Baby bedding help please!

[HeffalumpTheFlump]

As you will be able to tell this is going to be my first DC, sorry if it's a stupid question.

I'm looking at baby bedding sets and cant work something out.

All of the sets include a cot quilt as well as other bits. I was under the impression that you shouldn't use a quilt until baby is a year old, so do you lay baby on the top of the quilt? Or keep taking it out because it's just there for decoration?

Would the quilt not make baby too hot if they are laying on top of it with blankets on/ in a sleeping bag?

Sorry again if it's a bit of a daft question!

I use a quilt for my ds who is 8 months old.

We have the sleeping bag but its hateful and far too cold in my house. He has a blanket and quilt on every night.

Otherwise you could store it until you plan to use it.

Quilt should be stored for use until after the baby is a year old.

I wouldnt buy a set at all as the quilt isnt suitable until 1 year so you wouldnt need it in the cot until then. I didnt use a cot bumper either. With dd i used sheets and blankets but with ds I used a baby sleeping bag after the first few weeks and it was much easier.

Think they have to be over 1 for a quilt yes. We've been using a grobag much easier than sheets/blankets and dd can't kick it off think baby has to be over 6 wks though

Grobags are your friend! Don't buy the bedding sets - you can't use the quilt until they're 1 or the bumper anyway. They're just there to look pretty of you like stuff like that!

I really think those Bedding Sets are gimmicks bought by either first time parents or relatives.

They comewith a bumper, only to.be used up to a year, amd a duvet to be used after a year.

Just go for fittes sheets on the mattress and either a swaddle cloth or sleeping bag on the top

Oh, and go to TKMaxx for grobags - so much cheaper! Or the Saubsburys ones are good

Thank you! I was wondering if it was really necessary as the budget is pretty tight and the sets are so expensive!! So should I be ok with: fitted sheet or two, blankets, bumpers (DH thinks they are really cute) and maybe a sleeping bag?

Thanks again

And sorry one more question, our room is a bit chilly at times and baby is due in October. Will a normal sleep suit with long sleeves and a 2.5 tog sleeping bag be warm enough over the winter? Or will baby's poor little arms get cold? I feel so clueless about the finer details!

Yep but I would include a vest under body suit :)

a 2.5tog is suitable for temperatures between 16 and 20 degrees although our rooms go down to about 14 degrees in the winter and the kids were still ok in the 2.5tog bag. You can get long sleeved vests (have poppers between the legs but no legs on them) and they can be worn underneath sleepsuits (have arms and legs on them) and that helps keep their arms warmer. Grobag have also brought out a 3.5tog bag for rooms that get down below 16degrees at night.

I wouldn't get bumpers ( our niece almost strangled herself in the ties)! and baby can suffocate if rolls into them or quilt due to suffocation also

Just get a good baby sleeping bag, and a couple of cot sheets, oh and a mattress protector

www.gro-store.co.uk/grobag-baby-sleep-bag/full-range-of-grobags/sleepy-circus-grobag.html#tabs-6 - gives a guide of what to wear at what temperature

I was advised not to buy bumpers also.. think we are going to use cellular blankets for first while

Get at least 2 sleeping bags. Babies throw up on them in middle of night... The babasacs are handy as they convert from 1 to 2.5 tog. Scratch sleeves are good for an extra layer on arms if you have a scratcher.

I just saw on google about the bumpers!! Those bedding sets are a complete con really arent they! I'v told DH that bumpers are a no no. Thank you so much for the fab advice, you have just saved me a lot of money and more importantly possibly my childs life!!

I really want to make the cot look really pretty but if there is no bumpers or pretty quilt I'm worried it will look a bit plain. Any tips at all for safer ways to make it look good?

Generally the safest way is outside the cot to make it look nice if that's what you want. Some fabric bunting on wall, or nice framed picture of something/ baby maybe. You can add a cot mobile which attaches to top of cot ( but taken down when baby can sit/ stand), or from ceiling.

Generally just baby, in sleeping bag and that's all. You can add a small baby soft comforter or similar.

Also if you haven't got already and have space I would recommend a cot bed. Means you can convert when ready and will last from approx 0-5/6 years to save buying another bed so soon.

You could get a nice blanket to put across the bottom.half, as baby will no doubt be in crib/moses basket for the first four or five months. Then, you could transfer the baby to.the cot in a sleeping bag and use the nice blanket for in the buggy.

And tbh by five months you wont care.about the cot looking nice I.know I wanted wjat you do and by the time dd was in her cot I was like "looking pretty? Ill settle for clean and slept all.night in"

Thanks, you have all been really helpful. You are right I probably won't be nearly as bothered about it looking pretty once baby is here. I shall concentrate on the more practical bits!!

You'll need around 4 sheets - babies puke in their sleep and can leak many times in a night i'm sorry to say! We used to put a muslin under ds head to save sheets we have his 4 and 4 new ones for dd2 because i'm paranoid she'll be sicky like him.

A couple of large cellular blankets are useful too - dd1 used hers till she was 3 and we eventually bought a duvet.

YY to sets to change in the middle of the night! As a bare minimum I would suggest 2 fitted sheets, 2 flat sheets, 4 blankets (or 2 fitted sheets and two sleeping bags if you're using them instead). That way, as long as you keep on top of the washing you should have a spare set to change in the night.

Brilliant thanks, my plan was to stock up on muslins and use them to try and protect the sheets and everything else!! From what I have been told you can't have enough muslins!!

Just as a money saving thing which you may not have thought about, don't bother buying little sheets for a moses basket (if you plan to use one, most people do). Just use pillow cases, they are the perfect size and baby will only be in a moses basket for a few weeks.

Craving cake thats a brilliant idea, any money saving tips are very much appreciated!!

I used pillow cases for dd1 at my aunts recomendation - fantastic ness all round :) used to get 2 packs in asda for 2 pound compared to pram sheets at 8 pound a pair

I didn't use muslins for dd1 but did for ds - he's almost 19 months and they still come in handy on a daily basis :) we have so many of his still that we've hardly bought any for dd2.