Cot bedding?

[Rtfairy]

I'm trying to get ready for my first baby and am looking for some advice on bedding please. My baby will be sleeping in a moses basket at first then moving into a cotbed.

How many sheets and blankets will I need for moses basket and cot? Do I need to get a cot bedding set or are they a waste of money?

Thanks

Also would you recommend sleeping bags? Would the baby just sleep in the cot in a sleeping bag on a sheet?

I've got 4 fitted cot sheets and 2 large celular blankets which seems about right. I had 2 baby sleeping bags i used too from about 6 months until he outgrew them around 18 months.

For moses basket i used pillow cases, much cheaper than the little sheets & fit perfectly.

Also for ease i got everything in white so i can chuck it all in the washing machine on a hot temp and/or scoop of vanish and it all still looks good.

Sleepbags and three sheets for the cot. Moses basket used it rarely but had three sheets and swaddled.

Thanks for your advice. I think I will get mostly white too as I think white bedding for a baby is lovely.

Creatureretorts when did you start using sleeping bags?

A good trick for your Moses basket to save you having lots of sheets or washing them all the time is this: fold a muslin in half and lay it under baby's head, tucking the sides under the mattress. If baby brings up milk, you throw the muslin in the wash (because you have lots) instead of your sheet.

Sorry to thread hijack but I've been wondering about this too.

Can you use sleeping bags on Moses basket?

And, if planning to swaddle - how many swaddling blankets do you need?

Finally, if baby doesn't like swaddling what do you use in Moses basket as cover (if not using sleeping bag?)

Thanks!

I think you're only meant to use sleeping bags once they're over 10lb. If they're really tiny they could wiggle down inside and get their head / face covered. Before they were big enough for sleeping bags I would swaddle in a flat cot sheet, then put a thin blanket folded on top (folded once, the blanket counts as 2 layers). I guess it depends a bit on the temperature.

For the Moses basket I used old pillow cases as sheets, one over each end (a mumsnet tip). For the cot I've got about 4 sheets, a variety of sleeping bags and probably 3-4 thin blankets which only get used occasionally (it's been too hit and the baby kicks them off anyway.

I had some lovely newborn type sleeping bag things that are a cross between sleeping bag and a baby grow (pops over head like a long sleee vest but looks like a long dress that has a drawstring type gathering at bottom). Unfortunately they are from New Zealand and i've not seen anything like it here in the shops [unhelpful emoticon] we did try swaddling with a small cellular blanket but found the hospital blanket much better.

Dont forget that if you fold a blanket in half it counts as two layers.

Cot bedding sets are a complete waste of money. Bumpers are not recommended as can be a risk of smothering, quilt can't be used until 12 months and by then seems very small, so you basically pay £80 or whatever for one fitted sheet can you tell I got caught out by this

They look pretty when showing people the nursery before baby arrives though :)

I thought minimum weight was 8lb 8? Ish? For sleepbags? I actually swaddled ds at first anyway (and coslept with dd) so didn't use at first.

craving you get those here - mothercare sell them.

Thanks Rockchick I thought so re cot bedding sets, glad I didn't buy one now!

I think sleeping bags vary in minimum weight - I've just bought one that SAS from approx 7lbs. The key is them not being too small to wriggle through the neck.

Our sheets are all cut down and re-hemmed from single/double/whatever. much cheaper than buying sheets for cot/moses basket. I second using pillow cases for moses basket matresses, and putting cloths under baby's head - that saved a lot of washing.

Depending on your baby you might get away with 2 sheets for under them but 3-4 is probably better. We swaddled in the moses basket and went into sleeping bags in the cot so rarely used top sheets or cot blankets. We were OK with 2 swaddle blankets, but DD wasn't very sicky so you might find you need more.

Can I ask what you swaddled with for sleeping? Was planning on getting some cellular blankets from John Lewis but not sure if they will be too big / thick for sleeping in first few weeks?

I was given an old cellular blanket, which I cut down (and re-hemmed) so I've now got 2 cot-sized blankets. I think we started with the blanket that granny knitted/crocheted as there is one which is pram sized so good for a new-born.

afrikat I got given something like this with dd and it was perfect for swaddling as it had a bit of stretch to it. I found cellular blankets were too thick and came undone really easily which was stressful. I think tesco do something similar too.

My twins went straight into cots, no moses baskets.

I bought...
Six fitted white cot sheets from ASDA (Little Angels) - 100% cotton and they fit and wash well.
Two pink cellular blankets from Mothercare
My mother knitted two blankets
Four large muslins for swaddling until they were the required 8lb8 for sleeping bags
Two 0-6 month 2.5 tog sleeping bags from M&S (winter babies)

I'd say 4 fitted sheets for cotbed, I recommend swaddles for the first few months then gro bags after that until they go in to a bed so no need for more bedding, I bought it all but never used it! Just some cute blankets for if a bit of extra warmth is needed. For Moses basket just a couple of fitted sheets, muslin squares under the head for sicky accidents and blankets. x

Thanks Tarka - we have an elephant theme going on so that's a great blanket for us all round :)