Choosing the Right Fabric for Your Baby Crib Bedding

Baby girl bedding: pink and frilly. Boy crib bedding: space explorers. Wait - aren’t you forgetting something? There are many adorable baby bedding sets out there, but not all of them are practical.

You can’t be sure if your new baby is going to be allergic to anything or not. There is no need to sacrifice comfort for looks, but be sure to consider the material of your baby’s bedding before you worry about the theme. Quality baby bedding should list some vital facts - namely, cover fabric, fill material, fill power (higher is better), and thread count (again, higher is better). The bedding needs to be warm, breathable, and lightweight. Research on the Internet is easy, so take advantage of the resource to investigate potential bedding choices.

Crib bedding should be made of the fabrics that are least likely to cause allergies. This includes wool (alpaca, llama, or sheep), organic cotton, non-organic cotton, and down. Synthetic fabrics usually do not breathe and they may break down over time - emitting toxic fumes. This can cause respiratory problems and sleeping difficulties. If you have chosen a set like  the Max baby bedding, then you will need to consider that it does contain some amount of polyester, and decide if that risk is worth it.

Wool is a great choice for a baby blanket - it’s both soft and comfortable. When choosing a wool blanket, look for an organic or unbleached cotton flannel. Choose your blanket size based on usage - small blankets for swaddling and big blankets for car trips or daycare.

Down is the perfect filler for a baby’s comforter - it is warm and breathable, with very little weight. Babies and messes go together like jam and peanut butter, so be sure to get one that can be washed in the machine. Cleanliness is vital in a down comforter - this is what determines how hypoallergenic it will be. The turbidity and oxygen tests are the ones used to measure cleanliness of filler material. The oxygen test has a government standard of 10 but a lower number is better. The turbidity test works in the opposite way, with a higher number being better.