All About Cotton Baby Bedding

Some other types of cotton fabric used in baby bedding include: Combed Cotton, Sateen, Cotton Poplin, Cotton Knit and Cotton Blend. They're different because of how they're made and each adds a different look to the crib.

Organic Cotton

For cotton to be certified organic it must have been processed in a natural way. This means that no pesticides or toxic fertilizers were used in the growing of the cotton. It must be grown with the safety of the environment in mind and organic cotton farms must follow strict federal regulations to get the stamp of organic certification. A baby blanket made of organic cotton is very safe for your infant and will keep your baby comfortable and protected from irritants. This type of cotton fabric is growing in popularity and is a little more expensive than regular cotton baby bedding because of the higher cost of the earth-friendly farming process.

Combed Cotton

This type of cotton is treated before it's spun into yarn and all of the dirt and impurities get removed. The process of combing is done with actual metal comb like tools that are used to smooth out the cotton, separating the short fibers from the long ones. The longer fibers are then weaved into yarn and used in the making of baby bedding. The step of eliminating the short fibers makes the combed cotton extra baby-soft and makes the baby blanket quite strong and long lasting.

Sateen Cotton

Sateen, "satin like" cotton is taken one step further. After the cotton has been combed it's then put through a mercerization process which is when the cotton is soaked in sodium hydroxide and then run through an acid bath. This adds a sheen to the fabric and also makes it extra baby-tough, while keeping it extremely soft as well. This fabric lies nicely on any crib or toddler bed and is very delicate on a baby's skin with its high thread count, while also adding a slightly shiny look to the crib or toddler bed.

Cotton Poplin

If you see the term "cotton poplin" on a baby bedding label this doesn't mean that the bedding is 100% cotton unless it says so. Poplin refers to a type of fabric that has a ribbed look caused by a basic weaving process using course filling yarns. Cotton poplin could consist of just cotton or cotton plus one or a mixture of the following materials: wool, silk or rayon. If you're looking for 100% cotton then make sure that's listed on the bedding label. Cotton poplin crib bedding sets are safe for baby and can be quite comfortable as well.

Cotton Knit

This refers to cotton crib bedding that was made by the technique of knitting instead of weaving. Cotton knit baby blankets are made of 100% cotton. The knitting process makes this baby bedding quite soft and stretchable if using it to wrap your baby snuggly. It's also great when used later as a toddler blanket.

Cotton Blend

Blend is the key term in this phrase. Baby blankets made of cotton blend consist of a mixture of cotton and other materials such as: cashmere, polyester, or other materials listed in the description. When looking at cotton blend baby bedding it's important to check the bedding thread count to make sure that it's soft enough for your baby's sensitive skin.

Final Thoughts

Cotton baby bedding seems to be a best seller these days. Cotton offers wonderful qualities that are just right for tending to a baby's sleeping needs such as comfort, safety, keeping Baby dry and regulating a baby's temperature. When choosing a crib bedding set for your infant, just remember to look for all the fabric qualities that you know your baby needs and you'll be sure to pick the nursery bedding set that's perfect for your snoozing infant.