Crib bedding for girls: pink and frilly. Baby boy bedding: space explorers. But wait! You need to choose your baby bedding carefully, because it’s more than just a decoration.

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. 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. Any decent quality baby bedding will provide certain important information: fill material and power, cover fabric, and thread count. 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. Research on the Internet is easy, so take advantage of the resource to investigate potential bedding choices.

To reduce the chances of sensitivities, try fabrics like wool, cotton, or down. 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 nursery bedding, then you will need to consider that it does contain some amount of polyester, and decide if that risk is worth it.

Opinions differ, but many people argue that wool blankets are the softest and most comfortable for a young baby. You will probably want a blanket that is backed with cotton flannel. It’s pretty easy to decide what sized blanket you will need. If you’re swaddling, choose a small one. If you want a daycare blankie or something to keep in the car, then choose a larger size.

Because down is a natural material, it provides warmth while remaining light and breathable 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). To ensure that your comforter is hypoallergenic, make sure it has a high cleanliness rating. There are two tests to determine the cleanliness of down - the oxygen test and the turbidity test. A lower number is preferred for the oxygen test, and it should go no higher than 10 (the government standard). For the turbidity test, on the other hand, a higher number is better, going up to around 550 at the top of the scale.