While most new parents consider a pack and play or playard to be a necessary buy before their baby arrives, other questions come to mind before making that decision.
Are packs and play sheets really necessary? How many pack and play sheets do I need? Is the pack and play sheet safe? Some parents opt to use a Pack and Play as a crib at first because they are more compact, generally cheaper, and easier to move if necessary.
Purchasing sheets can make the pack and play easier to clean up after spills and general use, and as with all baby products, there are many things you might want to consider if you plan on letting your baby sleep with them.
Read on to learn all about pack and play sheets, how many pack and play sheets do I need, and also factors you should consider when choosing the best sheets for pack and play.
Table Of Contents
- Are Pack And Sheets Necessary?
- How Many Pack And Play Sheets Do I Need?
- Are Pack And Play Sheets Safe?
- What Size Sheet Fits A Pack And Play?
- Can I Use A Blanket In A Pack And Play?
- Factors To Consider When Choosing The Best Sheets For Pack And Play
- Conclusion
Are Pack And Sheets Necessary?
The truth of the matter is that sheets are completely optional for use in a pack and play. There may be some cases where having sheets for your pack and play is convenient, but they are not a necessity.
Pack and Play generally have a waterproof, easy-to-clean padded mat that fits directly into the bottom of the playard. The material is extremely easy to clean, and my baby has never seemed to notice whether or not there was a sheet on the mattress.
The purpose of a sheet, as far as I can tell, is to create an easy-to-clean washable surface that protects a mattress from various spills or accidents. However, since a pack and play mattress is made from easy-to-clean materials, a sheet is not necessary.
One other benefit of having a pack and play sheet around is that they also fit perfectly on a mini-crib mattress. If you happen to have a mini crib in your home, then you can share the pack and play sheets on the mattress of the mini-crib if you get in a bind.
Additionally, there are some situations when having sheets for a pack and play might come in handy.
- Many hotels use pack and plays when you request a crib for the room. To be on a safer side, having a proper pack and play sheet can come in handy if you don’t completely trust the cleanliness of their unit.
- Also, in event that your baby is in a used pack and plays temporarily. Let’s say for example, if he/she is at a baby sitter’s house, or in a shared pack and play at church or daycare. Using sheets for the pack and play is recommended in cases such as these.
- The pack and play mattress are water-resistant, but it does require time for drying after it has been cleaned. So, this means that having sheets for the pack and play would be beneficial if you find that you have to wipe up spills or messes often. If your child has acid reflux, for example, he/she may benefit from a few sets of the pack and play sheets to keep the mess at a minimum.
Read also: How To Make A Pack And Play More Comfortable
How Many Pack And Play Sheets Do I Need?
You’ll need at least 2 play yard sheets so that you can switch around when you throw 1 in the laundry washer. However, if your baby often spits up or has reflux, you might need a few more sets to get through.
Are Pack And Play Sheets Safe?
Yes, pack and play sheets are safe if you purchase the right one. While sheets for the pack and play may not be necessary, they are safe for use just as your crib sheets would be safe for use.
You must use a pack and play sheets instead of the regular crib sheets as the dimensions of the pack and play and regular crib mattress are different.
Crib sheets tend to be too big for pack and plays as they are meant for thicker mattresses. Finally, pack and play sheets need to fit snugly to avoid any risk of a dangerous situation like suffocation.
What Size Sheet Fits A Pack And Play?
Pack n play sheets are a standard size of 27 inches by 39 inches and this fits any standard sized pack and play. This is suitable because pack and play sheets can be used on any pack and play that your baby may need to use.
Many parents choose to buy more than one pack and play to leave at grandparent’s homes or a babysitter’s home.
Can I Use A Blanket In A Pack And Play?
Babies can become tangled in loose materials and this can increase the risk of SIDS according to research done by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It is never considered safe-sleep practices to let your baby have a blanket before one year of age.
Blankets are not recommended for sleep until the age of 1 because they pose a great threat to the safety of your baby. This is also true of any unsupervised time in the pack and play until your baby turns one-year-old.
The American Academy Pediatrics recommends that babies sleep on a firm surface with no loose material. This includes blankets, toys, and bedding. Sheets are allowed as long as they fit snugly, only pack and play designed sheets are recommended for use in the pack and play.
Read Also: How To Clean Poop Out Of Pack And Play
Factors To Consider When Choosing The Best Sheets For Pack And Play
Before heading to the store to purchase a pack and pack sheets for your baby, be sure you’ve considered the following points.
Size
The dimensions of most pack and plays are relatively standard, but some may be a little different. Do check that the playpen sheet’s dimensions match that of your playpen pad as you would want a good snug fit.
Also, some materials are stretchy enough to fit most pack and plays, but you don’t want them to be too stretchy such that they are loose and unsafe on a smaller pack and plays.
More so, you don’t want the sheets to be too tight as that would cause the playard pad to bunch up in the center and not stay flat.
Comfort And Softness
Just like other bed sheets, the sheets come in different materials and thread counts.
Material
Common fabric materials for most playpen sheets include cotton/polyester blends or cotton. If your baby has skin allergies, always remember to check the labels to ensure that it is 100% cotton.
Color And Patterns
With such a wide variety of designs and colors available these days, you can easily pick one that suits your taste and matches your nursery decor. Of course, some brands have more patterns to choose from, while others only offer plain colors.
Price
The price of most play yard sheets is within the range of $8-20 each. Organic cotton sheets are typically at the higher end of this price range.
Read Also: How To Clean 4moms Pack And Play
Conclusion
Having answered your question “How many pack and play sheets do I need” also know to remember, with a soft fabric pack and play sheet, your baby will be able to sleep more comfortable.
More so, it will be much easier for you to cope especially during messy situations. If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it with other moms or family friends you feel it will be helpful too.