Make sure that sheets and other crib bedding that will touch baby's skin is very soft. Knit cotton sheets are popular, as are flannel crib sheets and higher thread-count woven cottons. Choose a fabric that will wash easily, and make sure all bedding pieces can be washed in a machine. Babies make too many messes to deal with hand-washing or spot-treating.  Babies make a lot of messes in their early months, so prepare for those messes by buying at least one extra set of crib sheets. A mattress cover to put under the crib sheet will help in quick bedding changes by keeping the crib mattress dry.

 When deciding your budget for crib bedding consider how long you will want to use the same crib sheets or other coordinating pieces. Toddler beds can use the standard crib-size bedding, so a luxury crib bedding set could be used for many years. If you'd like to change baby's nursery decor often, or you don't intend to use a toddler bed, inexpensive crib bedding might be a better choice.