Baby Crib Bedding Safety

by Alaina Forbes

Overview

Many cute crib bedding items pose a possible hazard to the baby.

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Picking out a baby's new crib bedding can be exciting. Adorable colors and patterns make this a fun shopping event; however, safety should always be the first consideration.
Mattress

A firm mattress is the best choice for a baby's crib to avoid cushioning that could cause suffocation. Mattress covers, if used, should zip closed to prevent them from coming loose.

Pillows

Pillows should never be used in a crib. The Consumer Product Safety Commission found that in reports of death caused by bedding in the crib, more than half were from an infant ending up face-down in a pillow or other bedding.
Bumpers

Crib bumpers originally were thought to protect babies from injuring themselves on the sides of the crib, but this is very uncommon. The Journal of Pediatrics now considers a crib bumper unsafe because it can strangle or suffocate an infant.
Blankets

Thick comforters and quilts should not be used. If using a blanket, it should be a thin blanket tucked around the mattress, covering the bottom half of the baby.
Toys

Stuffed animals should not be placed in the crib. Hanging crib toys should be adjusted so that they are out of the baby's reach and cannot become a strangulation hazard.