Choosing the Right Children's Bedding, from Crib Sheets to Blankets

Children's bedding will take more abuse than bedding used by adults. Children are much more likely to spill drinks or have a nighttime accident in their bed, so their bedding is subjected to more washing. You want to purchase children's bedding that is durable enough to stand up to the adverse conditions and repeated wash cycles. Here are a few things to consider when shopping for your children's bedding.

Choosing children's bedding: Types of fabric

The best type of material for children's bedding is usually pure cotton. It is durable enough to withstand repeated washings, but still smooth and soft enough to be comfortable for small children and babies. The downside to cotton crib sheets is that they wrinkle easily and may require ironing after washing. Cotton sheets may also shrink if washed on the wrong setting, so be sure to follow the care instructions exactly as written. Cotton and polyester blends may be a better option for children's bedding because they combine the resiliency of polyester and the softness and comfort of cotton.

Choosing children's bedding: Thread count

When choosing children's bedding, look for a higher thread count per square inch. 200 threads per square inch is the minimum you should accept for your child's sheets, but 400 threads per square inch is even better. The higher the thread count, the more durable and soft the sheet will be. However, once you get over 400 threads per square inch, there may not be a noticeable difference in either durability or softness. Unfortunately, not all children's bedding has the thread count listed on the package, so you may have to just compare different sets of sheets to determine which one is more densely packed. Hold the sheet up to a bright light or outside in the sun to check the thread count. If you can see through the sheet, the thread count is probably too low for it to be suitable as children's bedding.

Choosing children's bedding: Securing to the mattress

Check the elastic on your children's bedding to make sure that it will stay securely in place on the mattress. The elastic should stretch around the entire sheet so there are no gaps where it is not anchored onto the bed. There are also new types of crib sheets and bedding that may be easier to put on the mattress. Some children's bedding has Velcro sewn into each corner to make it simple to secure and remove the sheet as needed. Another design has the sheet operating more like a pillowcase. The crib sheet is slipped over the mattress and a flap is pulled down under the mattress to secure the open end of the bedding.