Searching For the Perfect Fabric for Your Baby Bedding

Baby girl bedding: flowers and butterflies. Boy baby bedding: cars and trains. I think you've forgotten something! You need to choose your baby bedding carefully, because it's more than just a decoration.

It can be difficult to tell if a baby has any allergies or sensitivities, and most nurseries are planned before the baby is even born. The fabric of your baby's bedding is very important, and should be considered before looks. High-quality infant bedding will tell you the thread count, cover material, fill material, and fill power (more fill=higher quality). The first thing you might consider is the warmth of the bedding, especially if you're having a winter baby, but it should also be lightweight and breathable. Doing research online is easy, so if you're interested in a bedding set, make sure you find out what material it's made of first.

Organic fabrics are probably better than non-organic, but the most important thing is to avoid synthetics if you want to reduce the risk of allergies. 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 4 piece crib set, then you will need to consider that it does contain some amount of polyester, and decide if that risk is worth it.

Opinions differ, but many people argue that wool blankets are the softest and most comfortable for a young baby. The best options for backings are variations of cotton flannel, including organic and unbleached. Choose your blanket size based on usage - small blankets for swaddling and big blankets for car trips or daycare.

Because down is a natural material, it provides warmth while remaining light and breathable at the same time. Your little one will probably have a number of "accidents" in the crib - so make sure your down comforter is machine washable (most are). The cleaner the down inside the comforter, the less likely it will cause sensitivities. The oxygen and turbidity tests are used to measure the cleanliness of down filler. A lower number is preferred for the oxygen test, and it should go no higher than 10 (the government standard). For the turbidity test, on the other hand, a higher number is better, going up to around 550 at the top of the scale.