How Many Crib Sheets Do I Need?

When creating your perfect baby registry, it’s important to keep in mind not only what items you need, but how many of each item you will need as well. 

What is the right amount of baby clothes? How many bottles will you need? Of course, you will want multiple outfits and a good stock of feeding supplies. But one essential you may not have realized you need extras of is crib bedding.

No, you won’t need any pillows or bumpers for your baby’s crib, but you will want more than one crib sheet. So, how many will you need? Here are our best tips and advice for figuring that out!

While preparing for your baby’s arrival, one of the top things on your to-do list is likely deciding where your baby will sleep. Do you want a modern crib design that matches your nursery? Or maybe one that converts into a toddler bed?

Another important aspect of safe sleep is choosing the right mattress and topping it with a properly fitted sheet. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that only a firm mattress and a well-fitted crib sheet be used in your baby’s crib to maintain a safe sleep environment.

A nontoxic, breathable mattress can be pricey, but a good mattress is also a good investment since it can be used through the toddler years too. Once your child is ready to transition from a toddler bed, then their mattress will need to be switched to a twin size or larger.

Now, when it comes to crib sheets, tight, fitted sheets are recommended to prevent suffocation. You don’t need a top sheet, blanket, or comforter. If you are worried about your baby being cold, a safe option is a swaddle or wearable blanket. Standard crib sheets will generally fit all standard crib mattresses, which helps make purchasing crib sheets easier.

You should not use a crib mattress without a crib sheet. A crib sheet will keep your baby safe and protect your mattress. Even if you are looking at a bassinet or pack ‘n play first, having a tightly fitted sheet is still an important essential for your baby’s sleep environment.

Choosing a proper crib sheet is just as important to your baby’s safety as choosing a crib mattress. Here is a list of factors to keep in mind when buying crib sheets.

This is the most important factor in choosing a safe crib sheet. The crib sheet needs to fit snugly around the mattress, and the mattress should be snug inside the crib. Any gaps or saggy fabric are potential hazards.

The good news is that there is a generally followed standard and mini size for crib sheets that is meant to fit all standard and mini cribs. Still, be sure to check the fit of any sheets you buy because, although standard crib mattresses are federally regulated, mini crib sizes are not held to the same level of regulation. And if you buy a shaped crib, they should sell crib sheets along with them to help ensure a tight fit.

You can read more about different crib sizes and crib mattress sizes here.

It’s important to choose products that protect your baby’s sensitive skin. Hypoallergenic crib sheets are a great choice. They are made from materials that are least likely to cause allergic reactions or sensitivities, like cotton. 100% cotton crib sheets, like Nurture&’s crib sheet set, are a great hypoallergenic choice for baby’s skin.

Babies can be sweaty sleepers. A good crib sheet will allow air to flow through, making it easier to keep your little one cool while they sleep. Cotton is not only a great hypoallergenic fabric; it is also a great choice for its breathability.

That’s why Nurture& crib sheets are a great choice for your baby’s safety. They’re designed with all three factors in mind to provide a comfy and safe sleep environment for your new baby. Plus, each bundle comes with two unique designs to complement your baby’s sleep environment.

Looking for more essential nursery furniture? Find out why you should consider adding a nursery glider to your baby’s nursery!

The answer to this question largely depends on how often you will be changing your baby’s crib sheets.

As you probably already know, babies are messy. They drool, sweat, spit up, and have diaper blowouts—sometimes daily. That can equal a lot of laundry, regardless of the number of crib sheets you have. But you definitely want to have more than one, if not for those middle-of-the-night messes alone. There’s nothing worse than having to strip the mattress at 3 a.m. and not having a new one to replace it with.

Some helpful guidance when deciding how many crib sheets to purchase is to have:

• One on the mattress
   

• One clean sheet in the closet
   

• One in the laundry.

At the minimum, having these three will at least keep you out of any messy situations—as long as you keep up on the laundry, which is easier said than done.

So with that in mind, here are some additional recommendations to help you decide:

• Family size. If you have multiples, you will definitely want to invest in more crib sheets. Even if your other babies are older, having spare sheets may be helpful when you just can’t get through that laundry pile. Although, more also means more laundry.
   

• Storage space. If your storage space is limited, you may need to also limit the number of extra crib sheets you have.
   

• Support. Being new parents to a new baby is exhausting and all-consuming at times, which can lead to household chores like laundry falling by the wayside. If you don’t have a lot of support to help you around the house, it might be helpful to stock up on some extra sheets when laundry is the last thing on your mind.
   

• Laundry facilities. If you live somewhere without a washer and dryer unit available at all hours, extra sheets will be a lifesaver for those inevitable middle of the night messes.
   

• Baby’s digestive system. If your baby suffers from reflux, they may spit up frequently, ultimately leading to more sheet changes per week. Similarly, if your baby has frequent diaper leaks or diaper blowouts, extra crib sheets are always a good choice.

With these factors in mind, we recommend adding at least three to five fitted crib sheets to your registry. It will save your sanity when those unexpected messes occur outside of your regularly scheduled crib sheet changes. Consider purchasing crib sheets in a set, like these from Nurture&.

When you aren’t dealing with an obvious mess, you will still want to change your baby’s crib sheets frequently. Build-up of daily funk and gunk—drool, sweat, diaper leaks—leads to crib sheets soiling fast. The most common recommendation is to change the crib sheet 1-2 times per week, and we agree.

Along with the crib sheet, you will also want to wash your waterproof mattress protector. It wouldn’t hurt to add an extra one or two to your registry as well. Even if your baby’s mattress says it is waterproof, you want to be sure it is well protected.

Since you will be washing your baby’s bed sheets quite often, it is important that you have the best crib sheets available. Nurture&’s organic cotton sheets are durable yet soft, made to withstand frequent washings without losing their tight fit and crisp feel.

Crib sheets are definitely one of those items where you want to have extras handy. To make sure your baby always has a supply of clean, fresh sheets, we recommend having at least three crib sheets on hand.

Remember that there are other factors that will play into your ideal amount of extra sheets. Having more than three fitted crib sheets will save you from getting into a jam when your baby inevitably makes a mess a few days in a row. In conclusion, babies are messy, and extra sheets are always a good choice!

While you look forward to your little one’s arrival, there is a lot to prepare for. Let us make it easier with Nurture&’s helpful articles about everything you need to know from pregnancy to parenthood.

After checking out our blog, click over to Nurture&’s online store, home of the award-winning Glider and all of the best nursery essentials, all in one place.