Baby girl bedding: flowers and butterflies. Boy crib bedding: cars and trains. But wait! Baby bedding is cute, but there is much more to consider than just appearances.

You are aware of your own allergies and avoid any irritants – but what about your new baby? There is no need to sacrifice comfort for looks, but be sure to consider the material of your baby’s bedding before you worry about the theme. If it’s good, the baby bedding will tell you the thread count, cover material, fill material, and fill power (more fill=higher quality). Although warmth is very important, you should also confirm that the bedding is light and breathable. The Internet makes it easy to find out the construction materials for a wide variety of crib bedding choices, so do some research before you buy.

To reduce the chances of sensitivities, try fabrics like wool, cotton, or down. Although some synthetic fabrics are breathable, most are not. Of equal concern is the emission of fumes that can occur as the fabrics age. If you are leaning toward a crib set such as the Max baby bedding, which has mostly cotton but some synthetics, then you will need to decide how comfortable you are with synthetic fabrics.

Wool is a great choice for a baby blanket – it’s both soft and comfortable. 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. The turbidity and oxygen tests are the ones used to measure cleanliness of filler material. For the oxygen test, a lower number is better – with 10 being the government standard. Turbidity is measured in the opposite direction – that is, a higher number is better. The top of the turbidity scale is somewhere around 550.

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