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Kid's Bedding Tips
Kids' Bedding Glossary: Crib Bumper
Sometimes called a "bumper pad," these are cushions that attach to the inside of a crib to provide a soft surface between baby and the slats of a crib. It is crucial that the bumpers attached tightly to the slats to maximize the safety of the child.
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Safety and Infant Bedding
The federal government, the American Pediatric Association – and you – all have your child or infant's safety at heart when it comes to setting up his or her room and choosing child and infant bedding.
For infants, it is important to remember that for at least the first six months, you want to keep all loose and puffy items out of your baby's crib or bassinette – that means you should make sure that your crib bumpers are tightly attached, that you remove all pillows from the crib when the baby is in it, and that those quilts and infant comforters are for display use only until your baby is old enough to protect him or herself against suffocation.
For children of all ages, make sure that the bedding and materials you choose are flame retardant, and that you set the room up so that you minimize the hazards of fire, suffocation, and choking.
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The Range of Comforters
From printed bedspreads to quilts to plain down- or synthetic-filled comforters that you cover with a duvet cover (also known as a comforter cover), you and your child have a range of options when deciding on the best way to “cover up.” Bedspreads tend to have a printed pattern on one side (or both) with a little bit of insulation in the middle and some stitching to create a quilt effect. These add instant color and pizzazz to a room, and are relatively light, so that you can adjust the warmth through the use of other layers.
Similarly, coverlets and quilts are items slightly heavier than a blanket that function both decoratively and as a warm layer. Comforters, on the other hand, tend to be plain layers filled with either down, synthetic fill, or a combination of both. They are often heavy enough to be used alone, but can also be layered with blankets and/or quilts.
Comforters can be sheathed with a duvet cover or comforter cover – similar to a large pillowcase – that allows for easy cleaning and for quick and relatively inexpensive décor changes. Comforters come in a variety of weights. In general, the “heavier” the fill number, the warmer the comforter will be. Also note that the more stitching a comforter has, the less likely it is that the fill will ball up, making for more even fill and warmth.
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Choosing Kid's Bedding
Kids' bedding should be comfortable and durable, and it will be most enjoyable when it fits the personality of the child and coordinates with the theme of the child's room (if there is one).
This is not to say you need to go crazy when coordinating with a kid's room theme. You don't have to choose the themed sheets and comforter. There is nothing wrong with choosing kid's bedding basics that are simple work work together. For instance, you could get sheet sets in multiple primary colors and try to find a kid's comforter that ties all the colors together. Or, if you have a wild themed kid's comforter, try to get solid colored sheet sets that work with the colors in the comforter.
Materials are another factor to consider. Cotton is usually best for summer, while jersey knit and flannel prove to be cozy winter alternatives. Does your child like to be snuggly or cooler in bed at night? Choose accordingly and everyone will have sweet dreams.
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Kids' Bedding Glossary: Quilt
A quilt is a bedcover with typically made from fabrics pieced and sewn together to create a decorative pattern. Backed with another fabric and filled with batting, the layers are sewn together, then quilted with basic or decorative patterns of tiny stitches. Quilts may be machine- or hand-quilted, though the hand-quilted varieties tend to me more unique, more expensive, and more durable.
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Get Multiples!
In case it's hard to keep up with the laundry in your house, you should definitely have more than one set of sheets and pillowcases for your child's bed. But you may also want to have more than one comforter, as well, as kids' tastes change as quickly – if not faster – than they wear through things!
Having a different themed comforter or one for a different season – perhaps lighter-weight for summer or in a flannel cover for the winter – will give you and your child design flexibility, and may help you get more wear out of the bedding in the long-term. If you go this route, you'll want to look for kids bedding that is good value, so that the bedding changes remain as practical as they are intended to be.
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Kids' Bedding Glossary: Pillowcase
A pillowcase is a removable pillow covering, usually made from cotton, flannel or jersey, that usually comes to match or coordinate sheet sets. Extra pillow cases always come in handy, so when you purchase sheet sets, try to get a few extra pillow cases for your kid's bedding.
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Consider the Laundry
Let's face it: kids can be hard on furnishings, from night-time accidents to sneaked snacks to jumping on the bed. Kids bedding should therefore be durable and easily washable – you don't want to be running to the dry cleaner every time a candy bar finds its way past your watchful eyes!
While sheets and pillowcases are washing machine- and dryer-ready, not all comforters for kids are. Some down comforters, for example, need to be dry cleaned, and might be best reserved for older children whose more decorative bedding is less likely to need frequent washings.
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Kids' Bedding Glossary: Comforter
Also known as a "duvet," a comforter is a puffy bedcover filled with feather and down clusters or synthetic fibers and stitched through to discourage the fill from shifting. Comforters are often used with comforter covers, or duvet covers, which are like big pillowcases. These covers protect the comforter from dirt and dust, and are easily laundered.
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Kids' Bedding Glossary: Sham
Shams are another kind of removable pillow covering which are usually larger than a pillowcase, and often coordinate with the bed covering rather than the sheeting.
If you choose a themed comforter, quilt or colorful kids comforter, the matching sham plays a large role in tying the bedding ensemble together. Additionally, because the sham is more decorative, you usually need at least two pillows on your child's bed to accommodate it.
The idea is that the child can use the pillow covered with a standard pillowcase for sleep and when the bed is made, the pillow in the sham goes on top, presenting a more tidily made bed.
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Don't Forget Lifestyle and Health
Does your child share a room?
Is it cold where you live, or do you like to keep the thermostat low at night?
Does your child have allergies?
These are all things that might affect the kind of kids' bedding you select.
If you have kids that share a room, do they have a theme in mind?
Do they want totally different things?
Make sure you talk with them and understand the kind of environment in which they would like to sleep, do homework, and play. If your climate – or house – tends to be cold, you might want to consider a heavier comforter, an extra blanket, or some flannel sheets.
If your child has allergies, you will probably want to avoid natural fills and fibers, such as down and wool. Rather, look into hypoallergenic, synthetic fills and some of the new materials, like fleece and micro-fiber, to provide traditional softness and comfort without causing sneezing or rashes.
You can also get foundation items, like mattress pads and pillow covers, that limit the number of allergens that can get into – or back out of – durable goods like mattresses and pillows.
