The Best Crib Sheets for a Dreamy Night Sleep for Your Baby
Crib sheets so comfortable your baby may be convinced to sleep through the night.
By Jen LaBracio, CPST and Latifah Miles
Choosing a set of crib sheets for your baby’s mattress, though not the most exciting addition to your registry or shopping cart, can bring your nursery aesthetic together while adding a comfy layer to their sleeping space. Considering how much time you’ll spend at the side of your little one’s crib (bedtime, diaper-change time, middle-of-the-night-crying time), you’ll want to pick a style and design you’ll like. Once you’ve landed on a style that fits your nursery decor, you'll want to pay attention to the material of the sheets—look for a material that’s soft and will hold up well in the wash.
And remember: a fitted sheet that fits snugly over your crib mattress is the only thing that should go in the crib with your baby, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Keep soft objects and loose bedding like pillows and pillow-like toys, quilts, comforters, mattress toppers, non-fitted sheets, blankets, toys and bumpers out of your baby’s sleep area.
How many crib sheets do I need?
Plan on having at least two to three crib sheets on hand at all times for your nursery. If you don’t have convenient access to a washing machine or simply don’t want to do laundry very often, you might consider up to five crib sheets.
Can you use regular crib sheets on a mini crib?
A mini crib is a smaller version of a full-size crib. If you’re planning on using a mini crib, you’ll need specific mini crib sheets—standard-size fitted crib sheets won’t work.
Do I need a crib mattress protector?
Many cribs today come with a removable mattress protector that can be tossed in the wash (like the Newton crib mattress), but if yours doesn’t, you can add one to keep excess moisture out. Make sure it is sized for a crib mattress and fits snuggly over all four corners.
Best Organic Cotton Crib Sheets
Naturally soft and breathable, organic cotton crib sheets are a gentle option that won’t irritate baby’s sensitive skin. If hearing the word organic makes you think you’ll be cashing out big bucks, don’t worry—there are plenty of affordable organic cotton crib sheet options out there. Here are some we love:
Best Affordable Crib Sheets
A lot goes down in your baby’s crib, most of which will require you to change their sheets. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to stock up on affordable crib sheets so you’ll always have a clean one to grab after their next poop explosion. We love these:
Best Basic Crib Sheets
If you’ve gone all in on your nursery design and want a more basic design for your crib sheets, we have a few picks that will work with any decor.
Best Bamboo Crib Sheets
Known for being buttery soft, bamboo sheets are also naturally hypoallergenic, making them a great choice for babies with sensitive skin or eczema. And for babies who tend to run warm, bamboo is breathable and helps to wick moisture away from your baby’s body, helping to keep them cool. Here are some choices that we like:
Best Linen Crib Sheets
Light and airy, linen crib sheets are durable and tend to get softer as you use and wash them. The material also naturally regulates your baby’s temperature, holding on to heat when cold and encouraging airflow when they’re too warm. Here are some linen options we love:
Best Mini Crib Sheets
If you opted for a mini crib, the standard crib sheet size would be too big for their mattress (which isn’t in line with safe sleep practices). Mini crib sheets come in both oval and rectangle shapes and are available in just about any material that you’d find standard crib sheets. We like these:
Best Printed Crib Sheets
There are seemingly endless options for printed crib sheets, from cute characters and pastel florals to monograms and mature patterns. A printed crib sheet can stand out as the focal point of your baby’s space if you have a more neutral nursery design. Or, for themed nurseries, a printed crib sheet can add to the vibe.
Best Satin Crib Sheets
Satin crib sheets might not seem very baby-ish, but if your little one has hair, the smooth material can help minimize friction, preventing strands from falling out. My daughter has a head full of thick, curly hair, and I partially credit satin sheets for keeping her hair from breaking off. However, satin sheets are not as breathable as linen or cotton options, so keep that in mind.
Jen LaBracio,
Senior Gear Editor, CPST
Jen LaBracio is Babylist’s Senior Gear Editor and a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). When she’s not geeking out over car seats, testing out a new high chair or pushing the latest stroller model around her neighborhood, she likes to run, do all things Peloton, listen to podcasts, read and spend time at the beach. In her past life, she worked for over a decade in children’s publishing. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and their two boys, Will and Ben.
Latifah Miles
Senior Commerce Editor
Latifah Miles is the Senior Commerce Editor at Babylist.
