Wool batted quilts can be machine washed in cold water and machine dried on a cool or air setting (or just dried in open air if preferred), with no shrinkage (that's MY experience). They are not high maintenance quilts, just different than cotton or blends.
I'd have no hesitation at all in using wool for a baby quilt, especially if that's what the mother requested, and it'd be ideal for walks and car rides. Wool is a dream to work with by hand or machine, very easy to get hooked on using it.
