The Best Crib Sheets, Tested by Lab Experts and Parents
Wrap one of these cute, soft and durable options around a crib mattress in your baby's crib or on a toddler bed.
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Choosing a crib sheet is a fun task — there are so many cute patterns and colors. And though there is a range of prices, it's not as daunting as choosing a crib mattress, where prices vary by hundreds of dollars. The big Q, really, is how many crib sheets you want, knowing that there will be diaper explosions and spit-up keeping your clothes hamper full. Our Parenting Lab experts suggest having three or more crib sheets, so that two can always be in line for the washing machine.
The fiber scientists in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab thoroughly test sheets for adults as well as children's bedding, using Lab equipment and sending sheets to consumers for real-world testing. To choose the best crib sheets, we considered dozens of options based on top-performing styles from our tests, personal favorites that our product experts used with their own children and baby versions of our best bedding recommendations.
Pros
- GOTS-certified organic cotton
- Fair Trade Certified factory
- Durable enough to last for years
- Prints for every style, but we like this neutral design
Cons
- Sometimes slight delivery delay
Pottery Barn Kids earns our top spot because it checks off all the boxes for producing a safe and comfortable crib sheet that's not too pricey. Made of soft and smooth organic cotton, it has a secure fit that stays in place on the mattress, and it's held up well to years of use and repeated washing in our Lab and in our own homes.
Not only is the material Global Organic Textile Standard–certified (GOTS) organic and suitable for babies' sensitive skin, it also uses a percale weave that's light and breathable, made in a Fair Trade Certified factory. You can buy a sheet individually or as a pack of two, and shipping is often free if you're willing to wait a few days to a week for delivery. (You can also pay for next-day shipping.)
When we gave these sheets our most recent Parenting Award, we noted that this Falling Dot design is a gorgeous yet neutral print, great for a boy or a girl, available in sage, oat or blush. “The design was simple and elegant,” said one parent. “I love how light and airy it feels.” Another noted, “It feels soft and fits the mattress well. I like that it has a little bit of color but can easily match most decor.” That said, the brand offers dozens of other designs too.
RELATED: Good Housekeeping Parenting Awards
| Fiber content | Organic cotton |
| Fabric construction | Percale |
Pros
- Under $20
- GOTS-certified organic cotton
- Jersey knit feels like a T-shirt
- Also available in mini-crib size
Cons
- Launder with care the first time
Honest might be best known for its diapers with fun designs, but Jessica Alba's company is also big in the world of crib sheets, family pajamas, kid's clothes and blankets. This fitted crib sheet stands out for the soft jersey knit fabric, which feels more like a cozy T-shirt than traditional woven bedsheets. And the price is hard to beat.
The fabric is GOTS-certified organic cotton and impressed our experts so much that it earned a spot in a previous year's Parenting Awards. Testers loved the appearance, comfort and how easy it was to secure the elastic edges over a crib mattress.
Our at-home testers found the sheets wash well, though a few Amazon reviewers reported laundry issues, including color bleeding. Consider washing them alone before your first use. If you love this watercolor print, you can get matching pajamas. The sheets are also sold in solid colors like blue, pink, black and white. And Honest Baby sells crib sheets for mini cribs.
RELATED: Oprah and Gayle Love These Matching Pajamas
| Fiber content | Organic cotton |
| Fabric construction | Jersey knit |
Pros
- Top-tested fabric
- Build your own two-pack
- Labels for long and short sides
- Year-long return period
Cons
- A little pricier than others
Brooklinen's Luxe Core Sheet Set is our number-one overall pick for best sheets for adults, thanks to standout softness and durability reported from our Textiles Lab and consumer tests. The brand uses similar high-quality cotton in crib sheets for babies.
We gave one of our most recent Parenting Awards to these fan-favorite Sesame Street designs. When you build your two-pack, there are three different fun prints to choose from — pick your two faves or buy two identical sheets. You have the option to buy a single sheet, but the two-pack offers a significant savings. “I like to give my kid options for sheets, and he continually picks these,” one parent tester told us.
The fabric is made of a lightweight percale weave that feels crisp and breathable. The sheets also offer clever features for tired parents like long- and short-side labels for quick sheet changes. Brooklinen has a year-long, any-reason return policy, so a full refund is available if you don't love them.
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Brooklinen Sheets
| Fiber content | Cotton |
| Fabric construction | Percale |
Pros
- GOTS-certified organic cotton
- Soft, T-shirt-like feel
- Two-packs available
- Highly rated on Amazon
Cons
- Few vibrant colors, but good for neutrals
This beloved brand is our choice for soft, solid-colored sheets in neutrals like gray, white and navy as well as pastels like pink and blue. There are also a few sweet prints, including gray elephants and pink flowers. Buy them individually, or Burt's Bees Baby sells two-packs of mixed fitted crib sheets including a floral sold with a pink striped sheet, and gray pine trees sold with a gray striped sheet.
