Picking out crib bedding is not only a matter of selecting vibrant patterns and colors to stimulate your baby and satisfy your nesting needs, but also a matter of safety. The wrong size or type of crib blankets can put your baby's life at risk.
Blankets and SIDS
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends putting your baby to bed on his back, on a firm mattress covered by a fitted sheet and nothing else. Loose bedding may increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Although the exact cause of SIDS is unknown, the AAP says babies may not have the brain development to alert them of life-threatening situations. Thus, your baby may become suffocated or strangled by loose bedding because his brain does not tell him to move out of that dangerous position.
Dimensions
The dimensions of your mattress determines the dimensions of the crib blankets. A full-size crib mattress must be at least 27 1/4 inches by 51 5/8 inches, and no more than 6 inches thick, according to ConsumerReports.org. Thus, standard crib sheets are designed to fit a mattress 28 inches by 52 inches. Blankets should be long enough to tuck snugly into the crib mattress. A blanket that is too short may get jostled during the night, increasing the risk of SIDS.
Fit
Crib blankets should fit snugly around the mattress and baby. Only use a sheet specifically fitted to the crib mattress. If you must cover your baby with a blanket, place your baby so her feet reach the end of the crib. Then pull the blanket up to her chest level and tightly tuck the blanket under the mattress so it will stay firmly in place throughout the night.
Weight
If you must use blankets to keep your baby warm throughout the night, ensure that the blankets are not too heavy or warm, because overheating may also cause SIDS, warns the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Keep the room at a temperature comfortable for an adult, says the CDC. Avoid soft, "pillow-like" bedding, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Tips and Warnings
Dress your baby so he is warm enough without the need for blankets. For cold nights, try baby sleepers, nightgowns made of blanketlike material sewn shut at the bottom like a sack to keep your baby warm. If your baby feels warm to the touch or is sweating, he is too warm. Buy sheet holders or clips that hold the sheet in place while your baby kicks and turns throughout the night. Don't use crib bumpers: Your baby may suffocate on the material or get his head caught between the bumper and crib railings. Don't use sleep positioners, which may suffocate your baby instead of keeping him on his back throughout the night as intended, warns The Food and Drug Administration and Consumer Product Safety Commission.
References
- "American Family Physician"; AAP Releases New Guidelines on Preventing SIDS; Carrie A. Morantz; Dec. 2005
- ConsumerReports.com: Crib Mattresses
- Drugs.com: Prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Highlights in Minority Health & Health Disparities October, 2006:
- KidsHealth.org: Household Safety: Preventing Suffocation
- KVAL CBS 13: Government Warns About Baby Sleep Positioners
