Many parents choose to use pack and play bassinets for the convenience and mobility these alternative cribs provide. A pack and play bassinet can be used as a primary sleeping option or temporary crib when the baby stays at grandma’s house. However, many new parents are unsure whether or not their pack and play bassinet requires pack n play sheets.
Pack and play bassinets do need pack n play sheets for a few reasons. Using pack n play sheets on your pack and play will make cleaning a cinch and provide a more safe sleeping environment for your baby. pack n play sheets are also less irritating on your baby’s skin than the synthetic material of the bassinet itself.
In this article, we will examine why your pack and play bassinet needs pack n play sheets, determine whether or not a standard crib sheet can work with these handy collapsible cribs, and take a look at some different pack n play sheets options. Read on for all your pack and play bassinet questions.
Mess Machines
If there is one thing that every parent can tell you about infants, it is that they are messy. Whether it is dribbling food, spit-up, or diaper leaks, parents are continually cleaning up after their little ones. This is why it is essential to use a pack n play sheet in your pack and play bassinet.
The mats that serve as the mattress in your pack and play bassinet are made of various materials, most commonly supportive foam and vinyl. While they are relatively easy to wipe down, they are not machine washable, making your baby’s messes a pain. The easiest solution? A fitted pack n play sheet.
Having a few sets will allow you to rotate soiled pack n play sheets and keep your baby fresh and clean with minimum effort. With a pack n play sheet on your pack and play, when your baby makes a mess, you can just toss the dirty pack n play sheets in with the rest of your laundry, and you are good to go.
Without a pack n play sheet, you would need to take the time to remove the mat, wipe it down, dry it, and then fit it back into the bassinet. All while trying to keep your baby asleep.
The Key to Comfort
Another universal characteristic of babies is their soft and sensitive skin. Keeping your baby comfortable is another reason to use a fitted pack n play sheet in your pack and play bassinet because if your baby isn’t comfortable, they won’t sleep, and if they won’t sleep, neither will you.
Pack and play mattresses come in various styles and materials, and while most utilize hypoallergenic and safe materials, they do not all provide the same level of comfort. While many adults use any number of materials for bed pack n play sheets—flannel, synthetic, and satin are examples—for babies, good old fashioned cotton is the undisputed king.
Cotton is naturally hypoallergenic, easy to clean, and famously soft. Using a 100% cotton pack n play sheet on your pack and play bassinet will ensure that your baby’s sensitive skin is well-taken care of, leading to better sleep for you and the baby.
Will Any Sheet Work?
Another question that many parents ask when they are looking for the perfect sleeping arrangement for their baby is whether or not any pack n play sheet will work for their pack and play bassinet.
The answer is no, and not for the reasons you may think.
You should get a fitted pack n play sheet designed for your specific pack and play bassinet because the sheet’s size is a matter of your baby’s safety. These collapsable bassinets are smaller than more traditional cribs, so the fitted pack n play sheetdesigned for a crib will not correctly fit the mattress in your pack and play.
The oversized pack n play sheet can lead to a dangerous situation. The extra material can become loose enough for your baby to become wrapped up in the fabric and potentially be at risk of asphyxiation. To ensure that this never happens, be sure to get a fitted sheet appropriate for the size of your pack and play bassinet.
What pack n play sheets Will Work?
Most pack n play sheets are designed for the larger and much thicker mattresses used in these traditional baby beds. The mats in pack and play bassinets are much thinner, so a different size sheet is required.
Conclusion
Pack and play bassinets provide parents with the comfort of a traditional crib with added mobility and versatility. These collapsible bassinets are also an excellent choice for the way they can grow with your baby: as a newborn, the bassinet option keeps them within arms reach, and as they get older, your baby will remain safe within the larger space of the play-yard.