Safe Bedding, Safe Baby

There are all kinds of baby crib bedding sets and cradle bedding on the market. You can buy stuffed bumper pads to line the inside of the crib, comforters, pillows, and baby bedding. Let’s face it, the idea of a baby lying alone in the middle of a crib without all the extra padding and softness seems somehow wrong. The reality is that all of those extra crib accessories are dangerous to a newborn baby. At the age of one, when the baby is much more mobile and able to pick up and move his own head, the danger lessens. In the meantime, stick only with the basics. If you’re thinking of buying baby bedding as a gift for the expectant parents, resist the urge to buy all of the fluff. In fact, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development recommend the following baby bedding practices:

• Place baby on his/her back on a firm mattress, in a crib that meets current safety standards.
• Remove pillows, quilts, comforters, stuffed toys and other plush products from the crib.
• Use a sleeper as an alternative to blankets with no other covering.
• Position baby at the foot of the crib when using a blanket.
• Make sure your baby's head remains uncovered during sleep.
• Do not place baby on a waterbed, sofa, soft mattress, pillow or other soft surface to sleep.