Caution Pays: Choosing the Perfect Infant Crib Bedding

With just about any theme, style, and color combination you can dream of available for your baby's nursery and bedding, it's no wonder that so many new parents get confused about how to decorate their nursery. Looking for animal designs? You can find anything and everything - from a caterpillar crib set to elephants. Or maybe you're looking for angels? There are well over a hundred unique options. The more demand there is for a particular theme, the more variations you will find. Things like nursery rhymes, cartoon characters, or very classic styles may simply be too hard to choose unless you narrow down your choices significantly.

Whether it's boy nursery bedding or baby girl, it can be really difficult to stick within your budget, because everything is so sweet. I know parents love to look at that perfect nursery, but quite honestly, your baby isn't going to care. If you're wondering what are the most important considerations, here are a few of them:

- You may think bumper pads are a given, but there is a growing concern that they are actually harmful. It is all too easy for an active infant to pull a bumper loose and get it over his or her face. If this happens at night, a parent may not even realize until the next morning. If you decide to put crib bumpers in, be sure that they are properly secured and that any ties are on the outside of the railings. But the far better option is to just remove the pads completely, at least until the end of year one.

- Crib sheets consist of just a fitted sheet. There is no flat sheet and no pillowcase, because young babies really don't need them. When buying crib sheets, be sure you know the size of your mattress first. If the sheets don't fit snugly, they may peel off the mattress. Not only is this annoying, it's a serious health risk. White sheets are impractical because you WILL have diaper leaks. You mattress will probably be waterproof, but you may want to buy a mattress protector just in case.

- Loose blankets are a safety hazard for babies under one, so stick to sleep sacks or warm pajamas instead. Also, keep pillows and stuffed animals out of the crib. Babies don't need them and they can be a serious suffocation risk.

When selecting baby crib bedding, get something safe. With the number of choices available, you'll be able to find a bedding set that's both safe and cute.