Didn’t you just love the process of picking out all the fun baby room items for your kid’s nursery? Didn’t you just love looking at all the pretty set ups in the stores exhibiting the cutest rooms ever? And didn’t you think your child’s nursery was going to be just as beautiful as those set-ups everyday?
Your hopes and dreams were likely dashed after you got all that stuff home and had to put it together. And then they were likely dashed again the first time you had to change the crib sheet. The struggle to make everything just right in your child’s room pales in comparison to the workout you get each time you need to change the bedding.
I used to spend about 15 minutes changing the sheets on our cribs. I often broke nails and a sweat in the process. It wasn’t taking off the soiled sheet that was the problem. It was putting on a fresh sheet that was maddening!
And then I had an epiphany! I love solving household problems! And this solution made it no big deal to change the sheets on my sweet ones’ little beds. It now takes less than 60 seconds to switch-out the bedding. Yes! 60 seconds!
Here is a tutorial of my quick and easy way to change a crib sheet:
Remove the soiled sheet, then:
- Pick up the crib mattress and turn it on it’s short side and set it down in the crib. It will be tall.
- Pull the sheet down to the bottom of the mattress (now lengthwise) and pull the bottom short sides of the mattress up off of the crib.
- Stretch the fitted short sides of the sheet over the bottom of the crib mattress.
- Turn the mattress back to it’s long side and place back in the crib.
There wasn’t that easy?! And SO quick.
The only thing that will make this process difficult is a crib bumper. I recommend that you take the crib bumper out of the crib to wash before you change the sheet. If you are not planning on washing the bumper when you wash your other linens, untie all the ties on three sides of the crib and lay the bumper over the remaining side of the crib for easy access to the mattress.
If you need a little bit more of a visual, I created a video tutorial that shows just how to do it:
I hope this simplifies and shortens your sheet-changing adventures! If you are in need of a little encouragement to get and keep your kid’s room clean, will you please consider joining our Kids Clean Room Challenge over at Simple.Home.Blessings.? Each day includes a task to do and a challenge to consider. And each chore and each challenge is easily modified to your child’s abilities. Hope to see you participating with us!
Thanks Anna, great way to do it!
I thought I would add one tip I received which changed my life.
Buy 1-2 extra crib sheets and waterproof pads (if $$ are tight, get them at the thrift store).
Make the crib normally, then add the next mattress pad, then the next sheet. On the top is your prettiest one. (They’re just layered on top of one another.)
Now, when darling child wets the bed or gets sick in the middle of the night (poor thing), all you need to do is pull the top sheet and pad off, and everyone can get back to sleep quickly.
With twins, I felt as though there was an accident in our nursery every day! (I’m sure I exaggerate, but it felt that way.) This kept me one step off the ledge.
That’s a FANTASTIC tip!!! Thank you!
This tip is also great for potty training time (I did this w/sheets on a twin bed.)
When my two were very little, I’d double sheet like Marilyn but I’d also stretch a folded muslin across the crib under where their head was. That way any little dribbles were easily removed without changing the sheet.
Great tip Vicky!
Might be a silly question but I am expecting my first…. Where does the mattress pad go? Under the sheet or on top? 🙂
Mattress pad goes under the sheet but it’s good to have something on top of the sheet, where there head will go, for all those little spit ups. 🙂