Organic Baby Home • Organic Nursery Decor • Baby Bedding Hazards

3 Hazards You Should Avoid
With Baby Bedding Accessories

Baby bedding can often determine the theme of your entire nursery. When you fall in love with a pattern its easy to feel like you have to buy all of the accessories that come along with the basic necessities. However, these adorable add-ons can create safety hazards in your baby's sleeping area.

Here's how you avoid them:

Organic Crib Bedding Sets

Avoid unnecessary safety hazards when buying baby bedding .

For an infant, comforters, quilts and pillows are optional as they do not provide the baby with added warmth or comfort.

During the first twelve months all your baby needs is a sheet, a mattress, and bed skirt. Other pieces of fluffy baby bedding become suffocation hazards.

If you are going for added warmth opt for an organic blanket for swaddling or an organic cotton sleep sac that will zip up snugly and prevent the risk of suffocation or re-breathing carbon monoxide (baby breathing the same air in and out with a blanket over his face).

Quilts and comforters do however, make great accessories around the room.If you are carrying a theme throughout your nursery, you can hang them on walls or quilt racks or hang them on the crib in between nap times.

If you plan for your baby to have the same bedding throughout toddler years, than you may want to go ahead splurge for the entire set in organic fabric, as the additional matching pieces may be discontinued when you are ready for them.

Otherwise just Keep it Sage and Simple in the beginning, you're likely to have even more options on the market when it's time to refresh the design in your toddler's room.

Bumpers

You can find mixed information on the safety of crib bumpers. So observe your baby's sleeping habits during nap time and do what you feel is best in this area. Some experts say the bumpers help keep drafts out of the crib especially in colder climates. Others say babies can end up sleeping with their face to close to the fabric.

If you do use one, it should be as thin as possible to prevent suffocation. The bumpers that look like couch pillows look luxurious, but they can be hazardous.

You should also remove bumpers once your baby can stand and climb. Bumpers are optional in terms of the quality of baby's sleep. However, they do add a more finished look to a crib and nursery if aesthetics is a high priority.

When my baby was a newborn, I didn't use the bumper at night, because I needed to see her sleeping from my bed in order to get any rest at all. (Yes, mommies learn to sleep while watching their babies.)

However, in the day time she'd wake up from her nap and be totally content to look at the embroidery on her bumper, as if she were studying abstract art. So go with an interesting pattern, if you decide a bumper is for you.

Mobiles

Avoid unnecessary safety hazards when buying baby bedding.

Mobiles can add a whimsical touch and entertain your baby. While they are not necessary, they can inspire creativity and add a new dimension to your nursery design. Here are some guidelines for making them safe in your baby's crib.

Mobiles shouldn't have long strings or in any way be in your baby's reach. They are for gazing and soothing only.

If you choose to use a mobile that attaches to a crib, be sure to remove them once your baby can pull herself up.

You are not limited to the mobiles that attach to the crib, you can attach butterflies, stars, clouds, rainbows or whatever inspires you to your ceiling. Just remember to use non-toxic materials and glues in your design. Check out these mobiles with a modern twist.