What bedding should a newborn actually sleep with?

For newborns, the safest sleep setup is a firm, flat mattress with a tightly fitted sheet and no loose blankets, pillows, or soft toys in the cot. This helps reduce risks associated with overheating or airway obstruction. If extra warmth is needed, a well-fitted sleep sack is often recommended as a safer alternative to loose bedding.

How often should I change my baby’s cot sheets and bedding?

Baby cot sheets should be changed regularly, especially after spills, nappy leaks, or any mess. As a general guide, many parents change sheets every few days to a week, or immediately when soiled. Keeping bedding fresh helps maintain a clean and hygienic sleep environment.

What are the best materials for baby cot sheets?

The best baby cot sheets are made from breathable, natural fibres like 100% cotton or bamboo blends. These materials are soft against delicate skin and help regulate temperature, which is important for comfortable sleep. Cotton is especially popular because it is durable, easy to wash, and gets softer over time.

Shop Baby Cot Sheets & Bedding

The sleep space is where a baby spends more of their early life than anywhere else - and the bedding that fills it matters more than it tends to get credit for. Our baby cot sheets and bedding range covers every layer from the underlay beneath the mattress to the fitted sheet, blanket, and pillow that complete the setup, in fabrics that look as good as they perform.

A hand lifts the corner of a white BabyBjorn Travel Cot Fitted Sheet, showing its snug stretchy fit on a BabyBjorn crib mattress. A circular badge reads "ORGANIC - CERTIFIED AND SAFE MATERIALS.

Close-up of the corner of a white mattress fitted with the Bubba Blue Bamboo Mattress Protector by Bubba Blue, shown against a plain white background.

The Snuzpod 3, 5 & Studio Mattress Protector by Snuz is a white, absorbent cotton crib mattress protector with rounded corners and a small purple tag—ideal for waterproof protection. Shown on a plain white background.

The Clevamama ClevaFoam Infant Pillow is a white, contoured baby pillow with a central circular indentation for head support, designed to prevent flat head syndrome and featuring a breathable, textured surface and a small right-edge fabric label.

A neatly rolled white comforter sits on a white mattress topped with the Living Textiles Smart-dri Mattress Protector by Living Textiles, set on a wooden bed frame against a carpeted floor.

A beige and white checkered drawstring bag stands upright against a plain background, featuring a black tag on the right. Ideal for carrying essentials like the Little Humans Linens Waterproof Cot Sheet by Little Humans Linens.

A close-up of a bed corner featuring the Boori Universal Jersey Cotton Cot Fitted Sheet in light blue, tightly covering the mattress.

The BabyRest Cot Mattress Protector by BabyRest is displayed against a white background. Rectangular in shape with smooth edges, it features a fitted cover that may include a waterproof membrane for extra protection.

A drawstring bag made from soft, breathable organic cotton, repurposed from a Little Humans Linens Waterproof Bassinet Sheet 81x41 by Little Humans Linens, with white fabric featuring red and brown stripes, a white drawstring closure, and a black side tag.

A maroon and white striped drawstring bag by Little Humans Linens sits upright against a light background, featuring a black tag—perfect for carrying the Little Humans Linens Waterproof Change Pad / Euro Bassinet Sheet 85x51.

A pair of neatly folded Snuz Snuzpod 5 Fitted Sheets (2pk) in white, designed for the SnüzPod bedside crib, displayed on a plain white background.

A single white mattress with a quilted top is shown on a white background. Pair it with the Boori Cot Bed Fitted Mattress Protector for added comfort and protection while preserving its clean, minimal look.

The Clevamama ClevaFoam Pillowcase is a plain white rectangular pillowcase made of smooth cotton, displayed on a white background with a small dark tag on its side.

Two Leander Organic Cot Sheets (2pk) by Leander are displayed side by side against a plain background, showcasing their smooth, soft organic cotton fabric—gentle and comfortable for your baby’s cot.

The Clevamama ClevaFoam Toddler Pillow is a rectangular white pillow with a subtle textured surface and dark piping, designed to help prevent Flat Head Syndrome, shown on a plain white background.

The Mamas & Papas Lua Bedside Bassinet Mattress Protector, a white quilted cover with a diamond pattern, is neatly folded and displayed on a plain white background.

The ClevaMama Junior Pillow by Clevamama is a rectangular white memory foam pillow with rounded edges and dark trim, designed for kids. Hypo-allergenic, it provides comfort and safety for young sleepers. Displayed on a white background.

