You have thought long and hard about what kind of theme you want for your new little ones room, now your off to the store. This is where a lot of my Mom's & Dad's start asking me, why is there such a price difference?

Here is the scoop, there is a lot of factors for price, but lets start with the $49.99 sets first.

Crib Bedding $49.99

You find these at Wal-mart, K-mart, Shopko, Toys R Us, and Target. They are usually screen printed, 180 thread could, and feel like sand paper, with a thin bumper, and thin sheets. These sets as a rule do not come with a dust ruffle. If you do not wash the bumper they will usually last about just one child. This are usually, your "character" bedding, Precious Moments, Snoopy, Winnie The Pooh, Disney Princesses, Care Bears, Sesame Street, Nascar, and Blue Jean Teddy.

Crib Bedding in the $99.99-$189.99

Found at Babies R Us, Burlington Coat Factory, Boutiques, and on-line,these sets are usually your 200 thread count sets cotton, still mass market, however have a lot more detail to them, you can really feel the difference, the bumpers are thicker, the sheets are softer, actually all the bedding is a lot softer, they will come with your dust ruffle, and sometimes as a 6 pc set, including a valance and a diaper stacker. These collections also include your "bigger" names such as NoJo, Eddie Bauer, OshKosh B'Gosh, Baby Guess, Kidsline, Classic Pooh, Baby OP and Waverly. These sets if taken care of properly can last you between 2-4 children

Crib Bedding from 199.99 up

Still found at Babies R Us, Burlington Coat Factory, Smaller Baby Specialty Retail Stores, and Internet Web Sites, this is your "better/finner" bedding. These brands include: Nautica, Glenna Jean, Cotton Tale Design, Gustav Maxwell, Brandee Danielle, Wendy Bellismo, Kimberly Grant, Kelly Righsell, Banana Fish and a few others. These bedding sets are filled with DETAIL, multiple fabrics, fabulous fabrics,  220+ thread counts, zippered bumpers so that you can remove the padding for washing, hand stitching, appliques, and a few other posh details. These sets are heavier and built a lot better, and will last.

Best Rule Of Thumb

I tell my Mom's and Dad's when they are in my store, that bedding is like a car, it will all get you to where you want to go, however it depends on how you want to get there and how much comfort you want, a Geo Metro or a Mercedes with all the bells and whistles. Most important though, and my best rule of thumb, FEEL IT, yes, feel the bedding know what you are buying, before you walk out of that store, don't let it be a guessing game when you get home, HOWEVER I am not telling you to take the whole set out of the package while standing in the store, just slip your hand in a feel the fabric, or go to the display and touch the set, this is one of the reasons that the set is on the crib for YOU to view.