A baby bedding set is the next logical purchase after buying the crib. A large number of crib sets have from 4 up to 10 pieces included, but how many of those should you actually use? It’s really best to keep any extraneous bedding out of the crib, and this is what pediatricians now recommend. Crib sets are cute, but since most of the pieces are unnecessary, it’s much better to spend your money on some durable, comfortable crib sheets instead.

Suffocation is a serious concern for babies, so remove all soft bedding, including bumper pads and blankets. If you’re worried about baby getting to cold, put on some warm pajamas or a swaddling blankets instead. Sleep sacks have become a commonplace item these days. While a bit difficult to explain to someone who’s never seen one before, a photograph will clear things up instantly. Swaddling blankets have also come a long way, with many products that aid in getting a snug fit. Because it is similar to the tight space of the womb, many new babies find swaddling comforting. Your new baby will want to be held most of her waking hours, so it can be useful to buy a blanket to wrap around her. But just keep in mind that the quilt doesn’t go into the crib when baby does.

Some people choose to use a sleep wedge, which is designed to keep babies off their tummies (believed to increase the risk of SIDS). But young babies are not able to roll over, so if you put them to bed on their backs, they’ll stay on their backs. And by the time they are able to roll onto their tummies, SIDS is no longer such a serious concern. Soft bedding of any kind should be kept out of the crib due to suffocation concerns, and these foam wedges are themselves soft.

Some of the less obvious items you can find in a bedding set are wall decor, a crib skirt, and a window valance. These can be very tempting because they match the crib bedding, but your baby will not suffer without them.

It is understandable, however, that you might want a bedding set to complete the look of your baby’s room. If so, just get gender neutral crib bedding like a Hot Cocoa baby bedding set. It’s much more cost effective because you can use it again and again, regardless of the sex of your next baby.