The Joolz Aer2 Foldable Bumper Bar by Joolz features a brown padded grip and black plastic connectors, and easily attaches or detaches from the stroller frame for added convenience.

Two Cocoon crib mattresses are shown: one oval, one round, both quilted. Pair them with Cocoon Nest & Sprout Bassinet/Cot Mattress Protectors 2pk to keep your baby's bed clean and comfortable.

The Boori Compact Cot Fitted Mattress Protector is a white, rectangular, breathable protector with a quilted top and smooth sides by Boori, shown on a plain white background.

The Leander Classic Organic Mattress Protector by Leander is a white, quilted, semi-circular cover with a grid pattern, partially folded to fit the Leander Classic Cot, shown against a plain white background.

A rectangular brown box labeled "Happiest Baby" contains a white Snoo 100% Organic Cotton Baby Bassinet Fitted Sheet. The package features a clear window, certification info, and is designed for the SNOO Smart Sleeper.

The Layered Sleep Surface

A well-made cot sleep surface is built in layers, each serving a specific purpose. The underlay sits between the mattress and the cot base, adding breathability and natural temperature regulation from beneath.

The mattress protector sits on top - waterproof on one surface, soft on the other - protecting the mattress from the early years of inevitable mess while keeping the sleep surface clean and safe. The fitted sheet goes over the protector, providing the smooth, breathable surface a baby sleeps against directly.

Natural cotton and jersey fabrics are breathable, gentle on newborn skin, and soften further with each wash. Each layer serves the one above it - and having enough sheets in rotation means the cot is always ready with a clean surface when the middle-of-the-night change arrives.

Style and the Sleep Space

Baby bedding has moved well beyond plain white cotton, and the range now available means a cot can be made to look genuinely considered. Waterproof fitted sheets that protect the mattress while functioning as the visible top sheet combine full protection with a beautifully printed natural cotton surface - eliminating a separate layer while keeping the cot looking the way the nursery was designed to look.

For parents who have invested in a thoughtful nursery, a sleep surface that coordinates with the room is not a superficial concern. A well-made, beautiful cot is one that feels right to put a baby into each night - and that contributes more to a nursery that feels genuinely special than almost anything else in the room.

Shop the Baby Bedding Range

Every layer of baby bedding is covered:

Fitted Sheets: Soft, well-fitting cot sheets in natural cotton and jersey fabrics for every cot and bassinet size.
Bedding Sets: Coordinating sheet sets and quilt covers for the cot and the transition to a toddler bed.
Pillows: Baby pillows and sleep positioners designed for age-appropriate head and neck support.
Blankets: Cellular, bamboo, organic cotton, and sherpa blankets for every season and stage from newborn to toddler.
Underlays: Lambswool underlays that sit beneath the mattress for natural temperature regulation and breathability.
Mattress Protectors: Waterproof fitted sheets and protectors across every cot, bassinet, and portacot size.

Top Baby Bedding Brands at Baby Village

Little Humans Linens is the most widely stocked brand across this range, with waterproof organic cotton fitted sheets in an extensive palette of patterns and colours - protective bedding that is genuinely beautiful, available in every cot and bassinet size.Bubba Blue offers bamboo mattress protectors and cellular blankets across multiple sizes - an Australian brand trusted for quality, everyday nursery essentials in natural fabrics.

BabyRest rounds out the selection with practical waterproof mattress protectors and lambswool underlays for cots, bassinets, and portacots - a reliable, accessible range that covers the full sleep surface - and these are just some of the baby bedding brands we carry.

Shop Baby Bedding at Baby Village

Great bedding works best alongside the right cot and mattress beneath it. Build the full sleep space by browsing thenursery range:

Shop online with fast delivery Australia-wide, or visit ourAlexandria orMiranda stores - free nursery consultations available in store.

FAQs

The best bedding for a baby cot is simple, safe, and breathable. For newborns, this usually means a firm mattress with a well-fitted cotton sheet and nothing loose in the sleep space. Natural materials like cotton are commonly chosen because they are soft, breathable, and gentle on sensitive skin. In safe sleep environments, simplicity is key - less is always more when it comes to bedding.

“Manchester” refers to all nursery bedding essentials, including cot sheets, blankets, mattress protectors, and sleep accessories. When choosing, focus on breathable materials, correct sizing for a snug fit, and simple designs without loose or decorative elements that could interfere with safe sleep. A good rule of thumb is: if it doesn’t improve safety or comfort, it’s probably not essential in the cot during the newborn stage.