Crib Beddings: As A Mother Your Choice Matters

The prospect of being father again sent me scouring for new crib bedding. I thought it was a simple choice of" this" from" that". Well I wouldn't have guessed but it was an overwhelming task that needs an expert: my wife.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Report, March 18, 2009: there were 4,317,119 recorded live births in the United States. Estimates by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, on the first year alone, the costs of a baby can reach between $9,000 and $11,000.

Now with 4.3 million live births in 2008, how much do you think baby industry was able to make selling items for infants alone?

The three billion annual businesses on infant items have sent manufacturers into designing frenzy. The choices are so varied. The catalog alone runs into hundreds of pages and internet sites is just as overwhelming.

One company even offered "from Victorian to retro and in between, we have it." They are offering crib bedding and not floor tiles and furniture.

But what are the best materials for baby's bedding. Depending on taste, cottons, wools, bamboo fabrics, suede, corduroy, and a few more are available.

Recent technology has discovered bamboo as good source of fabrics as crib bedding. Bamboo together with cotton and wool might be the best baby bedding since they resist mite's infestation and last longer, too.

Bamboo however has more advantages like, its ability to absorb moisture better than other fabrics, has sweet odor, contains antibacterial properties and like wool cool in summer and warm in winter. It doesn't need lot of pesticides to grow bamboos. Being grass, it is highly resistant to pests. Mostly bamboos are available in organic type and cost less.

On the other hand, cotton is highly prone to infestation it needs lot of chemicals to grow it. Making inorganic cotton bedding is expensive. Buy only organic cottons for baby's bedding.

But nothing can beat wool in resisting dust mites. Its natural composition makes impossible for mites to thrive in it's environ. It's a natural hypoallergenic fabric.

Depending on who says who, manufacturers will always favor their products; it is always good to read publications made by independent surveys.

Like choosing clothes, parents should also be discriminating in choosing bedding. Having chosen the right fabric and thickness, texture should also be considered.

Babies' skins are very sensitive. They are prone to skin allergies and rashes. Thick, hard bedding materials will irritate skins while extra soft and thin materials will not give necessary warmth. Survey showed that soft fabrics are one of causes in SIDS or sudden infant death.

The fabric count is the key to its hardness and softness but not always. The method of weaving the fabric is also an influencing factor.

Heavy blankets could be dangerous to infants. The infant's inability to turn around may result to SIDS. The blanket will hinder breathing covering their faces. The extra weight will also make them uncomfortable.

Are hypoallergenic claims credible always? There are a lot of misleading claims in the market today. Eco friendly, natural or organic materials don't mean that they are hypoallergenic.

The Food and Drug Administration has tried for years to come up with credible guidelines to determine what is considered as hypoallergenic materials. But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that FDA's regulation defining "hypoallergenic" was invalid.

So, up to the present claims pertaining to hypoallergenic merchandises is unsupported by scientific and legal aspects.

Manufacturers claim that cotton, bamboo, and woolen fabrics are hypoallergenic.

You have to acquaint yourself to bedding's washing instructions. You don't want to be washing your bedding always. Correct fitting is necessary; lumps may cause discomfort and tripping. At most, only three" bulky" items should be allowed inside baby's crib.. Two pillows and a teddy bear, maybe?

Color is also important. It helps baby's feel good.

It is important, parents should read before buying anything. The internet has many credible sites to enlighten you. Examining the tags is also a must. Don't just rely on sales talk.

Lately Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008" (CPSIA) came out with important provisions in the implementation of the Regulation on or after the sale for the 12-year-old children or less products. As parents, we can breathe easier knowing government is doing something for our children's safety.