As a new mom, you’ve probably read dozens of articles about the best ways to feed, bathe, sleep train, and even potty train your child. But, have you ever heard about the secret to making the perfect crib?
You can let out a sigh of relief knowing that it’s not the thread count of the sheets or the brand of the crib that matters. No. Any safe sheets and mattress will work just fine. The secret to making the perfect crib lies in doing the job twice.
- At the base of the crib is a firm, baby-safe mattress.
- Add a tight fitting mattress cover.
- Next, add a waterproof mat, roughly where your baby’s diaper will be when they’re asleep.
- Then, add the tight fitting fitted sheet.
- Now, start again… another mattress cover.
- Another waterproof mat in the same general area.
- And finally, the top fitted sheet.
While making the perfect crib may seem redundant and frivolous, you’ll be thanking yourself in the middle of the night when your baby has their first diaper blowout.
Doing this simple process lets you stress less about the diaper leaks because you know the backup sheets are ready to go, even in the middle of the night. It avoids the bright lights in the middle of the night while searching for the backups. This allows you and your baby to get back to sleep as quickly as possible. After all, with babies, it’s not a matter of if there will ever be a diaper leak, but rather when it will happen.
A final night time baby tip…consider buying the pajamas with zippers. Nobody has energy for buttons or snaps in the middle of the night, even if they’re the cutest pajamas ever.
NOTE: For babies under one year old, there are several safety practices to help reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and prevent suffocation – you can read about it here.
As always, please consult your pediatrician with any questions or for medical advice.
