Baby Shower

Baby Crib Bedding Sets– Read Before Buying

Planning to bring a baby home from the hospital is a very exciting time in the lives of the parents, grandparents and family friends. Having the room look just perfect is also important, so knowing what to look for in baby nursery bedding prior to the arrival is essential. Baby bedding should be very baby friendly, plus it also has to stand up to washing, drying and general wear.There are several different options when it comes to considerations for baby crib bedding sets. Perhaps the most important is the type of material that the baby nursery bedding is actually made of. There are a great number of choices, however cotton, cotton blends or organic cottons are by far the most common.There are many different reasons why parents may elect to use organic cotton baby bedding. It is very gentle on the baby’s skin and is much less likely to cause any type of irritation. In addition the fabric is not treated with chemicals and the dyes are nature, eliminating many of the issues with rashes or skin conditions that can occur with non-organic types of baby bedding.For those wanting very durable, soft and comfortable baby bedding other options for fabric include flannel and knit cotton. These two options are soft, smooth and warm, even in the colder seasons. It is essential to touch the baby bedding yourself, regardless of the fabric, to make sure it is smooth, soft and gentle for contact with the baby’s skin.As with regular sheets and linens, higher thread counts mean softer, more luxurious fabrics. High thread count cotton will be a bit more expensive, however it will stand up to repeated washings and drying and continue to look wonderful much longer than cheaper sheets and sets.Buying either baby crib bedding sets or separates will also be an important consideration. Family members may decide to make baby bedding a theme for a baby shower, allowing the family to be to have a wide selection of sets and separates to choose from. Typically most baby bedding sets will include bumpers, ruffles or dust ruffles, comforters or quilts and crib sheets. Some also come with additional features, although the most used will typically be the crib sheet and perhaps the bumpers.Choosing separates means that it is possible to mix and match colors and even to combine different patterns of crib sheets, ruffles and baby bedding options. Even though most babies will not need a comforter, it can be a nice addition to the crib when not in use. For separates, choose a solid colored comforter that will match all the various colors of your crib sheets.It can be easy to get way off budget in buying baby crib bedding sets. Sticking to higher quality items is the best option since baby bedding typically is very well used, even though it is only for a short period of time.

Is Your Baby Bedding Deadly?

It’s hard to imagine but according to studies 6000 babies die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome every year while 900 of these deaths are actually caused by soft nursery bedding. Which brings up the question of safety for your infants mattress.

There is a risk of the infant suffocating if soft bedding is used. Especially if the head sinks into the bedding. You may think a soft mattress is more comfortable for your little one, but if it is too soft, it may not be safe. Infants should be supervised at all times and be given the best care to avoid deadly accidents.  For example, special care should be taken when placing an infant a crib with a soft mattress so that suffocation does not occur.

parents can select a baby nursery bedding with a firm mattress that does not get depressed easily when some weight is being applied on it in order to avoid accidents. You can test this by pressing on the mattress to see if it may be too soft. The more resistance a mattress demonstrates, the better the mattress.

Bumper pads in the crib are another cause of suffocation. While attractive and cute, infants’ faces may be pressed against the soft pads, causing suffocations when baby is unable to free himself.

Parents need to use extra care and take precautions during this period since the infants are weak and vulnerable. While some recommend firmer bumper pads, the best option is to remove bumpers from the crib entirely. The reason for this is that there are rare cases of strangulation by the bumper pad strings, and of suffocation between the pads and another object.

In addition, recent research has revealed that there are toxic gases in mattresses that can be detrimental to your baby’s development. Dangerous chemicals have been found to be added to mattresses as fire retardants, but they are dangerous chemical compounds containing phosphorus and arsenic. Babies may die while sleeping as a result of inhaling hazardous chemicals that have reacted with other chemicals found in mattresses.

It’s ironic but the fungus sometimes found in a baby’s bedding, that we thought is harmful, is actually the one helping to release poisonous gases according to some findings. Parents are thus urged not to use old nursery and crib bedding which has been used before, as it may contain fungus after a long period of time. To avoid fungus, parents should not reuse bedding in an infants crib, even though infants only sleep on it for a short period of time.  Instead, parents should buy new bedding. New bedding in a baby’s room is far more welcoming than recycled.

In addition, there is some concern about synthetic fabric in baby bedding sets. While there is no solid proof that synthetic fabrics are harmful to a baby, you may want to stick to natural fibers. There are plenty of stylish cotton baby crib bedding sets available (one of my favorites is the Trend Lab’s Maya crib bedding), so there is no need to sacrifice style for safety.

Parents should be able to guage the safety of their baby’s bedding if they consider all these factors. To avoid sleepless nights, parents should just choose safe beddings for their babies, it will not only relieve them of their worries but will also let the baby enjoy his/her slumber.

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