Project: Green Living

Girl baby bedding: princesses and fairies. Baby boy bedding: space explorers. Wait - aren’t you forgetting something? You need to choose your baby bedding carefully, because it’s more than just a decoration.

You can’t be sure if your new baby is going to be allergic to anything or not. So choose the bedding material first and then worry about your nursery’s theme. If it’s good, the infant bedding should list some vital facts - namely, cover fabric, fill material, fill power (higher is better), and thread count (again, higher is better). 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. The Internet provides most of the information we need, and this includes the construction materials of baby bedding.

To reduce the chances of sensitivities, try fabrics like wool, cotton, or down. There are several problems with synthetic fabrics, the first being that they usually do not breathe. They may also “off-gas” (release fumes) as they age. If you have chosen a set like the Max 4 piece crib set, that is composed of cotton and polyester (but mostly cotton), then you can continue looking or accept the small risk.

I love wool blankets - I think they are the softest, most comfortable blankets, especially for babies. You will probably want a blanket that is backed with cotton flannel. Smaller blankets are perfect for swaddling; larger ones are just right for car trips and naptime.

Down comforters can be a great choice - they have a natural filler that is both lightweight and warm at the same time. Babies and messes go together like jam and peanut butter, so be sure to get one that can be washed in the machine. In order to be sure that your down comforter has the least chance of causing allergies, you want one that has the highest cleanliness rating. Filler material is checked for cleanliness using two tests: oxygen and turbidity. A lower number is preferred for the oxygen test, and it should go no higher than 10 (the government standard). The turbidity test has an upper limit of about 550, with lower numbers meaning less cleanliness.

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