A baby's crib must have protection such as sides. Only they are able to protect the child from drafts and impacts against hard bars. Moreover, you can make such sides yourself, using pattern diagrams and recommendations.
A bumper for a crib is an incredibly practical, and most importantly, necessary thing. This element allows you not only to protect your child from drafts and cold air, but also to soften the child’s impact on hard bars and other parts of the crib.
How to choose fabric for crib bumpers?
To protect such a crib, you need to have a fabric 4 meters long. Choose a dense but natural material that will not cause allergic reactions in the child. In any fabric store you can pick up:
- cotton
- calico
- linen
- chintz
- flannel
IMPORTANT: Before use, wash this fabric in a washing machine and thoroughly iron with steam. This is necessary because natural fabrics tend to shrink.
Popular sideboard models
Some of the most popular models of sides include the so-called “nests” or “cocoons”. For sewing, only premium cotton fabric is used, since the baby’s skin in the first days of life requires maximum delicacy. Hypoallergenic synthetic down is used for padding, which holds its shape well and does not pill over time. Premium cotton is a very soft and delicate material.
The “nest” will help your little one feel comfortable. Such models are made only from the most environmentally friendly materials.Plush is used for upholstery on the reverse side, which also has a pleasant texture. A cocoon with tied sides can be used for children from birth to six months. Then you can untie the tie, thereby increasing the baby’s sleeping space. Replaceable mattresses are provided for all cocoons. This is done to make washing the cover more convenient.
Toy bumpers are no less in demand. Pillows in the shape of a cloud, crown, unicorn and star are popular for girls; for boys - hares, deer and other animals.
The big advantage of such pillows is their versatility. They not only serve as a wonderful decoration for a newborn’s crib, but can also become indispensable companions in older age. You can take them with you for a walk or on the road. The baby will not only sleep comfortably on the pillow, but also have fun with the toy.
Toy bumpers are convenient because they will serve the baby as a pillow or entertainment when he grows up.
Types of bumpers for a baby crib
Each parent purchases crib bumpers based on their preferences. So, everyone has their own concept of “convenience” and therefore, there are several main types of barriers.
The most common type is the four-sided one, where all 4 sides of the crib are tightly protected around the perimeter, but the half-sided sides hide only the side parts. There are sides of different heights and methods of attaching to the crib: Velcro, ties or fasteners.
IMPORTANT: The fabric of the side also has a developmental function. As the baby grows up, he will certainly examine his environment, so the design on the fabric should not be too cluttered or “heavy.”
Types of bumpers for newborns
Before sewing the sides into the crib, you should choose its type and shape. They may differ in size, height, and complexity of manufacture. And most importantly, they look different, so choose according to your personal taste.
When a child begins to climb and inevitably fall, it is more appropriate to use a reliable high protection.
Snake
An excellent choice for you if you are comfortable with thread and needle. A snake is a long round roller that is laid out at the bottom along the perimeter of the bed and looks like a funny toy.
You can make several rollers of different sizes and colors to create a composition, then they will be easier to wash.
The snake can be made in the form of just a bright multi-colored roller made of beautiful fabric, or in the form of an animal: a funny long dachshund, a family of cats, fish or a boa constrictor from a cartoon. The main thing is to show your imagination!
Particularly interesting are the bumpers in the shape of animal pillows, houses or cars.
Cloudy
Clouds are a very popular form of sides among mothers. These are essentially bumpers in the form of small pillows in a crib for a newborn baby, but each pillow is shaped like a cloud. It is better to make such bumpers from fabric of a delicate shade, combining white with blue, pink, and cream. These clouds look incredibly delicate and are very easy to sew! You don't even need a pattern, just cut out a cloud from the fabric - the bottom is flat and the top is bumpy, and you're done!
Protective pillows for a baby crib are one of the affordable and simple ways to create the most comfortable conditions for your baby.The clouds can be the same shape and size, or they can be different. It's up to your discretion. More often they make the same shape, cutting out all the clouds from one template, but they take different fabric and alternate, for example, white and blue clouds. It turns out very beautiful.
