Girl baby bedding: princesses and fairies. Boy baby bedding: baseball or football. I think you’ve forgotten something! Baby bedding is cute, but there is much more to consider than just appearances.

It can be difficult to tell if a baby has any allergies or sensitivities, and most nurseries are planned before the baby is even born. Everyone wants a cute nursery, but it’s important to pick the right bedding material first. Any decent quality baby nursery bedding will provide certain important information: fill material and power, cover fabric, and thread count. The ensure the comfort of your baby, choose bedding that is breathable and lightweight, but also warm. 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.

Fabrics like wool and cotton are less likely to cause allergies, so look for those instead of synthetics. Synthetic fabrics usually do not breathe and they may break down over time – emitting toxic fumes. This can cause respiratory problems and sleeping difficulties. If you are leaning toward a crib set such as the Max 4pc baby bedding set, that is primarily cotton but doesn have some polyester, then you will have to decide if the small risk is worth it to get the bedding you really want.

Some people may disagree with me, but I think wool blankets are softer and more comfortable than any other blanket. The best options for backings are variations of cotton flannel, including organic and unbleached. If you want swaddling blankets, choose smaller-sized ones, but if you want a blanket for an older child, pick a larger one.

Down is the perfect filler for a baby’s comforter – it is warm and breathable, with very little weight. It is important to look for one that is machine washable because babies will be babies. The cleaner the down inside the comforter, the less likely it will cause sensitivities. The turbidity and oxygen tests are the ones used to measure cleanliness of filler material. The oxygen test has a government standard of 10 but a lower number is better. 550 is approximately the top of the turbidity scale. Lower numbers mean more organic material and dirt has been left in the down.