The material is again a jersey knit, so it feels soft and cozy. More than 90% of 5,000+ Amazon reviewers gave these sheets a five-star rating.
RELATED: The Best Jersey Sheets
| Fiber content | Organic cotton |
| Fabric construction | Jersey knit |
Pros
- Lightweight and airy muslin
- Plenty of prints to choose from
- Coordinates with matching swaddle blankets
Cons
- Not as smooth as other fabrics
Aden + Anais is best known for its versatile muslin swaddle blankets, but you can get that same lightweight fabric in your crib sheet too. The cotton muslin is more open for airflow than other materials, but it still feels soft against baby's skin. It also comes in lots of prints to help you pick out a design you love for your baby's room; a few include floral, fruit, flamingos, dinosaurs and the space explorers shown here.
Our analysts have used the blanket version for their babies and kids and say the fabric has held up well to years of use. Just note that the sheet is not as smooth as others on the list because of the texture of the muslin material, and its looser weave may not seem as taut on the crib mattress.
RELATED: Best Swaddles
| Fiber content | Organic cotton |
| Fabric construction | Muslin |
Pros
- Smooth knit fabric
- Beautiful prints
- Matching pieces available
Cons
- More prone to pilling
This crib sheet is another jersey knit that feels incredibly soft, but it's unique because it comes in a range of picture-perfect prints, from beautiful florals like the one shown to animals and plaids and stripes. It also has a variety of coordinating items, including newborn gowns and burp cloths, so if you love prints you can go to town.
Copper Pearl is a small company and a little more expensive than others — especially considering their crib-sheet fabric doesn't contain cotton. The synthetic rayon-and polyester-blend fabric may pill more easily over time. But it is exceptionally soft and silky, so if feel and style are top priorities, this is the pick for you.
| Fiber content | Polyester/rayon |
| Fabric construction | Knit |
How we test crib sheets
The fiber scientists in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab have tested well over 250 bedsheets to find the best options for every preference. Our Lab evaluations check for fabric strength, pilling resistance, wrinkle resistance, washability and more. We also have consumer testers review the sheets and share feedback on softness, comfort, temperature regulation and other qualities.
When it comes to crib sheets, we incorporated brands that performed well in our bedsheets tests, along with ones that our experts (who test sheets for a living!) have enjoyed using with their own babies and toddlers. Beyond that, we've tested newer crib sheet options by laundering them to check for signs of wear and sending them to several at-home testers for firsthand feedback.
What to look for when shopping for the best crib sheets
Quality and safety are top of mind for baby products, especially when it comes to sleep essentials. Here's what to look for when you shop for crib sheets:
✔️ Material: Cotton crib sheets are the most popular because they're soft, versatile for year-round use and made of a natural fiber. If you prefer organic cotton, look for GOTS certification, which shows the organic claim is legitimate. You can also find crib sheets made of synthetic fibers like polyester, which are typically more durable and less expensive than cotton. Be wary of bamboo sheets with eco claims, as they're likely rayon that's being mislabeled to sound more appealing.
✔️ Fabric construction: The main weaves for sheets are sateen (which feels smoother) and percale (which is crisper and airier). Other popular fabrics include jersey (which feels like a T-shirt), muslin (which is more breathable) and flannel (which is brushed to add warmth).
✔️ Size and fit: Cribs, crib mattresses and crib sheets are consistently sized to ensure a proper fit. A secure fitted sheet is one of the most important safety aspects of your baby's bed, as there have been past tragedies in which babies pulled the crib sheet corner up and suffocated under the fabric. Check to make sure the crib sheet fits properly by tugging at the corner after you make the bed; it should stay in place without easily riding up.
Also follow the Consumer Product Safety Commission's crib safety tips, which include using a tight-fitting crib mattress and putting your baby down alone in the crib without any blankets or stuffed toys. Never try to fit an adult-size sheet over the crib mattress, and we don't recommend trying to sew your own crib sheet.
✔️ Reputable brands: It may be tempting to buy keepsake personalized sheets from boutique crafters, but we recommend purchasing from reputable brands and retailers that are familiar with standard crib sheet size and safety guidelines.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
The Good Housekeeping Institute has been testing consumer products for more than 100 years, and regularly reviews beds and bedding including the best mattresses for kids as well as children's textiles like the best kids' pajamas.
Lexie Sachs is the executive director, strategy & operations, and a mother of two. She's performed extensive testing on hundreds of sheet sets, both in the Lab and by sending styles to consumer testers for real-world feedback, and she oversees kids' bedding reviews. Sachs has personally tried out several of the featured crib sheets in her own home.
