Skip Hop unveiled over 80 new products at ABC Kids this year and they greatly expanded their bedding offerings with five new patterns and a super smart crib bumper alternative - the "Complete Sheet."
The patent-pending Complete Sheet is a standard fitted sheet but the twist is that the sides have a different and larger pattern than the top to give the illusion of a decorative bumper. In their press release Skip Hop cited a research survey of 850 parents showing that 30% didn't want a bumper as part of their crib bedding. I think all baby bedding companies have been slow (or stubborn) to pick up on this desire, but I was very glad to see Skip Hop putting its design thinking cap on to address it.
The Complete Sheet comes in 7 designs (Lattice will be available in two colors) and will be in stores in November selling for $24 or $120 for a coordinated 4-piece set including the sheet, crib skirt, blanket and wearable blanket.
(Images 1-4 Carrie McBride. Images 5-8 Skip Hop)
Must-See Small Cool Homes: Week Two
Beth's Romantic & Retro Residence
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Commercial Flour Sa...
A Real Dinner, Fast: 5 Favorite Types of Almost-No-Work Meals
How To Cook Tender, Chewy Wheat Berries on the Stovetop
Now that's clever!
That is a fantastic idea! I always avoided sheet sets due to the bumper issue. I really like the wearable blanket too. They seem to have good unisex options as well.
Very clever and good for them. I wish I'd had this option (or thought of it) when I needed crib sheets. We were bumper-free but our crib was pretty boring.
Great idea and very cute bedding, as usual from them. The sleepsack matching the sheets makes me giggle a bit - very Zach Braff in Garden State: http://images2.layoutsparks.com/1/56575/maverz-layout-garden-state.jpg
Super smart!
What a fantastic idea and just in time for my next baby due in January! I've always thought it made no sense to have the best designs on the bumper when a lot of people don't even use it. Usually it's a boring sheet with an even more boring skirt. The quilts are always nice but again they are usually not used and are difficult to display.
WOW. Can't wait to sell these in our store! We don't sell a lot of crib sets because of their price---especially when you factor in that most parents don't want the bumper. This is such a safe, stylish alternative! Kudos, Skip*Hop :)
This is awesome. I am not doing a bumper and the room looks a little plain because of it.
nice. one of those "why didn't i think of that"!
Yay!
it's really cute, but i thought the point of bumpers was to keep arms and legs in the crib?
Fantastic idea! I love these. Must have another baby so I have an excuse to buy them.
I love it!!!
So excited for these! What a fabulous idea!
That's a great idea!
this is a great idea & probably one you could diy with some basic sewing skills in any fabric you desire. The contrasting piping seems to be key in accomplishing the look.
I'm thrilled with this! We already have the Treetop Friends set (the bumper is being converted into a valance) and will definitely be getting the Complete Sheet to match. So happy!
Can't wait to see what else they're bringing out in the series!
It's about time! What a great idea.
@pyjammy - yes bumpers are supposed to keep arms and legs inside the crib but they were also a cute design element for a nursery. Since bumpers are no longer recommended due to potential suffocation it's tough to find a bedding set that doesn't include them. Hopefully companies like Dwell will follow suit and start offering their bedding sets without bumpers!
Oh, that's great!! What a brilliant idea. Gold star for someone at Skip Hop!
I ended up sewing my daughter's sheets because I wanted something with some design umph on the sheet itself. I love the breathable bumper for holding in legs and arms, but it doesn't add much in style.
Can you say BRILLIANT?! Good for them for listening to the customer.
pyjammy i agree with michelou. they are suppose to keep them in but its easier to put those arms and legs back in a crib than have a horrible outcome due to a bumper.
Ummmmmmm, am I really the first one to ask how this is supposed to be a bumper alternative? It's more like a crib skirt alternative-- purely aesthetic and decorative as opposed to functional. I would like someone to solve the bumper issue FOR REAL, as pyjammy pointed out: how to keep little arms and legs in. My son flails and wriggles about so much I'm afraid he'll get hurt the way he stick his legs through there and continues to move.
And nobody even pointed out that this company is still apparently making "old school" bumpers, as evidenced by picture #3 (Alphabet Zoo).
So, this company is working to give the "illusion of a decorative bumper", what about the functional bumper issue? While I peruse design blogs everyday, safety is 100% more of a concern over looks. It's not like I'm going to use a bumper just for looks when I know the controversy surrounding them, so I just don't the big deal over a sheet with some crap on the side of it.
Elisha, I'm sure this is more for those who don't use bumpers period but want the difference in design aspect. Some people still gladly use bumpers with no issues, so I doubt Skip*Hop would want to give up that market entirely (especially since only 30% of the customers wanted to go bumper-less).
If you're worried about keeping your little ones legs/arms inside without the whole suffocation issue... try a breathable bumper.
Sold separately. :P
Brilliant! Count on Skip Hop to be ahead of the curve. Big high five to them (though I will now probably end up making this on my own...sorry).
I really like the matching sleep sack idea, too. Not that baby will (or should) always end up being so perfectly coordinated, but it would make a cute shower gift.
Sleep sacks keep baby legs inside the crib bars--and you can also buy sleep sacks with swaddlers on the outside to keep the arms in, if it's a concern to you. By the time my babies were rolling around in their cribs, they had pretty good arm control, so it was never really an issue for me.
LOVE IT!!
This is awesome. I am not doing a bumper and the room looks a little plain because of it.
portable crib bedding