Basics Sleep

Do Bassinets Need Sheets? How Many Do You Need?

If you’ve decided to use a bassinet for your newborn, one question you may be asking yourself is whether you need to use sheets.

The short answer is yes, for hygienic and comfort reasons you should always use sheets with a bassinet or Moses basket.

But how fitted should they be?

Is there a standard size?

And how many do you need?

Let’s take a look.

Do Bassinets Need Sheets?

Firstly, let’s cover why bassinets need sheets.

Cleanliness

One of the main reasons a bassinet need sheets is because they help provide your newborn with a clean sleeping environment.

As we’ve seen, babies have much more sensitive skin than adults, so anything that touches their skin on a regular basis needs to be gentle.

And as your baby will spend more time asleep than awake for the first few months, it’s vital their bedding is fit for purpose.

Using quality sheets made from regular or organic cotton will therefore help protect your baby’s skin from irritation.

Protects Mattress

Another reason why you should use sheets on your bassinet is because they protect the mattress against leaking nappies and blowouts.

Mattresses are difficult to clean and take a while to dry.

So by using a sheet, if an accident does occur then a quick change of the bedding should hopefully put everything right again in no time.

Comfort

Lastly, bassinet mattresses are quite thin and hard (more on this below).

So a sheet provides a nice cushioning layer for your child, which will increase their overall comfort and hopefully lead to a better, longer sleep.

baby in white shirt lying on bed

Are Bassinet Sheets Universal?

Now you know why it’s important to use sheets on your bassinet, you’re likely wondering if they come in standard sizes like the beds we sleep in.

Unfortunately the answer is no, there is no universally standard size for a bassinet, as they are produced in slightly different shapes and sizes.

So if you decide to use a fitted sheet, you will need to ensure you either use one that comes with the bassinet, or if not, then sheets which have the exact same dimensions as the mattress.

How Many Bassinet or Crib Sheets Do You Need?

baby inside crib

As with other baby items, the question of how many you really need mostly comes down to your laundry schedule.

For families that do laundry frequently or have easy access to a washing machine, you may find that 3 sheets is enough for your baby’s crib or bassinet.

However, if you aren’t able to do laundry as often or you don’t have a tumble dryer, they you may need to double that amount to 6 sheets.

The thing to keep in mind is that at a minimum at any time you’ll probably have; one sheet on the mattress that’s being used, one in the wash and one spare as a back-up.

Why Are Bassinet Mattresses So Thin?

If you’ve ever picked up and examined the mattress in a bassinet you’ve probably noticed it’s a lot thinner than the ones used on an adult’s bed.

The reason is quite simple and comes down to safety.

A thicker mattress poses a suffocation hazard because if your baby is head down, they may sink into the mattress and struggle to breathe.

So a thinner mattress will therefore enable your baby to still breathe even if they end up head down while in the bassinet.

Why Are Bassinet Mattresses So Hard?

As with thickness, the firmness of the mattress in a bassinet is to do with safety.

A harder mattress has more resistance, so again if your baby finds themselves head down, they should still be able to breathe.

In Conclusion

  • Bassinets need sheets as they increase levels of cleanliness and comfort.
  • While there is no standard bassinet size, you should always ensure fitted sheets fit perfectly on your baby’s mattress.
  • Depending on your laundry schedule you will need 3 to 6 mattress sheets.
  • Bassinet mattresses are designed to be thin and hard to reduce the likelihood of suffocation if your baby ends up face down.

See Also: The Ultimate Guide To Baby & Toddler Sleep

Tori is mama to 3 year old Isabella and co-founder of Rockinbaby. She has a BSc in Psychology, is a certified yoga teacher and is a working mom. In her free time Tori loves cooking delicious foods and baked treats, entertaining and working out. Learn more about Tori here.

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