ornamental cut-outs or other embellishments that could snag on clothes or create a choking risk for children. Be sure to check the crib's hardware frequently for loose bolts or other items that could catch on clothing or other objects and present danger.
The best crib sets have easy-to-follow instructions as well as all the required parts, including hardware. The majority of modern cribs take half an hour or less to put together, and a majority come with all the tools you'll need.
Think about a convertible crib that can be converted into a toddler bed, daybed or a full-size mattress. This can be a smart buy for families that plan to keep the crib for several years or have a limited space in their homes. It is important to know that some crib conversion kits require additional purchases to complete the process.
It isn't easy to comprehend crib hardware, but it's essential for safety and stability. Most cribs feature a system of rectangular blocks and wedges (also known as "shims") and huge chocks, also known as step chocks, all of which are designed to snug up contact points between the crib and its support surface.
Some chocks and shims are constructed of soft woods which crack slow, which may provide warnings that sound before they fail, while stiffer wooden materials can break up suddenly and with more force. Plastic shims or chocks are also available for purchase. They are much easier to install, as they don't require drilling into the surface.