Maternity Fashions
Nine months of fun and fashion!

Not so long ago, bedding for the nursery was limited to basic solid hues. There was white, and then pastel pink, blue, green, and yellow were added, but it was still rather boring and dull. Cotton was the only fabric offered. Next, a few prints were produced, featuring playful lambs or teddy bears. Still later, quilts began to sport cotton appliques, frequently of a fuzzy lamb. Truly interesting nursery bedding, however, remained elusive.

At length, however, manufacturers realized that parents were interested in better products. A flurry of new patterns were developed, and a variety of fabrics were added. Major fashion designers began to take an interest and to create crib products for young clients. Finally, the nursery could receive the decorating attention it deserved.

It has now become standard to offer all items needed to outfit a crib in one package that offers a complete bedding collection. The precise elements can vary, but the typical set will have a dust ruffle, bumper pad, crib sheet, and blanket or quilt. While each item can be bought separately, the cost would be higher than buying the set. Naturally, all the elements in the set feature the same theme.

Designer baby bedding is available from many sources and from many well-known designers. Eddie Bauer and Laura Ashley are just two of the names most people will recognize. The designs are quite varied, ranging from animal themes to geometric patterns. Some are available in unusual fabrics and many feature appliques or embroidered elements.

Many different themes are available. Some are gender specific, while others are not. Pirates, cowboys, fish, sports, jungle, and animal motifs are all available. Ballerinas, flowers, butterflies, and angels can also be found. There are images of the sky or the ocean as well as alphabet characters and numbers. Some are inspired by vintage patterns, such as traditional quilts, while others are more contemporary, with modern geometric shapes. Dragonfly and ladybug baby bedding is also very popular.

A few designers are integrating textures like felt, corduroy, or satin to make quilts more interesting to the touch. It is also possible to find crib sets made of organic or recycled materials.

There are also accessories available to co-ordinate with the crib sets. Lamps, mobiles, rugs, diaper holders, and toy bags are just a few of the extra items to be found. Some sets also have window curtains and wall hangings that match. With so many styles of crib sets available, the only problem lies in deciding on which of the adorable themes to choose.