How Many Crib Sheets Do I Need: The Ultimate Guide
As you prepare for your baby’s arrival, you’ll likely find yourself wondering how many things you really need for your baby. It can be challenging to know what you need, especially as a first-time mom! One thing that you’ll need multiples of is crib sheets. But, you might think, ‘how many crib sheets do I need?’.
In this article, you’ll find out everything you need to know about buying crib sheets for your baby, including how many sheets you’ll need and how often crib sheets need to be changed, plus our favorite recommendations.
Let’s get started!
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How many crib sheets do I need?
While many factors can help you decide on how many crib sheets you’ll need (see ‘things to consider’ below), here are the average numbers to keep in mind and get you started:
Minimum of Two Fitted Crib Sheets
No matter what you read or what other moms tell you, you’ll need a minimum of two fitted sheets for your baby. Having two fitted sheets will ensure that you always have one clean sheet ready to put on your baby’s mattress when needed.
Four-Five Crib Sheets is the Sweet Spot
If you know that you want more than two crib sheets, know that having four to five fitted sheets is the sweet spot.
Having four or five crib sheets gives you plenty of wiggle room where you won’t have to do laundry daily, even if there is a leaky diaper or spit-up on a sheet.
Filling out your baby registry? Check out these related articles:
- How Many Diapers Do You Need for the First Year?
- How Many Baby Clothes Will You Need in Each Size?
- How Many Bibs Do I Need? The Ultimate Guide
- How Many Burp Cloths Do I Need On My Registry?
- How Many Swaddles Should I Have For My Baby?
Things To Consider Before Buying Crib Sheets
When figuring out how many crib sheets you’ll need for your baby, there are a few different things to factor in. Here are the key points to think about:
How frequently will you do laundry?
When having a baby, laundry will be a crucial part of your weekly or even daily cleaning routine. So, when answering the question, ‘how many crib sheets do I need?’, you’ll have to think about how often you can realistically do laundry.
If you are willing and able to do laundry daily, you can get by with the minimum number of two fitted sheets. However, if you’d instead catch up on laundry once a week, it’s beneficial to have more than two.
Will you swaddle?
Another excellent thing to think about when deciding how many crib sheets you’ll need is if you are going to swaddle your baby or not.
You’ll need more than one crib sheet mainly because you’ll have to change it for hygienic reasons, just as you do with your own sheets. For example, if your baby has a leaky diaper or a blowout, you’d have to change their crib sheet.
But, if you are swaddling your baby, there is a good chance that the swaddle will absorb any diaper accidents before it gets onto the sheet.
This means you’ll likely have to wash only the swaddle (and your baby’s clothes, of course) and not the sheet, resulting in fewer crib sheets needed.
You’ll also love: What To Do When Your Baby Hates the Swaddle
Material
One of the most important things to look for when buying crib sheets is the material that they are made out of. In other words, you want to make sure the crib sheets you buy are breathable!
Babies have difficulty regulating their body temperature, which means they can get too hot or cold fairly quickly.
When you use crib sheets that aren’t very breathable, like microfiber or other synthetic fabrics, for example, they can make your baby sweaty and uncomfortable.
The best crib sheets are made out of natural-fiber materials. For instance, 100% cotton or linen sheets will be the best bet for your baby!
Mattress Size
The next thing to keep in mind when buying crib sheets is the size of the mattress. Knowing the size of your baby’s crib mattress will ensure that their sheets fit correctly. Here are the most common crib mattress sizes:
Standard
Most baby cribs are standard, measuring about 28 x 52 inches with approximately a 6-inch depth. Also, most furniture brands will tell you the appropriate mattress size that works best with that specific crib.
Mini-Crib
The next popular crib option is a mini crib. Mini crib mattresses are smaller than a standard crib, measuring at around 38 x 24 inches with a 3-inch depth.
Pack N’ Play
Lastly, if you choose to use a Pack’ N Play instead of a crib, you’ll need particular fitted sheets. Pack N’ Play mattresses are unique, measuring about 38 x 26 inches with a 1-2 inch depth. Because Pack N’ Play mattresses are much thinner, you’ll need to ensure the sheets you get aren’t too big.
Fit
Once you know the measurements of your baby’s crib mattress, you’ll want to verify that the sheets you choose have the correct fit. You don’t want fitted crib sheets too loose or tight.
