The crib is the first thing everyone notices in a nursery, and choosing its bedding can feel like a big decision. There are lots of options: sets with 2 pieces or 10, gathered skirts or flat panels, linen or cotton, bows or no bows.
We've been sewing crib bedding in the USA for years, and we help parents and grandparents work through these questions every day. This guide covers what comes in a crib bedding set, which pieces are essential and which are decorative, and how to choose a look you'll love long after the baby shower.
First, the safe-sleep basics
Bedding is beautiful, but safety comes first. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a firm, flat mattress with a fitted sheet, and says to keep loose blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, bumpers and other soft items out of the sleep space. Padded crib bumpers are also banned from sale in the US under the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, which took effect November 12, 2022.
That's why all of our bedding is bumperless. A modern crib bedding set dresses the crib around the sleep surface, not inside it.
- Inside the crib while baby sleeps: a fitted crib sheet, and nothing else.
- On the outside of the crib: a crib skirt (under the mattress, hanging to the floor) and a crib rail cover (on the top rail).
- Decor for the room, or for later: blankets, pillow shams and bows. They look lovely in photos, draped over a chair or added once your pediatrician says your child is ready.
What comes in a crib bedding set?
Sets usually range from 2 to 10 pieces. Here's what each piece does.
| Piece | What it does | Need it? |
|---|---|---|
| Crib sheet | Fitted to a standard 28" x 52" mattress. Ours have elastic all the way around for a snug fit. | Yes, and buy at least two |
| Crib skirt | Hides the mattress support and storage under the crib. Comes gathered, flat panel or scalloped. | Strongly recommended, since it pulls the whole look together |
| Crib rail cover | Covers the top rail so a teething baby doesn't chew the wood. Our standard size is 51" x 17" laid flat. | Yes, especially for convertible cribs |
| Changing pad cover | Matches the changing station to the crib. | Nice to have |
| Oversized bows | Decorative bows that attach to the rail cover's buttonholes. | Optional finishing touch |
| Receiving blanket / pillow sham | Coordinating decor pieces. | Decor only. Keep out of the crib during sleep |
Tip: If you're on a budget, start with a sheet, skirt and rail cover. Those three pieces make up the look people notice when they walk into the nursery.
Choosing between 2-, 4-, 5-, 8- and 10-piece sets
- 2- or 3-piece sets cover the essentials. The Light Ivory Linen 2-pc. Set, the Flax Linen and Flax Stripe 2-pc. Set and the Sage Green Linen 3-pc. Set are great if you want a clean, simple crib.
- 4- and 5-piece sets add a coordinating blanket, sham or changing pad cover. The Nursery Rhyme Toile 4-pc. Set, the Hydrangeas 5-pc. Set and the Bows 5-pc. Set are favorites.
- 8- to 10-piece sets include oversized bows and extra pieces for a complete, magazine-ready nursery. See the Nursery Rhyme Toile 8-pc. Set and the Blush Watercolor Floral 10-pc. Set, a Liz and Roo exclusive print.
How to choose your style
1. Start with the feeling you want. Calm and neutral? Look at linens in flax, ivory, sage or frost blue. Classic and traditional? Toile and gingham never go out of style. Sweet and feminine? Florals, scallops, ruffles and bows.
2. Pick one hero print, then go solid. The prettiest cribs usually use one pattern (on the rail cover or sheet) and coordinating solids elsewhere. The Light Blue Toile 6-pc. Set is a good example: a toile rail cover with a blue gingham skirt and a white sheet.
3. Think past the first year. Most cribs today convert to toddler or full beds. A timeless print and a sturdy rail cover protect both your crib and your investment.
4. Gender-neutral is easy. Sage, flax and ivory linens and our Nursery Rhyme Toile work for any baby.
5. Order free swatches. Colors look different on screens. Order free fabric swatches and hold them up to your paint and furniture first.
Linen vs. cotton: which fabric is right?
- Linen blends (ours are 55% linen and 45% rayon) have a soft, relaxed, upscale texture and drape beautifully on gathered skirts. The rayon makes them easier to wash.
- 100% cotton (twill, percale and printed cottons) is crisp, durable and ideal for prints like toile, gingham and florals.
Both are machine washable. Many of our sets combine the two, for example a linen skirt with a cotton print sheet.
Have a mini crib?
Mini cribs use a 38" x 24" mattress, so standard bedding won't fit. Our Nursery Rhyme Toile mini crib pieces, including a gathered mini crib skirt and a mini crib rail cover, are sized to fit.
Why made in the USA matters
Every Liz and Roo set is sewn in the USA, and we oversee manufacturing ourselves. That means we know where the fabric comes from, what the fill is made of and who is sewing each piece. It also means we can personalize. Most rail covers can be monogrammed, and we can make custom pieces in almost any fabric.
Ready to design your nursery?
Not sure where to start? Contact us. We love helping families design their nursery.
