Choosing a cot Baby bedding

Baby bedding basics: stock up on sheets and blankets

There are countless pieces of baby bedding available to buy - but you don’t actually need that much to keep your baby comfortable when sleeping.

Before your baby arrives, it makes sense to stock up on some basic baby bedding - go for a minimum of three bottom sheets, three top sheets and three blankets.

Popular sleep bags, meanwhile - such as the Grobag - offer an easy-to-use baby bedding alternative.

Baby bedding: sheets

Fitted sheets

These are very useful, especially as your baby gets older and moves around in the cot more. A fitted sheet won’t ruffle and come away from the mattress as a result of a squirming baby. However, they can be tricky to fit if the mattress you've bought is quite stiff and heavy.

Fitted sheets tend to be made of cotton jersey or terry (fine towelling cotton/polyester mix), which won't require ironing.

Flat sheets

These tend to be used as a top sheet in combination with a blanket. They're fine for use as a bottom sheet too, but are generally more awkward to put on than fitted sheets.

Flat sheets tend to be made either from flannelette or plain cotton. Plain cotton has the advantage that it can be washed at higher temperatures, although it doesn’t feel as soft as flannelette.

Baby bedding: blankets

The types of blankets most commonly available are cotton cellular, acrylic cellular and fleece.

Cotton cellular blankets

The cellular structure of these 100% cotton blankets mean they're warm in winter and cool in summer. They're also lightweight, and are washable at higher temperatures than fleece or acrylic.

A coverlet is as warm as a sheet and blanket combined

Acrylic cellular blankets 

These are extra-lightweight and quick drying, with the same year-round usefulness as the cotton cellular type. They're similar in price to cotton cellular blankets, but tend not to be as soft on the skin as cotton or fleece.

Fleece blankets

These are made from 100% polyester, are soft for your baby and easy to wash and dry. They tend to be more expensive than other types, though.

Baby sleep bags like the Grobag offer an all-in-one solution

Baby bedding: sleep bags

These sleeping bags designed for babies and young children usually have a full-length front zip or poppers at the shoulders and sometimes a zip at the side with sleeveless arm-holes. Rather than tucking your baby up at night under sheets and blankets, you simply zip or popper him or her into the bag.

According to the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID), sleep bags should be cotton, light weight and not have a hood. Make sure the sleep bag is not too big around the neck, to prevent your baby from slipping down into the bag.

There are no covers to throw off, so your baby stays warm all night. However, older babies and toddlers may find the bags constricting.

Quilts, duvets and pillows

Quilts, duvets and pillows should not be used for babies under one year old. After this, it's fine to replace baby blankets and top sheets with a cot quilt or duvet if you wish - consult the FSID website for more guidance.

Pillows can also be safely used from the age of one year, but don’t feel you have to buy one – your baby will be used to sleeping without one and may even not want it in the cot.

Cot bumpers

These are soft pads that are tied to the sides of the cot, designed to give babies some protection from the hard sides. However, they definitely sit under the 'optional accessory' category. If you do buy one, it should carry BSI number BS 1877-10:1997.