Allergens
Because babies have such sensitive skin, it can be beneficial to choose hypoallergenic sheets. Hypoallergenic sheets work to naturally prevent dust and other harmful things from triggering an allergic reaction.
Related Articles:
- When Is The Best Time To Buy Baby Stuff?
- How To Have A Baby On A (Tight) Budget
- Nursery Must-Haves First-Time Parents Need
- The Best Reasons To Be A Stay-At-Home Mom
- Non-Baby Items To Stock Up On Before Baby Arrives
Our Favorite Crib Sheets
Whether you shop online or in-store, you’ll find many brands and options for fitted crib sheets. Here are our top three favorite brands for baby sheets:
1. Burt’s Bees Baby
Burt’s Bees Baby sheets are a terrific option because they are soft and 100% organic cotton. Plus, in addition to coming in many colors and prints, they also have standard and mini crib sizes.
2. Newton Baby
Newton Baby sheets are made of 100% organic cotton muslin, making them ultra-soft and breathable. I especially love that Newton Baby sheets are pre-shrunk because they will last you longer than the lower-quality options out there.
3. Aiden + Anais
Aiden + Anais crib sheets are also made of 100% cotton muslin, so they are breathable and comfortable for your baby. One thing I love about Aiden + Anais sheets is that they come in so many cute prints!
How Many Crib Sheets Do I Need: FAQs
Are crib sheets necessary?
Because people might think of different things when they hear the term ‘crib sheets,’ I wanted to ensure that we are all on the same page. Here are the necessary crib bedding supplies:
Fitted Sheets: Necessary
In this article, I have been referring to fitted crib sheets. A fitted crib sheet is what your baby will be sleeping on, and they are the safest option for your baby’s sleep as they stay tightly in place, making them absolutely necessary.
Flat Sheets: Not Necessary
Flat sheets are the thin sheets that typically go over a fitted sheet when making a bed. It’s crucial to know flat sheets are not needed for babies because they are not compliant for safe sleep.
Babies (usually until at least one year of age) shouldn’t have loose blankets, pillows, or toys in their cribs to avoid injury.
Skip Extra Blankets and Bumpers
As I mentioned above, having extra things like blankets, quilts, or crib bumpers can be dangerous and should be avoided until your baby is at the right age.
How many mattress protectors do I need?
If you haven’t heard of mattress protectors, they are typically waterproof and similar to a fitted sheet that you put on the crib mattress first. Once on the bed, the protector acts as a barrier to prevent accidents or spit-up from soaking into the mattress and staining it.
It’s beneficial to have at least the minimum number of two mattress protectors. Having two protectors will ensure that you always have a clean one when the other needs washing.
But, having three or four protectors can be even more helpful if you have some room to store the extras.
We have used these ones for a few years, and they have been terrific, especially through potty training! They haven’t shrunk, and the quality has stayed the same throughout every wash!
How often should I change crib sheets?
One of first-time parents’ most frequently asked questions about crib sheets is how often you should change them. Here are some easy guidelines to follow:
After a Blowout, Leaky Diaper, or Spit-Up
It’s pretty apparent that you’ll change the crib sheet after something like a leaky diaper or spit-up happens. If the things listed above happen frequently, you’ll want to ensure you have a few backups clean and ready to go.
Once a Week
If there haven’t been any leaky diapers, blowouts, or spit-up on the sheets, you can usually get away with washing crib sheets once a week.
Of course, if you see that your baby has been waking up warm and sweaty, or you can tell it’d be best to freshen up the sheets, you might want to switch to changing them twice a week.
After Baby Has Been Sick
Lastly, if your baby has been sick with a cold, you’ll want to change the sheets once they get better. You’ll want to clean the sheets and get any germy drool and sweat off them.
And there you have it! I hope I’ve answered your questions about how many crib sheets you’ll need. Preparing for your baby’s arrival and buying everything they’ll need can be overwhelming, so it’s nice to know that you aren’t over or under-buying.
Before you go, check out these related articles:
- What NOT To Put On Your Baby Registry
- Newborn Essential Items You’ll Need To Have
- The Best Simple Tips For Organizing Your Nursery
- Do I Need a Baby Monitor? The Ultimate Guide
- The Best Time to Start Your Baby Registry
How many crib sheets do you prefer having? I would love to know what your thoughts are in the comments below!
