Crib Sets - Everything You Need For Your Newborn to Sleep Soundly From Day One

The best crib sets come with everything you require for your baby to rest comfortably from the first day. They are already shrunk and machine washable. They are designed to fit snugly around the mattress, without bunching - a major risk to the safety of babies.

One parent testigator said that she used it through two children and then passed it to a friend which makes it a wise purchase. Its sleek design makes it a perfect choice for small nursery spaces.

Bedding

There are a lot of options to choose from when it comes down to crib bedding. However, picking the right bedding is more than just picking a cute pattern to be in line with your preferences. You also want something that fits snugly and doesn't get clumped up in areas where it could pose a danger of suffocation for your baby. It should be soft and durable to withstand diaper blowouts, spit up and other messes for a long time without wearing out.

This set from Avocado is one of our top rated cots picks. It contains two sheets made with 100% GOTS certified organic cotton. The textiles are also MADE SAFE certified, a non-responsible third party certification that ensures that the products of the company meet rigorous standards for quality and safety. They're pre-shrunk, which means they won't stretch or shrink after washing, and are designed to fit a standard crib mattress (27 1 The blanket's dimensions is 4 inches wide and 51 5/8 inches long. They're also machine-washable for the inevitable mess that your little bundle of joy is sure to make.

A crib mattress pad is another excellent option for infants and toddlers. It adds an extra layer of comfort and shields the mattress from accidents and stains. Choose mattress pads that are less than an inch thick, so your child is able to breathe easily. Avoid anything too fluffy or with long bows, ribbons or other ornaments. They can fall off and pose the risk of strangulation.

Consider buying a convertible crib if you want to keep your child in the crib for a long time. These beds typically convert to a toddler bed, and occasionally to full-size beds or a daybed also. Some cribs come with necessary conversion kits, but others require an additional purchase.

This Dream On Me Ashton 5 in 1 crib is one of our favorites. It's constructed of solid wood and features one of the highest mattress heights (for parents who are worried about getting on a low mattress). We love that it's also Greenguard Gold certified, meaning it meets the strictest environmental standards to reduce off-gassing.

Mattress

When it concerns crib mattresses, firmness and size are crucial. The AAP recommends using a firm mattress that fits comfortably and doesn't leave an indentation when you lay a sheet down on it. The mattress should be the right size for the crib and remain in place after your child has grown out of it.

It is also important to determine if the mattress contains substances that could harm your child. Find a mattress that is free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which emits an unpleasant chemical smell. A good indicator is a CertiPUR-US certificate that certifies that the foam used in a mattress is free of ozone depleters, PBDEs, TDCPP and TCEP flame retardants, mercury, lead and other heavy metals, formaldehyde phthalates regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and volatile organic compounds.

Other things to consider are the weight of the mattress and whether or not it is waterproof. A waterproof or wipeable surface is ideal for cleaning, since you'll be changing sheets at night. The Naturepedic Organic Cotton Classic 150 Seamless 2Stage is the largest product we've tested, coming around 20 lbs. This could be a deal-breaker for some parents.

Another aspect to be aware of is if the mattress is dual-sided; some of these come with a firm infant side and the soft toddler side. Pediatricians recommend flipping the mattress after your child reaches the height of their normal growth, which is usually at around 12 months.

When we tested crib mattresses, we weighed them and looked at how they could fold and move to dress the sides with sheets. We also put an 8-pound weight, slightly heavier than that of a newborn baby on each mattress to see how it reacted. The top mattresses did not sink in this means they provide enough support to prevent your child from falling out of the their bed during sleep or suffocate. Some of the mattresses we tested had a removable cover that is machine washable and is waterproof. This makes cleaning and maintaining them more simple.

Crib Rails

A crib isn't complete without the right set of rails that are fixed. While some baby furniture companies offer baby rails with their cribs and others sell the rails separately. If you choose to purchase them separately, look for ones that meet all of the safety requirements. For example, they should be free of any missing or loose screws, brackets, and other hardware. They should also be able to support the weight of your child without being too fragile. They should also be able to secure themselves in place so that they are not able to be removed by your child.

The best rated cribs crib rails will not only be sturdy, they should be able to fit snugly into the frame of the crib. This will keep the mattress from becoming too fragile, which could cause harm to your baby. Be sure to measure inside the crib frame before purchasing a crib rail. There are a few slight variations in the crib sizes. The ideal space should be no more than three fingers wide.

You should also make sure that the crib rails don't have any decorative cutouts or other adornments. They could pose an suffocation threat. Avoid placing pillows, quilts blankets, sheepskins and blankets inside the crib. These can cause an unintentional accumulation of carbon dioxide, increasing your baby's SIDS risk. Try a crib cover-and-pad combo to provide a comfortable sleeping surface for your baby. These products are made up of a mattress pad made of waterproof material and a fitted "skirt" that can be positioned around the mattress like the fitted sheet.

You'll also need to ensure that you have the proper crib rail guards. They are designed to cushion the baby's head when it comes into contact with the crib railings when you feed him or her or cradling them on the bed. They can also prevent the formation of marks from teeth and drool on the crib's railings on the sides that are fixed.

When your child is no longer in the crib, you'll need a toddler guard rail to keep your child safely in the crib until they're ready for a bigger bed for their child. Sweetpea Baby has a convertible crib toddler guard rail that works with most standard cribs. It is easy to install and meets CPSC safety standards.

Crib Hardware

Certain crib design elements are only aesthetic and are subject to personal preference, however other features -- such as the style of the slats on the crib or whether it converts into a toddler bed -could have a significant impact on the user-friendliness of the crib as well as its lifespan. The most durable cribs are made from solid wood, and meet numerous safety standards and are easily configured to different mattress heights. Some cribs come with unique features that make them more useful like the Quick Zip Crib Sheet, which allows you to change sheets without removing the entire mattress from the crib.

Generally speaking, you should avoid cribs that have decorative cut-outs, or other decorations that could snag on clothes or create a choking risk for infants. Also, make sure to check the crib hardware regularly for loose bolts or other items that could catch on clothing or other objects and create a hazard.

The top crib sets include easy-to-follow directions tots and cots all the essential components, like hardware. Most modern cribs can be assembled in a half-hour or less, and most come with all of the tools needed.

Consider a convertible crib which can be transformed into a toddler, daybed or a full-size mattress. This is a great purchase for families who plan to keep the crib for a number of years or have a limited space in their homes. It's important to note that certain crib conversion kits require additional items to complete the conversion.

Crib hardware can be a bit difficult to grasp, but it's essential to ensure safety and stability. The majority of cribs have a system of rectangular blocks, wedges (also called "shims") and huge chocks, also known as step chocks, all of which are designed to ensure that contact points are secure between the crib and supported surface.

Some chocks and shims are constructed from soft woods that break slowly, and can give warnings that sound before they fail and more rigid wood materials can break up suddenly and with greater force. Plastic shims and chocks are also available, which can be easier to install because they don't require drilling or screwing into the surface.