Girl baby bedding: princesses and fairies. Crib bedding for boys: baseball or football. Wait - aren’t you forgetting something? Baby bedding is cute, but there is much more to consider than just appearances.

As adults, we are already aware of any sensitivities we might have, but with a new baby you can’t be sure if he/she will have any allergies. The fabric of your baby’s bedding is very important, and should be considered before looks. If it’s good, the baby crib bedding should list some vital facts - namely, cover fabric, fill material, fill power (higher is better), and thread count (again, higher is better). Although warmth is very important, you should also confirm that the bedding is light and breathable. The Internet provides most of the information we need, and this includes the construction materials of baby bedding.

Organic fabrics are probably better than non-organic, but the most important thing is to avoid synthetics if you want to reduce the risk of allergies. 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 4pc baby bedding 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. 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 comforters can be a great choice - they have a natural filler that is both lightweight and warm at the same time. Down comforters that are dry clean only are not practical, so look for the ones that are machine washable (that’s actually most of them). Cleanliness is vital in a down comforter - this is what determines how hypoallergenic it will be. The oxygen and turbidity tests are used to measure the cleanliness of down filler. 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.