How Many Crib Sheets Do I Need?

If you’re a mama-to-be and asking how many crib sheets do I need?, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered.
A crib sheet surrounds and protects your baby’s crib mattress.

Simple enough—but there are certain factors to consider when deciding how many crib sheets to buy and what kind.

In this article 📝

What does a crib sheet even do?

Buying bedding for your baby is not just a matter of comfort—it’s also a matter of safety.

As this 2019 study tells us, unintentional suffocation is a leading cause of death amongst infants—and 82% of these incidents happen in bed.

Creating a safe sleep spot for your baby really helps to diminish the risk.

(We know, this can all sound terrifying—here you thought you were just buying sheets—but once you know what to do, the rules are pretty simple to follow.)

First, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, to keep things safe, all you need in your baby’s crib is a mattress and a snug crib sheet—nothing else.

To keep your baby warm, think swaddling rather than loose blankets.

With that in mind, how do you choose the right sheet? Let’s take a look.

How do I choose a crib sheet?

Here are some factors to consider when you’re crib sheet shopping:

• Fit. Things need to be snug in that crib. The sheets should fit tightly around the mattress, and the mattress should have no wiggle room or gaps in the crib.
• Breathability. Because your baby spends so much of their time lying down, it can get pretty warm in there. Your baby might sweat quite a bit. So, airflow really helps. Breathable sheets and mattresses also help stave off dust mites and moisture build-up.
• Material. Your baby’s skin is brand new, so it’s pretty sensitive to everything it comes into contact with. You may want to opt for hypoallergenic sheets (and mattresses) to reduce the risk. The best materials for crib sheets are bamboo, flannel, polyester and cotton. Choose the option that fits your budget.

How often should you change crib sheets?

That’s up to you—but one thing to consider is that babies and all types of fluids make happy bedfellows.

There will be drool. There will be sweat. There may even be bits of throw-up.

Basically, you may be changing them a little more frequently than you change your own.

But there’s no one way to do this.

All you have to do is monitor the situation.

As long as things are clean and comfortable for them, you’re doing things perfectly.

And if you’re like, please just give me a firm number to go by: think approximately one change every three days.

How many fitted sheets do I need for a crib?

A general rule is to always have at least:

• One on the mattress,
• One clean sheet in the closet, and
• One in the laundry.

But TBH, there’s no one answer here. You know your family’s needs better than anyone.

Here are some other considerations that will help you figure out how many sheets you need for your specific situation:

• Laundry facilities. Is it easy for you to get things clean quickly?
• Family size. How big are those laundry loads? How quickly can you turn things around?
• Storage space. Can your closets barely squeeze in one crib sheet, or do you have room for a few more?
• Support. Do you have people around you to help you out with laundry?

So, considering all that, how many sets of crib sheets do I need?

As little as three or as many as a dozen will do the trick.

(Pro tip: crib sheets also make great baby shower gifts if anyone’s asking)

Good luck, mama!

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