The first items I bought for my newborn baby were a crib, a crib mattress, and three crib sheets. I thought I had made a wise decision regarding the number of crib sheets I need. Two sheets were sufficient, but I don’t want to get caught unprepared. Finally, I settled on three crib sheets which I think were enough for me to change them every three days. I couldn’t be more wrong.
It turned out that my baby was an expert in getting crib sheets dirty. There was always a sanitary emergency when my baby’s diaper leaked, or she threw up. Sometimes a couple of such emergencies happened in one day. The number of crib sheets in my household eventually was driven to 7 because my wife insisted on replacing the sheet even if there was just a tiny soiled spot or whenever she deemed fit.
Assuming you have only one baby, the number of crib sheets you need depends on your cleaning schedule. If you plan to wash twice a week, then you probably need to make it to 7.
If you decide on a daily washing schedule, then you probably need 3 or 4 sheets. Make allowance for the mess emergence I mentioned above. Add two more sheets just in case.
When should you change the crib sheets?
A newborn baby’s top two priorities are eating and sleeping. They spend most of their first few months in bed, and if not adequately cleaned, contaminated crib sheets could pose a health risk to your children.
Babies are incredibly mess-makers. They drool, sweat, and sometimes a small amount of excrement leak from their diaper without your noticing them. Some of the stains will probably dry up without leaving a trace. So it’s not enough to time your washing based on the visible clue. You need to maintain a fixed washing schedule. Clean your crib sheet at the due date no matter how clean they look. Germs and bacterias don’t advertise their existence.
Unlike adults, newborn babies have sensitive skins, which make them prone to develop a rash or other skin conditions. Eliminating germs or bacterias by frequent cleaning will shield your young ones from these ailments.
I advocate washing and changing your crib sheets as frequently as you can manage. But as a father of a newborn girl, I know the amount of house chore that demand your superhuman efforts. You need to maintain a delicate balance between your workload and your rest. The last thing your baby needs is a pair of worn-out parents.
If you don’t think you can manage a daily washing schedule, buy an extra amount of sheets and a large washing machine with a lot of space. Change them daily. When the crib sheets are running low, dump them into your washing machine and get them cleaned in one sitting.
How many crib sheets do you need?
After considering the points I made above, you probably already have a good idea of how many cribs sheets you need. Mostly it depends on your cleaning schedule. The less frequently you wash, the more sheets you need. If you decide on a twice a week washing schedule, 3-4 sheets at your disposal are reasonable.
To be on the safe side, you need to keep a few extra in reserve to deal with mess emergencies that may occur at any moment. So a twice a week washing schedule would need around 6-7 sheets in total. That may seem too much. But that’s the price you need to pay if you maintain a high standard of hygiene for your baby while trying to make your life less hectic.
For me, I opted for a once every two days schedule because I have two daughters. Prolonging the interval between each washing is not possible. You probably have a good idea on the amount of soiled clothing and textiles four persons could produce each day. If I put smelly fabrics away without washing them for too long, who knows what kind of stuff will grow out of them.
What type of crib sheets do you need?
Breathability is the first criteria for choosing a crib sheet. Your babies have more contact with their bedding than adults, and they are likely to sweat a lot. Breathable material helps them to stay cool, and organic cotton sheets should be a top candidate when choosing breathable crib sheets.
Loose sheets pose a significant risk to your children’s safety. That’s why you need to purchase a sheet that fits your mattress. Most babies are very active sleepers and tend to move around during sleep. A sheet that fits tightly around your mattress can’t be moved to a dangerous position unwittingly by your baby. A loosely fitted crib sheet could interfere with your baby’s breathing.
Please bear in mind that a baby less than 6 months old is unable to extricate themselves from dangerous positions caused by placing extra fabric in their crib, which also includes pillows, loose blankets, and stuffed toys.
Conclusion
There are no right or wrong answers to the question of how many crib sheets you need. That depends on your lifestyle and the number of babies you have. No matter how many crib sheets you own, it would be best if you changed them as frequently as possible to maintain a healthy environment for your little one.
When ordering a new crib sheet, you need to consider whether it fits your crib mattress perfectly, loosely fitted crib sheets are dangerous to your baby.
