Journal Entry

Crib Bedding

There are two primary factors to consider when selecting new crib bedding; the first is functionality, and the second is aesthetics. And, as with all things related to shopping for a new baby, you’ll have so many choices when buying crib bedding that it’s really easy to get overwhelmed. As anyone who has been through it already knows, you can’t let the amount of baby stuff for sale make you crazy! It’s tempting to buy every last thing, but if you get carried away you’ll end up with more baby stuff than you can possibly use.

Have you already selected a decorating motif for the baby’s room? Obviously, safety should be the primary concern when buying a new baby crib bedding set, but it’s nice if the crib looks great too. Then factor your budget into your choice. Some modern crib bedding by leading designers can sell for $200 or more, while chain stores like K-Mart and Walmart offer far more affordable options.

One thing you’ll definitely want to stay far away from is synthetic monkey crib bedding. It doesn’t really matter how much you actually spend, but beware of those no-name crib sets from discount stores—the kind that come in heavy plastic pouches. These can sometimes be made of polyesters or other materials that are less than soft. Make sure that the main fabric is a knit-cotton or flannel. High thread-count cotton is also a good way to make sure that the fabric your baby is sleeping on is soft and non-irritating. Of course, one argument against blowing your budget on the crib bedding is the undeniable fact that babies are messy little things. You’ll be washing this crib bedding a lot and, while you obviously don’t want it to look like a stained mess, you’re probably not going to end up passing it on to your grandkids either. In my experience, crib bedding should be nice but, ultimately, expendable. Save the big money for purchases like the actual crib, toys and food.

You’ll also find yourself confronted with a choice between buying a crib bedding set, or buying the crib bedding in separate pieces. Clearly, choosing the set gets you everything at once. A typical crib bedding set includes the crib bumper pad (a pad that goes around the inner perimeter of the crib, if you’re not familiar with the term yet. These were more common in older, slatted cribs and there is some concern about their safety in modern cribs,) a sheet and a comforter. Some more aesthetically conscious crib bedding sets include a matching crib ruffle, and some include additional accessories like mobiles or plastic mirrors. Don’t get too distracted by those extras though, because you can always buy them separately. If you like the overall design off a set, you might as well go for it. However, keep in made that the comforter will likely be purely decorative at this point since they pose a smothering risk for newborn infants. This means it could be more practical to just buy a crib sheet if that is all you really want.