Once you bring home the crib, it is hard to resist decorating it for your soon-to-arrive baby. Most people enjoy shopping for crib sets that match the overall decorative theme or color scheme of the baby’s nursery, but it’s important to know which items can actually go in the crib and which ones may present a safety issue. More importantly, how do you set up the crib so it is comfortable for your newborn?

For starters, when you first bring home an infant they are not going to care much about what you have sitting in the crib. The extent of their concerns is being dry, well fed, warm, and comfortable. There are three things that will ensure the crib is comfortable enough without being a danger: the mattress, the blankets, and their clothing.

So many people just walk into a nearby store and pick up a crib mattress without realizing that there are actually different types. You have to make sure the size is right so the mattress hugs closely to the crib and avoid rounded corners. A round corner leaves a small hole in the corners where an arm or leg could easily get caught.

There are also different types of crib mattresses these days, such as latex or memory foam. What matters most for an infant is a firm surface where they have some cushioning while still having adequate body support. They can’t support themselves very well in the beginning, so this is very important.

It is tempting to pile on the blankets, stuffed animals, and other comfort items, but those things should be removed when you lay your infant down to sleep. Stuffed animals could be a safety hazard once your baby starts to roll around and many professionals now believe blankets have no place in the crib at all. The best way to make sure your infant stays warm is to use a blanket sleeper over their pajamas and make sure the temperature in the room is kept warm. This way, they only need one very light blanket or none at all.

For an infant, what you put on them is even more important than blankets and toys. Make sure their diaper is dry and their clothing is soft and dry. Make sure they are dressed warm, but not so warm they will overheat or become agitated. New parents may have to keep an eye on their baby at first to judge how much clothing is appropriate. As they get older they will be more interested in the play items that strap to the side of the crib (especially mirrors) and possibly a mobile, given it does not dangle down where the baby could get caught up in it.

On a final note, what do you do if none of these precautions work? What if your baby simply won’t go to sleep? There is a lot of controversy over whether parents should sleep in the same bed with an infant, but for safety and practical reasons it is best not to do so. The chances of rolling over on a small infant are always present, especially when you are an exhausted new parent. Also, it is hard to break a child from sleeping with a parent so they will sleep on their own when they are older. Try training your infant to sleep in their crib, using a rocking chair or pacing the room with them and then gently laying them down.

Take a look at the Glenna Jean McKenzie 4 piece Crib Bedding Set