Sleeping bags / blankets etc

[sunshine114]

Am expecting my first in a couple of months, and have started to think about bedding. I am a real worrier, and this is really stressing me out!

We have decided that certainly when baby is older we will use sleeping bags - I know several people who use them and swear by them, but I am feeling really worried about what to do when the baby is newborn.

We have ordered a 0-6 1 tog sleeping bag from babies r us, which they say is suitable from 7lbs, but I am still not sure.

But on the other hand - HOW do you use blankets with a newborn?? I get that you change the number of layers depending on temperature etc, but it is the logistics of what you actually DO with the blanket that is confusing me! Do you kind of lie it over them across their chests and then tuck it under them? Or lie it over then tuck it round the mattress? Or something totally different??? I am so worried about baby wiggling under!
Baby due first week of August, so should be quite warm by then.

Help!

 

[louise85]

I used to put my DD in the moses basket (feet at the bottom) and the tuck the blanket under the mattress, I also used fitted sheets, so they couldn't come off if baby was wriggly and I'll do the same this time. I'm gonna use cellular blankets for night time and keep the cotton/fleece blankets for daytime.

I didn't use sleeping bags till she was about 6months and started kicking blankets off.

xxx

 

[sunshine114]

Sorry if this sounds really thick - but what do you mean by fitted sheets? Do you mean the ones that go on over the mattress that the baby lies on?

 

[kaylynn040485]

yeah fitted sheets are the sheets baby will lay on, tbh when my lo was teeny she hardly moved when sleeping so just tucking the cover into the edge of mattress was sufficent then about 6 mnths i started using grobag and still do, if the weather is good by that time baby might be happier just in vest and babygrow. Kx

 

[chief's wife]

i wrap the blanket around the baby . i don't tuck it into the matterass. there is a kind of blanket i use; it has buttons and it gives you the right direction to button up the baby in the blanket, making it impossible for the baby to go under and also impossible for the baby to pull it off. it's a blanket a baby can wear. it also has a hood

 

[sunshine114]

Ooo that sounds good, think I could do with one with instructions!

 

[louise85]

Yeah hun, fitted sheets are the ones with the elasticated corners so they fit securely on the mattress

xxx

 

[littleblonde]

to start with i put a blanket over her and tucked it under the mattress so she couldnt kick it off. At 2 months i use a sleeping bag as she started to kick up her cot and woke up cold. I got a sleeping bag from 8lb onwards my daughter was born 8lb 9 but only fitted her safely when she got to 12lb. blankets scared me as well, she never went under them. As long as you place babys fit and the bottom of the cot.crib,basket then they can scrunch up. I also tucked blanket under bbys arms.

 

[venusrockstar]

You're not supposed to have any kind of loose blankets or bumper pads, pillows, comforters, stuffed animals etc in a baby crib. It can cause SIDS. There were warnings all over the box our crib came in.

If you want to have a blanket on baby, they recommend "swaddling" the baby. You can probably find swaddling info google or youtube.

 

[Mum2befirst]

im confused now also lol...doesnt take much are flat sheets to cover baby up or go under baby on top of fitted sheets?

 

[louise85]

im confused now also lol...doesnt take much are flat sheets to cover baby up or go under baby on top of fitted sheets?

I don't use flat sheets at all I put the fitted sheet over the matress, baby on that and then blanket on top tucked in.

xxx

 

[sunshine114]

It's a minefield!! What is swaddling??

 

[venusrockstar]

Swaddling

https://www.thehipstermom.com/wp-content/uploads/swaddle-steps2.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMBn-hdA3e8

 

[muddles]

We have babysleeping bags for 3months+.

We have a fitted sheet covering the mattress. We then put a flat sheet and a cellular blanket covering his body up to his armpits (we leave his arms out as he likes to move them around and usually puts them up by his head). If the room temperature drops we use another cellular blanket. We tuck the sheet and blanket underneath the mattress at each side but leave the bit by his feet loosely tucked down, as he is a wriggler and gets annoyed if he can't move his legs up and down. Make sure you put the baby's feet at the end of the moses basket/cot.

Temperature and blanket guide we have says:

24 degrees- flat sheet only.
21 degrees- sheet +1 layer of cellular blanket.
18 degrees- sheet + 2 layers of cellular blanket.
16 degrees- sheet+ 3 layers of cellular blanket.

Remember that a folded cellular blanket counts as two layers.

We have an Angelcare movement and sound monitor and it has really helped me to relax as an alarm sounds if he hasn't moved for 20 seconds.

 

[sunshine114]

We have babysleeping bags for 3months+.

We have a fitted sheet covering the mattress. We then put a flat sheet and a cellular blanket covering his body up to his armpits (we leave his arms out as he likes to move them around and usually puts them up by his head). If the room temperature drops we use another cellular blanket. We tuck the sheet and blanket underneath the mattress at each side but leave the bit by his feet loosely tucked down, as he is a wriggler and gets annoyed if he can't move his legs up and down. Make sure you put the baby's feet at the end of the moses basket/cot.

Temperature and blanket guide we have says:

24 degrees- flat sheet only.
21 degrees- sheet +1 layer of cellular blanket.
18 degrees- sheet + 2 layers of cellular blanket.
16 degrees- sheet+ 3 layers of cellular blanket.

Remember that a folded cellular blanket counts as two layers.

We have an Angelcare movement and sound monitor and it has really helped me to relax as an alarm sounds if he hasn't moved for 20 seconds.

Thanks, that makes sense. we are also getting the Angelcare movement and sound monitor, it's good to hear it has helped you to relax!

 

[muddles]

We have babysleeping bags for 3months+.

We have a fitted sheet covering the mattress. We then put a flat sheet and a cellular blanket covering his body up to his armpits (we leave his arms out as he likes to move them around and usually puts them up by his head). If the room temperature drops we use another cellular blanket. We tuck the sheet and blanket underneath the mattress at each side but leave the bit by his feet loosely tucked down, as he is a wriggler and gets annoyed if he can't move his legs up and down. Make sure you put the baby's feet at the end of the moses basket/cot.

Temperature and blanket guide we have says:

24 degrees- flat sheet only.
21 degrees- sheet +1 layer of cellular blanket.
18 degrees- sheet + 2 layers of cellular blanket.
16 degrees- sheet+ 3 layers of cellular blanket.

Remember that a folded cellular blanket counts as two layers.

We have an Angelcare movement and sound monitor and it has really helped me to relax as an alarm sounds if he hasn't moved for 20 seconds.

Thanks, that makes sense. we are also getting the Angelcare movement and sound monitor, it's good to hear it has helped you to relax!

You are welcome. Definitely recommend the Angelcare as the first night with Oliver we hadn't set up the mat and monitor and I barely slept as I kept waking up to check on him, though that could have been because I was still in shock that i went to bed on the Wednesday with no idea that my baby would have been born by the time i went to bed the following night!

 

[bungle]

I like the idea of swaddling but is it a good idea in the summer??

 

[venusrockstar]

I like the idea of swaddling but is it a good idea in the summer??

I'm not sure...I don't think baby would need a blanket in the summer? They may just be fine in thin pj's or a onesie. The main reason for swaddling is because they don't want the baby to be able to nuzzle their head into loose blankets and suffocate. I was told to have no blankets in the crib except for a fitted mattress sheet and a blanket only if swaddling, until the baby is much older and free from crib death.

 

[cinnamum]

personally i use swaddling for first 2-3 months and then use grobags up to the age of 3.
makes life alot easier. xxx

 

[sunshine114]

Guess it will depend on the weather, it could be hot but then again, knowing England it could be freezing!!