Features of the sides for the newborn's crib
Each parent independently makes decisions regarding the comfortable and safe life of their child. What some moms and dads consider a must-have purchase for a baby seems to others a waste of money. Indeed, not all children's items are required purchases. Some of them are fairly easy to DIY.
Appointment of sides for a crib
Bumpers protect the child from drafts in the apartment. However, they do not interfere with air circulation in the crib. Contrary to the opinion of many young mothers, the sides do not limit the baby's horizons. If desired, some of the pillows can be easily untied from the crib slats, thereby allowing the child to observe the world around him.
In addition, thanks to the sides, children are less distracted and fall asleep faster. Soft pillows protect your baby from impacts. For many parents, the period when the child begins to behave actively and does not control his body movements is a big problem.
For example, when a toddler starts to crawl, he may tuck his head into the crib. The padded collar will protect it from impact and prevent serious injury.
Another reason will be appreciated by families that have cats or dogs. The animal will not be able to reach the arm or leg of the baby extended from the crib and, accordingly, will not be able to scratch or bite him.
In addition, the bumpers prevent toys, pacifiers or bottles from falling to the floor, so you don't have to worry that a loud sound will scare your baby.
Existing types of bumpers for newborns
There are several types of sides:
- With removable covers. They allow you to often change the color scheme of the crib, but are rather inconvenient in terms of care. There are usually 12 pillows in the crib, which means that it will take extra time for a young mother to remove old and replace new pillowcases. In addition, each pillowcase will have to be ironed and steamed.
- Stitched bumpers. The most convenient option, since they do not require special care and save a sufficient amount of time. Such sides easily fit into the washing machine, do not get confused or crumpled.
- Flat sides. A good alternative to volumetric pillows, suitable for small beds, since they do not take up much space, they have a regular rectangular shape.
- Bomb-sides. One of the varieties of flat sides, featuring a more embossed structure.
- Pillow toys. One of the most popular design options for baby cots. Side in the form of a cloud, an owl, etc.allows not only to decorate the child's sleeping place in an original way, but can also become a favorite toy at an older age.
Important! It is necessary to wash not only the pillowcases, but also the sides themselves, since dust still gets into the pillow through the fabric.
Requirements for material and filler
The sides should be made of 100% cotton; it is advisable to give preference to coarse calico from the fabric. The inner filler should consist of hypoallergenic holofiber. Due to its properties, it does not roll or wrinkle.
In addition, attention must be paid to the correct proportion of filler. To do this, each side is weighed on the scales up to the gram. This is done so that after washing the pillows do not lose their original shape and return to the state in which they were at the time of purchase.
Popular models of sides
One of the most popular models of bumpers is the so-called "nests" or "cocoons". For sewing, only premium cotton fabric is used, since baby's skin requires maximum delicacy in the first days of life. For stuffing, a hypoallergenic synthetic fluff is used, which perfectly holds its shape and does not roll over time. Premium cotton is very soft and delicate material.
Plush is used for upholstery on the seamy side, which also has a pleasant texture. A cocoon with tied sides can be used for babies from the moment of birth to six months. Then you can untie the tie, thereby increasing the baby's sleeping place. Replaceable mattresses are provided for all cocoons. This is done for more convenient washing of the cover.
Note! It is very important that the zipper slider does not have a pull tab. This is done so that the baby cannot tear it off and swallow it.
Toy bumpers are no less in demand. For girls, pillows in the shape of a cloud, a crown, a unicorn and a star are popular, for boys - hares, deer and other animals.
The big advantage of these pillows is their versatility. They not only serve as an excellent decoration for a newborn's bed, but can also become irreplaceable companions at an 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.
How to sew bumpers in a crib for newborns with your own hands
Making bumpers with your own hands is quite simple. First you need to decide on the shape and size of the pillows, calculate the required number of products, and also choose the right filler.
You also need to take care of purchasing a sewing machine, since it will not be possible to sew the sides by hand with high quality. After all the necessary materials have been collected, you can start the process of sewing the sides for the baby bed with your own hands.
What tools will be needed
For sewing pillows you will need:
- Fabric in two or more shades and patterns. You can also sew products from one type of fabric, but then it will not look as interesting as a combination of several materials.
- Decorative ribbons.
- Chalk or pencil for marking.
- Pattern paper.
- A skein of thread to match the fabric.
- Tailors scissors.
- Thread cutter.
- A set of pins for cleaving material.
- Filler for pillows.
- Sewing machine.
Rules for choosing upholstery material and filler
The choice of fabric for the product, as well as the options for the filling, should be discussed in more detail.
Fabrics for babies differ significantly from materials familiar to an adult. Certain requirements are put forward to them, dictated by the need for delicate handling of the delicate skin of a newborn.
All fabrics that come into contact with the baby's skin must have high breathability, hypoallergenicity and excellent hygroscopicity. It is equally important that the material is resistant to creasing, has high strength and durability.
