Happy (almost) 2012! If you’ll be welcoming a new arrival into your family this year, chances are you may be registering for baby bedding. And if this isn’t your first child, you may already be familiar with the potential health risks associated with crib bumpers. They may look pretty, but are deemed unsafe by the American Academy of Pediatrics with regards to SIDS prevention . That being said, any bedding set that can pull off the look of a complete bedding ensemble–minus the actual bumpers–gets a nod in our book. Skip Hop’s Complete Sheet Collection is just that product, offering a bold printed sheet whose design extends to the mattress sides and features a contrasting pattern on top. Finished with linen piping, the 100-percent cotton, 200-thread count sheet achieves the look of a bumper without having one in place. Now there’s no need to worry about your newborn becoming entangled in her sheets. And that means a more restful night’s sleep for the both of you.

In a Nutshell: It’s a ban on bumpers; this sheet set makes great strides in bedding for babies that is both safe and stylish.

Tags: American Academy of Pediatrics, baby bedding, crib bumpers, crib safety, crib sheets, SIDS prevention, Skip Hop, Skip Hop Complete Sheet Collection

When you’re looking to buy something for a girlfriend and her little one, you inevitably wind up making more than one trip to the mall. Now that school has begun and we moms are more time-pressed than usual, we can appreciate a shopping destination that has it all. Enter Layla Grace, an online boutique that recognizes your discriminating taste for gifts that make lasting impressions. Stocked with everything from baby bedding to bubble bath, you’ll find no shortage of ideas for new arrivals, new moms in need of pampering and new homes that beg to be outfitted in style. In our quest for quality merchandise, we were particularly pleased by the Matteo line of linens for the nursery and the dining room (those linen napkins will be the piece de resistance on your holiday table). We’ve no doubt you’ll find something worth savoring.

In a Nutshell: An easy order to fill: gift-giving that doesn’t sacrifice style for convenience. We’ll take two, please.

Tags: baby bedding, baby gifts, Layla Grace

If a man’s home is his castle, then a baby’s home is her sanctuary…at least that what moms would like it to feel like. Think about how less stressed you’d feel if you could sit with your baby in a comfortable glider for her umpteenth feeding of the day, read “Goodnight Moon” under a lamp you wish you could have in your bedroom and settle her down to sleep in bedding that is so stylish, it makes your comforter look like it’s been through the wash one too many times. The Oilo Collection of modern nursery decor and furnishings is one worth checking out. From pillows and crib linens that feature contemporary, bold graphics, to faux leather gliders that are buttery soft, each item in the line is a conversion piece that complements one another perfectly. We’re particularly partial to the bedding, whose clean lines really pop, and come in names that roll right off  the tongue like Raindrops and Cobblestone (are you getting sleepy yet?). While this collection doesn’t come cheaply, consider that these products hail from a high-end design company that knows about creating the right look for your home firsthand.

In a Nutshell: Your little one will feel like a prince (or princess) in a room containing these regal furnishings. And didn’t you always want to be queen anyway?

Tags: baby bedding, baby glider, nursery lighting