Prevents the child from being injured from contact with hard parts of the crib while awake and sleeping.
Pigtail
The name speaks for itself: the braided side looks like a large soft braid woven from three thick fabric rolls. It is easy to do, especially if you have a sewing machine. You just need to sew three long sausages from soft fabric, and it is better that the fabric stretches a little, then it will be easier to weave a braid. Fill the “sausages” with soft filling, sew at the base and tie a pigtail, and also secure the other end with threads.
They create a cozy and comfortable atmosphere for growth and development.
For a braid, you can use fabric of three related but different shades so that they combine harmoniously with each other. For example, soft turquoise, sky blue and cream. One of them may have a small pattern, but not all of them, otherwise it will turn out too colorful.
Modern young mothers strive to find for their babies not only high-quality and reliable, but also impressive-looking bumpers.
Animals
Another type of pillow is animals. There is room for your imagination to run wild! And making them with your own hands is much easier than you might think at first glance. The easiest way is to make square, rectangular or round pads, and make an animal out of them using fabric applique - to create the original face of a cat, dog, or owl.
When choosing sides, pay attention to the fastenings: elegant ties can come undone, and the baby can get confused in the ribbons, so the simpler and more reliable the fastening, the better for the baby. You can make ears or horns, even paws
But you should not use decorative elements made of plastic and other hard materials: sew on eyes, nose and other details only from fabric, because the side should be safe, and any hard parts can injure the baby
You can make ears or horns, even paws. But you should not use decorative elements made of plastic and other hard materials: sew on eyes, nose and other details only from fabric, because the side must be safe, and any hard parts can injure the baby.
Borders for a newborn's bed are not only a way to protect the baby from shocks and drafts, but also an excellent option for useful decor for a child's room.
Patterns for sides for a baby crib. How much fabric do you need for the sides of the crib?
The process of making a side yourself is not complicated. For standard crib sizes, you will need fabric approximately 55 by 110 cm, as well as appropriate foam rubber. Following clear recommendations, every mother can create the perfect bumper for her baby’s crib.
- Measure the crib to study the dimensions in detail and correctly distribute the fabric for sewing the sides
- Transfer all measurements to a sheet of paper and draw the desired design of the side.
- Cut the fabric into patterns according to your measurements
- Using a sewing machine, stitch all the edges, leaving only one unstitched.
- Measure the foam rubber. Please note that its size should be half a cm smaller than the pattern
- Cut the foam and place it inside the pattern
- Sew edge 4 of each pattern.
- If necessary, decorate the side with ribbons, lace and sew ties
The following patterns will help you visually distribute all stages of work for yourself and understand the structure.
Product care
It is not recommended to sew the sides, as the product requires constant care at frequent intervals. What you need to do to keep the product clean:
- Washing is done at least once every 7 days. Only covers can be wet cleaned, and the base with the filler is well ventilated and dust is knocked out.
- After complete drying, double-sided ironing is carried out at high temperatures.
- In addition to washing, the product must be ventilated once a week.
Important! For washing, use only baby powders and fabric softeners. Caring for soft sides
Caring for soft sides
When choosing detergents, washing and ironing modes, you need to take into account recommendations related to the care of the type of fabric. The material may lose color, the texture may deteriorate, and defects may appear.
Which crib bumpers are best?
If you decide to make your own protection for your child’s crib, then you should definitely know about the positive and negative properties of each type. So, focusing on the pros and cons, you will decide which crib bumpers are better and which are worse.
- The high side of the crib has a clear advantage, as it effectively protects from drafts and prevents the baby from hitting a hard part. However, it blocks the entire view and the child is forced to observe only the inner area of the crib
- The low side opens up a wide view, giving the baby the opportunity to observe everything that is happening around, but does not prevent injury
- Protections made with fastenings in the form of locks, ties and especially Velcro can tear in situations when the baby reaches to stand up and pulls back the side. Therefore, the option with fasteners is the most reliable. If the side has locks, it will not allow itself to come off and hit the baby against the bars
- If you want to make a bumper with pockets, then a prerequisite is their presence on the outside of the crib. The internal arrangement will constantly attract the baby
- The material used is just as important. Synthetic materials can irritate the skin, so only natural fabrics are recommended. They will allow the product to withstand washing, dry quickly and not lose its shape.