The most popular fabrics suitable for sewing not only bumpers, but also clothing items include the following:
- Interlock is a delicate, soft and lightweight fabric. In the process of sewing, it is not going to, it is quite easy to work with it.
- Premium quality cotton - natural, lightweight fabric, behaves obediently in work, suitable for those who have not worked with a sewing machine before.
- Poplin is an ideal fabric for infants, very delicate and smooth structure, soft material, thin but dense enough, withstands a large number of washes.
As a filler for bed sides, use:
- Sintepon is a cheap, lightweight and easy-to-use material. It has proven itself well as a heater in the manufacture of clothing. It is very popular in the production of blankets and pillows.
- Holofiber is a versatile filler. Used for sewing demi-season clothing. It is a siliconized ball that feels like fluff but is lighter in weight. Resistant to temperature changes and does not shrink after washing. Does not wrinkle or form lumps. In addition to clothes, holofiber is used to fill pillows, children's toys, crafts and much more.
- Comforl is a special kind of modern filler designed to create maternity pillows, newborn cocoons and crib bumpers. Thanks to a special silicone impregnation, it dries quickly after washing. Does not absorb foreign odors and does not accumulate dust. It is absolutely safe, has air permeability, elasticity and moisture resistance.
Calculation of the number of products and sizes
The size of pillows and their number will primarily depend on the size of the crib. The more compact the berth, the less material will be needed for the product. The standard size for one square border is 30 cm / 30 cm, excluding seam allowances.
Do not make larger pillows. Firstly, they will look too bulky in a small crib, and secondly, massive pillows can pose a threat to the baby's life.
For a standard rectangular bed, you will need 12 pillows - 4 and 2 pillows on each side. For a round bed, 7 pillows will be enough.
Patterns of sides for newborns
The pattern of the sides is as simple as possible in construction. For many mothers, it will not be difficult to draw it directly on the fabric. But even if there is a fear of ruining the material, you can pre-cut the template from paper or newspaper. To do this, you need to decide on the shape of the workpiece.
For beginners, it is advisable to use simple shapes - a square or a rectangle. More experienced craftswomen can try to sew toy bumpers. For such products, it is better to take a ready-made template for textile dolls.
The template should match the actual size of the pillow. A couple of centimeters should be added for allowances after the fabric is marked.
Step-by-step description of the process of sewing the sides
- First you need to cut a rectangular piece of fabric measuring 62 cm / 32 cm.Then, fold it in half with the right side inward. The result is a square blank with three open sides.
- The synthetic winterizer is prepared in the same way. A rectangle is cut out with the same dimensions as the fabric and also folded in half.
- Then, a fabric blank is placed on top of the square blank of padding polyester.
- Next, take two satin ribbons, each about 55 cm long. The ribbons are folded in half, resulting in two double ties. The ribbons must be placed inside the fabric blank on the front side so that the folds of the ribbon protrude slightly beyond the edges of the fabric. With the help of pins, it is necessary to secure the tapes with the entire product.
- Further, the workpiece is stitched from the sides where the tapes are pinned. The bottom of the pillow is sewn on both sides, leaving a gap of 10 cm in the middle.
- Then, the excess synthetic winterizer is cut off and the pillow is turned out through the gap. Next, you need to straighten the corners and iron the product with an iron.
- After that, through the gap, the pillow is filled with holofiber, then the hole is sewn up manually or on a typewriter. The pillow is ready.
Additional Information. Decorative tapes are needed to fix the sides in the crib.
How to sew a frill into a side
- In order to make a frill for the side, you need to take a piece of suitable fabric, 14 cm wide. The length will depend on how tight and loose the folds on the sides should be. A strip of fabric is folded in half along its entire length and sewn on both sides in width.
- Further, the corners are turned out to the front side so that the seams are inside. The result is a double strip of fabric.
- Further, with the help of a typewriter, ruffles are collected. A zigzag stitch is set, a strong thread is taken and inserted between the strip of fabric and the machine's foot so that the thread is exactly in the center of the seam. Thus, the entire strip is stitched.
- After that, the thread is pulled out, while collecting the ruffles on the fabric. Further, the ruffles are sewn to the side on a typewriter or by hand.
Care Tips for Bumpers
Of course, when washing children's clothes, you should follow the manufacturer's recommendations. The same can be attributed to the sides for cribs - you must use the delicate wash mode, do not wash in water above 30 degrees and use a low speed drum drying. If the sides are made of high-quality materials, then if desired, they can be slightly ironed out and the excess thickness of the product removed.
Some young parents doubt the need to purchase crib bumpers. However, a number of weighty arguments convince them of the need for this purchase. Having made the bumpers for the crib from the fall of the baby with their own hands, parents do not have to worry about his health.
Video: how to sew a side in a baby's crib with your own hands