Ladybugs (or ladybirds as they are known in many parts of the world) have been a favourite for the nursery for generations. And why not? Apart from being fun and inspiring your child’s imagination, in many parts of the world they are considered to bring good luck. The Turkish name for the insect literally means “lucky bug”. In countries such as Italy and Russia, the sight of a ladybug is either a call to make a wish or a sign that a wish will soon be granted.
GEENNY Ladybug Flower 13pcs Crib Bedding Set
When it comes to bedroom décor, ladybug images work well in both gender specific and gender neutral environments. They can be used as one colourful element in a larger insect or nature themed room, or can be used as the overall central attraction or theme of the room. Either way, there is a large number of crib bedding sets and accessories by a number of excellent bedding brands, so you can be sure to find just the right bedding to match both your imagination and your budget!
What should you look for when choosing your ladybug crib set? If you already have a good idea, page down to our recommended ladybug crib bedding sets below. Otherwise, here are 7 points to keep in mind:
1. Size
When it comes to crib bedding most is made to suit a standard size crib. Therefore “size” really means how many pieces there are included in the crib set. Ladybug crib bedding sets can come in a 3 piece version (usually consisting of a quilt, bumper and fitted sheet), all the way up to 13 piece sets, which contain almost everything imaginable including crib bumper, crib sheet, crib skirt, crib quilt, window valance, a diaper stacker, pillow, toy bag and more! Obviously the price of each set varies with the number of pieces and the quality of the product.
2. Quality & Materials
Most crib bedding is either cotton or a blend of polyester and cotton.
Polyester cotton is a stronger, more durable and more affordable material than pure cotton. It is also less prone to pilling and static, and doesn’t shrink or wrinkle as much with washing. However, polyester cotton isn’t as comfortable as cotton because it retains moisture. It therefore does not breath like cotton and is apt to stick to skin when an individual perspires. Polyester is a synthetic, man-made material that uses many chemical processes during it’s production.
Cotton is a natural fibre re-known for being light, cool, comfortable and absorbent. While it shrinks a little during washing, good quality cotton (ie. a thread count of 200+ threads per inch) is my preference for crib bedding because it is hypoallergenic, dust mite resistant and very soft; perfect for a baby’s sensitive skin. Cotton is also a durable fabric that does not require any special care; you can toss it into the washing machine and hang it up to dry. And believe me, you’ll be doing lots of washing with a new baby!
3. Care and Maintenance
Check that any crib bedding you purchase can be machine-washed at home using warm water on a gentle cycle using color- and fragrance-free mild detergent or soap. As well as being expensive and inconvenient, dry cleaning and bleaching are not recommended due to the chemical processes involved.
The ideal way to dry linens is to air dry.
4. Safety
Keeping your baby safe is one of any parent’s top priorities. For crib bedding, two of the most important factors are to ensure that the crib sheets fit firmly and the bumpers are safe to use. Both ill-fitting crib sheets and poorly designed and/or installed bumpers can cause accidental suffocation. In fact, many child care organizations now recommend against using bumpers at all. Find out more about creating a safe sleeping environment for your baby here.
5. As Your Child Grows
Eventually your baby will become a toddler. What then? Do you want to re-decorate the room in another theme, or keep your chosen ladybug theme? Some, but not all, manufacturers make a kid/toddler version of their popular ladybug bedding which gives you the option to use the same favorite theme as your child grows. As an example, see the JoJo Designs Polka Dot Ladybug Crib Bedding Collection, which can be converted into JoJo Designs Polka Dot Ladybug Kid Bedding Collection.
6. How Much Should You Pay?
At the time of writing (January 2011), you should be able to get a good quality ladybug bedding set for between $100 – $300, depending on how many pieces are in the set and what accessories you buy.
7. Accessories
Ladybug Lampshade and Base
Speaking of accessories, there are a plethora of ladybug themed accessories available. Amongst other things, you can find ladybug musical mobile, night lamp, lamp base and share, run, wall decals, wall hangings, picture frames, and wall borders. For the really keen, a ladybug piggy bank and light switch plate cover is also available!
8. Customer Reviews
When shopping online a key indicator of the quality of a product is the number of customer reviews a product attracts and the average rating of the product. As a guide, around 10 reviews and a rating of at least 4 out of 5 means you have found a high quality, best selling product you can feel confident to purchase.
Our Recommendations
If you are simply interested in browsing a range of ladybug bedding options and accessories click here.
Of the multitude of ladybug crib bedding set options available, we think the following are worth consideration. All are top sellers that have also received excellent customer reviews:
Boutique Brand New GEENNY LadyBug Flower 13PCS CRIB BEDDING SET
- usually around $250, but I’ve seen it on sale for $90
- 13-piece set includes: one comforter, one bumper, one fitted sheet, one skirt, two window valances, one diaper stacker, one toy bag and two throw pillows, three wall art decor hangings
- Sew-On Pattern, not print pattern
- Additional matching accessories such as, Musical Mobile, Lamp Shade and Extra Window Valance available
- Machine Wash
Nursery-To-Go Lady Bug Lucy 10 Piece Bedding Set
- Usually around $130, but seen on sale at Amazon for $100.
- 10 pieces included: quilt, bumper, sheet, skirt, diaper stacker, 3 wall hangings, valance and musical mobile
- 100% cotton
- Machine washable
- customer rating of 4.5 out of 5
Kidsline Sorbet 6 Piece Crib Bedding Set
- doesn’t have many customer reviews, but all rate the se
t 5 out of 5, so it’s worth a look! - Seen on sale at Amazon for $150 along with free shipping.
- Set includes quilt, crib 4- sided bumper, fitted crib sheet, dust ruffle, diaper stacker and valance
- Beautifully appliquéd in multiple fabrics and textures
- uses a combination of 100% cotton, 100% polyester and cotton/polyester blends
- Machine washable for easy care
- many extra matching accessories available (sold separately)
Where Can You Buy Ladybug Crib Bedding?
My favourite places to buy crib bedding (Ladybug or otherwise) are CSN Stores and Amazon.
CSN Stores is one of the biggest and fastest growing online retailers in the world. They have a huge range of bedding options and ship to Canada and the USA, usually with free shipping.
The world famous Amazon.com
[...] their nursery set. However, parents need to ask themselves if their matching cartoon character or ladybug nursery set is more important then their baby’s safety. There are four things parents can choose to do [...]