How do I make the cot??

[ss_storm]

Despite my years at boarding school I don't know how to short sheet a bed...have heard it is best if the cot sheets are short-sheeted, is this right or is there another way to make up the cot? Have put the matress protector and the fitted sheet on, but that is as far as I have gotten! Was planning on putting the normal sheet on and a cellular cotton blanket, I really have no idea how many layers bub is going to need but don't want to go too overboard. Have a polar fleece blanket that can go at the foot of the cot just in case, but if it gets freezing overnight we'll have the heater on in our bedroom anyway.

Any tips on making the bed, and how to short sheet if that is best? Thanks

[~Trish~]

I am only going to use a fitted sheet for our cot, I have never used the top sheet for either of my boys! When they were newborns I just swaddled them and put a blanket over them (short-sheeted because they slept at the bottom of the cot). I wouldn't even bother tucking a blanket in yet, it's easier to place the blanket over them and then tuck it in IYKWIM?

[*star*]

As far as I understand it, you should do the following:
- mattress protector and fitted sheet as you have done as normal
- normal sheet goes down at the bottom of the cot - where bubs's feet will be. You make it up to the length of the baby- ie you'll probably only have 1/4 of the sheet used for when bubs is little. The rest gets tucked under the mattress.
- when you do blankets do them the same way
- SIDS recommends that you don't put extra blankets in loose as they are a suffocation risk. If you need to put an extra blanket on, tuck it in.

Boy, that was harder to explain than I thought initially - need to take a photo!!

I'm sure there's something on this from SIDS - will check! Found it - see below:

http://www.sidsandkids.org/cot.htm

[ss_storm]

Awesome. Thanks Trish & Star. That photo is great! Don't know why I didn't think of looking on the SIDS website before. And even better- means I don't have to finish making the cot until we actually bring the baby home! Lol.