Materials for the outer part of the bumper
To ensure that the covers are well ventilated, they can be made of linen or thick calico.
In general, it should be said that choosing fabric for children's clothes is a responsible matter. Any specially processed cotton is used to sew covers. But not every cotton fabric is suitable for sewing an accessory for a crib. Chintz, for example, leaves lint that can cause allergic reactions. Canvas has a similar disadvantage. Moreover, it is too tough.
Satin may be too slippery. If you use elements of denim when sewing protective sides, they may turn out to be rough for the delicate skin of the child’s hands and feet.
Different types of fabrics for sewing
Sides made of crepe-satin are the outer part, which can serve as decoration when the child is awake
Before cutting any model, the fabric should be washed and ironed.
The color of the material is also an important element. The general rule is that shades should be dim and unsaturated. Warm or neutral colors are preferable. This is due to the color perception that is available to the baby.
A successful and moderately contrasting combination of colors in a crib
The dominance of one color in the side of the crib, as well as the presence of too bright color spots in the decoration, which overload the fragile psyche, is wrong. As a rule, certain color combinations that should not be used are perceived as too catchy.
Unacceptable color combinations for baby bed bumper
Which filler to choose for baby crib bumpers?
Synthetic winterizer and foam rubber are far from the only options for filling the sides. The modern world has many options, different and with their own personal advantages. Namely:
- Foam rubber is a filler, but requires compliance with a number of conditions. For example, thorough and high-quality drying after washing. This material has the ability to retain moisture well, which promotes the development of microbes inside. Has strong wear resistance
- Synthetic winterizer is the best filler for children's bumpers. This material is also not expensive, lightweight, quite elastic, tolerates washing well and dries quickly. Its properties prevent the development of fungus. The main thing when making a side is to sew the padding polyester to prevent it from rolling
- Holofiber is a completely new material, superior in quality to padding polyester. It is completely non-toxic, does not retain moisture, dries quickly and retains its original shape. Thanks to its spiral structure, holofiber is very wear-resistant. Does not cause allergies
- Periotec is a bulky modern fiber. Its main advantage is hypoallergenicity. This is a very elastic synthetic filling material
- Hollcon is a synthetic material with incredible heat-resistant properties. Absolutely non-allergenic, elastic and wear-resistant
- Polyester is a hollow fiber. Has anti-allergenic properties. In no situation does it lose its original shape. Does not absorb water or odors
What beautiful bumpers can you sew into a baby crib with your own hands?
How to sew high sides for a crib?
- Make four patterns of 43 by 63 cm (3 cm is the indentation, i.e. 1.5 cm on each side)
- Make four patterns of 43 by 123 cm
- For ruffles, pieces of fabric up to 15 cm wide and up to 1 m 80 cm long are useful.
- Cut the filling (sintepon) according to the size of the pattern
- Prepare strips for frills in advance and iron them. Use your fingers to form folds on the patterns and, inserting the frill, sew three sides.
- Having inserted the padding polyester into the pattern, stitch the fourth side
- Sew ties to all parts of the sides
Methods for decorating the finished product
For this purpose, frills, appliqués, large buttons, bows, ribbons, etc. are intended. If the pillows are decorated along the entire length with lace or frills, then they need to be basted or sewn into the main seams. The decor can also be located on the front side of the case. The bumper and the frame next to it are also decorated with applications, patterns and designs. For safety reasons, the sides are made very soft and decorated with fabrics of similar softness (for example, felt). Such products are also called shockproof boards. Stickers with designs, including furniture stickers, are also used to decorate sides and rods. They should be placed on the outside of the pillows and the inside of the bars of the crib to prevent the child from unhooking the parts and being in danger because of this. Small objects like pebbles and rhinestones are not suitable for decorating borders.
