Budget Baby Bedding or High End Crib Bedding: What's the Difference?

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Budget Baby Bedding or High End Baby Bedding: What's the Difference?

Baby bedding, to buy high end (designer baby bedding) or budget baby bedding is just one more decision. You've made more decisions in the past few months than you've made in your entire life. The biggest one of all was the decision to have a child. You've also chosen doctors, birthing philosophies, names, furniture and so much more. But the nursery is not complete just because the crib has been picked out. Now you're ready to choose the pieces, a crib bedding set and infant bedding accessories that will set your room apart from the others, the personalized style that will be home to your baby for the next few years. Time to choose your baby's bedding. Sounds simple? Well, for a lucky few it is. For the rest of us, choosing a baby bedding set or crib bedding set is far from effortless.

Once you've chosen a theme or a color scheme for Junior's room, it's time to purchase the baby bedding that will make your nursery perfect. But there are so many to choose from... a variety of fabrics, patterns, textures and styles from which to choose. And the prices vary, too. Unless you know right from the start that you're working with a particular theme in mind (a beloved character, vintage airplanes, undersea adventure), you've got some thinking to do. And you thought choosing a name was difficult! Why are some nursery crib sets affordable, while others cost more than the crib itself? There is bound to be a large range of prices no matter where you shop, from very inexpensive to very extravagant. Prices for baby bedding sets for a baby's crib range from as little as $25 per ensemble to over $1,000.

So why the difference in price? Sometimes it's as simple as where you're shopping - fancy boutiques have fancy pricing. Sometimes it's just a question of quantity - some sets come with more pieces than others do. Sometimes it's a question of quality - higher thread count, hand detailing and luxury embellishments. These come with a hefty price tag and for some soon-to-be-parents, that higher price is worth it.

Higher Thread Counts
You know it makes a difference in your own bed. The bedding will be softer and silkier. If you opt for a boutique quality set, your baby will be sleeping on softer sheets and touching smoother bumpers. It's a matter of touch. If you have a very sensitive baby, this will make a difference. For the majority of babies, the average sheets and bumpers are just fine, so don't feel you must provide your baby with 400-thread count sheets if you don't even have them for your own bed. If you do, and thread count is something important to you, go straight to the higher priced baby bedding sets.

Luxury Fabrics and Embellishments
Egyptian cotton percale, chenille, linen, sateen, organza, silk...does it sound like a bridal salon? Well, we're still talking baby crib bedding here. The finest quality baby bedding fabrics are found in the nurseries of some very pampered babies. These fabrics are luxurious, and will swaddle your baby in a comfy little bubble, but the cost can be astronomical. (If you can't afford to go all out, your baby can still feel warm and fuzzy. Flannels, jersey knits and fleece are fuzzy, soft and affordable.)

Unique Designs
The pricier baby bedding lines can be special. If you want your little princess or prince's crib bedding to be one of a kind, boutique shopping is probably the way to go. You'll find truly distinctive sets...patterns and designs to fit any family's style, from traditional to eclectic.

Crib Bedding Sets Durability
Does "you get what you pay for" apply here? You need to really examine the crib bedding set for durability. Do the seams appear to be strong and sturdy? Is the baby bedding washable or dry clean only? Are the embellishments (decorative bows, rickrack ribbon, embroidered accents) fastened well? Might they irritate a baby's skin? Can the material really withstand daily exposure to a baby? Think moisture, chewing and climbing. Remember, the baby only starts out swaddled. As s/he grows, that baby bedding will be manhandled...um, baby handled. Just be sure that the expensive crib set can hold its own.

Comparison Shopping
So, you shopped until the baby dropped, and in the end you feel the choice for your nursery was the bedding set you saw in the baby boutique. Here's the final consideration. Is the high end crib bedding set really better? Well, chances are your baby will get the same night's sleep with a budget baby bedding set or a high end baby bedding set. It's more a question of esthetics, really. How does the crib bedding set make the room look? How does it make you feel? Some parents-to-be believe that the sky is the limit for their little one, while others choose to be more conservative in terms of price. It's a decision that varies from family to family.

If you found a high end crib bedding set that you just love and are trying to justify the pricey price tag, ask yourself the following questions:

• Will it be used again? If the pattern is gender neutral, you can use it more than once. A common trend in nursery design is to design one room of your house as the designated nursery. When baby graduates to a big girl/boy bed, it's time to move out of the nursery and into a new room. The baby nursery is left decorated for baby number two. (Three, four, five?) If this is your plan, and you want to splurge, then do it. You'll get your money's worth on this purchase.
• Can you live with the pattern for years? Even if you'll only use the set for one child, you'll be seeing it for a long time. Baby will be in a crib for about three years. Can you live with orange chenille elephants or red velvet horses for that long? You're going to be looking at this pattern many times a day for years. If you're the type of person who wants to redecorate every season, a luxury set is probably not a wise choice.
• Can you afford it? No matter how perfect a baby bedding set seems, if it's more than you can afford, it's not worth it.

Some things just cost more than others. Jeans, steaks, cars. why should nursery bedding products be any different? Moms with designer products throughout their homes may look to favorite shops or designer labels for their nurseries, as well. The bottom line is if you go into a high-end baby bedding boutique, you'll pay high-end baby bedding boutique prices. So, if you can't afford it, don't set yourself up for disappointment. Don't mortgage your child's future for a label if you can't afford it. If you're looking to economize, then designer baby bedding is not for you. And that's okay. You'll find bedding that suits your budget and style.

Just head for a different store. Shop for the Best Baby Bedding Sets & Crib Bedding Sets for the Baby Nursery for reasonable prices online at MaternityAndBabyShoppingMart.com.