Choosing Baby Crib Bedding - Gender Specific Vs. Neutral

Choosing baby crib bedding may seem like a small decision, but it's one of the most common design issues faced by expectant parents. For first-time parents especially, there's a lot of pressure to get the baby's room "just right." Selecting a wall color and furnishings is half the battle, but there are plenty of "soft" details like baby quilts and curtains to consider as well. Much like the comforter or duvet in an adult bedroom, baby quilts and crib bedding dictate the color palette for other soft items in the room.

For many parents, the biggest hurdle in choosing items for the nursery is deciding whether or not to use a gender-specific theme. Particularly for parents who already know their baby's gender, it's often tempting to go for the quintessential "boy" or "girl" room. Baby boy bedding might feature baseballs or puppies, while baby girl bedding often displays flowers, lambs or other feminine details. Choosing baby crib bedding based on your baby's gender is a great way to tie the room together if you're already using a gender-based theme or palette. For rooms that are decorated in neutral shades, opting for gender-specific baby crib bedding is one way of establishing the new baby's identity in the space.

Selecting baby quilts and other textiles based on your baby's gender isn't always the right answer, however. For the many expectant parents who'd rather not know whether they're having a boy or a girl, choosing gender-themed baby crib bedding is a gamble. It might seem easy enough to "double up" and purchase sets for both sexes, but returning the unneeded set later will just add hassle to the already overstressed schedule of a new parent. Speaking of doubling up, selecting only baby boy bedding or girl bedding may not be a good choice for parents expecting multiple births.

From a frugal perspective, buying baby crib bedding that leans toward a specific gender may also increase expenses for parents who hope to eventually have more children. Having another child of the opposite sex will mean purchasing different baby quilts, sets of crib sheets and pads, and other textiles to decorate the nursery. While these may seem like insignificant costs with your first child, it's important to remember that you'll have more expenses after your baby arrives. Particularly if you'd like a large family, it's wise to cut corners wherever you can. By examining your budget and predicting how much you'll have to spend when planning for subsequent children, you might find that discarding the baby boy bedding and selecting brand new baby girl bedding later is impractical and costly for you.

Only you can decide whether gender-specific baby crib bedding is right for your nursery. By examining your unique situation in terms of design style, family planning, available budget and some other factors, you'll be able to make an informed choice about the bedding that's best for your home and your wallet.

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