How to Choose the Best Baby Bedding for your Child
One of the most enjoyable aspects of getting ready for a baby is decorating the nursery. Like any bedroom, the bed – or in this case, the crib – is a focal point for the nursery décor. There are many styles of baby bedding and it could take you weeks to page through a catalog and find the bedding you like best. Luckily, there are ways to narrow down your choices and choose the best baby bedding for your child. Here are some things to consider when choosing baby bedding for your child's crib.
Crib bedding seems like such an innocuous item, but the wrong baby bedding can present a danger to your precious bundle of joy. There are some important safety considerations when choosing the right bedding for your child's crib.
While mattresses are not technically considered 'bedding', the right mattress is vital to your child's safety and comfort in his or her crib. Choose a mattress that fits snugly into the crib. When the mattress is in place, you should not be able to fit more than one finger between the sides or ends of the crib and the mattress.
The mattress that you choose should be firm rather than soft – soft mattresses can present a suffocation hazard for the youngest babies, and firm support is important in helping babies learn to move and roll.
Crib bumpers have been hugely popular in the past. Over the past few years, however, many major children's health organizations have issued official policy statements discouraging their use. A 2007 study by the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington found that between 1985 and 2005, there had been 28 reported deaths where crib bumpers were implicated. The bottom line is safety for your child and the risks of using crib bumpers seem to outweigh the benefits at this point.
Frilly pillows or stuffed animals and toys may look adorable in your child's crib, but the research suggests that anything soft is a suffocation hazard. Babies do not need pillows under their heads. Keep the pretty pillows and cute stuffed toys on the dresser or changing table, and leave the crib bare.
Natural materials like 100% cotton are a great choice for baby bedding because they are far less likely to trigger allergies in infants. They also are more comfortable against baby's tender. Baby stays drier, cooler and more comfortable.
If you have chosen a theme for your nursery, you may have an easier time making a choice. Many manufacturers of baby bedding offer themed lines of bedding and accessories that match everything from the lampshade and wall borders to crib sheets and diaper stacker. In many cases, you can buy your entire crib bedding ensemble in one package. All these things can make for an adorable bed, but most are not necessary. Babies do not need comforters, and bumper pads have raised some safety concerns. You may find that you are much happier choosing a line that allows you to choose exactly what you are looking for.
While you want the crib mattress to be nicely firm, you will want to choose crib sheets, blankets and other baby bedding that is soft to the touch. A perennial favorite fabric for crib sheets is 100% cotton jersey or cotton flannel, both of which are delightfully soft against baby's tender skin and 100% washable. Absolutely anything that goes into the crib should be not only washable but 100% bleach safe for disinfection purposes.
Most crib mattresses today are made in a standard size, and most sheets are made to fit that size, but sometimes the bedding does not fit as snugly as it should. Remember, since a baby does not move as easily as you do, a wrinkle against a tender cheek can cause skin irritation. Loose sheets can also come free and present an entanglement hazard to your baby. Cotton jersey sheets and flannel sheets tend to stay in place better than most, but you can also opt for sheet clips to help keep bedding snug.
You do not have to pay that much. It's easy to spend a small fortune on baby bedding, but expensive doesn't necessarily mean better. Some of the best crib sheets and baby blankets are very inexpensive and come in adorable prints and colors that will suit your nursery décor.
Pink for a girl and blue for a boy and pastels everywhere used to be the traditional theme for children's bedding. Research shows that a baby responds to bright colors and concrete, simple shapes, though. Patterns in primary colors with clear shapes can be good for your baby's brain activity, so do not be afraid to choose bright color splashes because according to recent research, your child will like these colors too.
About the Author
Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about products and topics concerning home improvement and decorating, often focusing on specific items such as baby bedding.
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by: furnishingwmr
Date: Sep 10th 2008 | Words: 787 | Viewed: 1 times | Rating: Not yet rated
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