The 8 Best Crib Sheets of 2024, Tested by PureWow Parents (and Their Babies)
Must be: easy to wash, ultra-soft and undeniably cute
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It’s one of the first things you put on your registry—and one of the last things you wrestle with in the middle of the night, when a diaper leak or spit-up forces you to re-make your baby’s bed. Finding the best crib sheets involves more than choosing the right pattern for your aesthetic; that fitted sheet has to fit tightly (no bunching, which could cause a sleep hazard) without forcing you to break out in a sweat to squeeze it on. It should be soft to the touch, sure, but also durable enough to withstand constant washing (in a machine, of course, because what new parent has time to hand wash?!).
In short, there’s a lot to consider, so I turned to PureWow parents to find out what brands their kids are using—and what they love and hate about each.
The Best Crib Sheets at a Glance
1
Best Overall Fitted Crib Sheets
Pottery Barn Kids Organic Crib Fitted Sheet
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2
Most Durable Crib Sheets
Brooklinen Kids Crib Sheets
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3
Best Value
Cloud Island Fitted Cotton Crib Sheets
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4
Most Breathable Crib Sheets
Mushie Extra Soft Muslin Fitted Crib Sheets
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5
Best Variety of Sizes
Burt’s Bees Organic Cotton Fitted Crib Sheets
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6
Sweetest Print Designs
Pehr Organic Cotton Crib Sheets
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7
Best for Gifting
Lewis Crib Sheets
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8
Best Budget Mini Crib Sheets
David’s Kids Mini Crib Sheets
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How I Chose the Best Crib Sheets
After getting parents’ recommendations, I searched the market for brands no one had tried, then scoured reviews. From there, I interviewed parents and tested crib sheets directly, looking for ones that met the following criteria:
- Fit — They should be snug, per American Association of Pediatrics guidelines, fitting tautly over a standard or mini crib-sized mattress. Brands that were too loose or so tight it felt like the seams were going to pop were eliminated from consideration.
- Quality — Are there loose threads? How soft is the fabric? Is it OEKO-Tex certified or does it offer other assurances that harsh chemicals haven’t been used in its construction? Are the seams rough or pokey at all?
- Durability — Does the fabric start pilling or look otherwise ragged after multiple washes? Do loose threads start to appear over time? How stain-resistant is it?
- Value — How well do these hold up and how soft are they compared to the cost?
- Design variation — What patterns and colorways are offered? Are the graphics clip art-y or cheesy? Do they feel too run-of-the-mill or boring?
If they passed on all fronts, they were deemed worthy of a spot on this list.
The 8 Best Crib Sheets, Tested by PureWow Parents
Pottery Barn Kids took home the best kids’ bedding award in the 2021 Happy Kid Awards for its range of designs and kid-approved styles, and while I haven’t deciphered what the under-1 set thinks of their crib sheets, I can say PureWow parents across the board are obsessed. “I love Pottery Barn Kids sheets,” says Rachel Gulmi, operations director of branded content. “They are such nice quality—thick but not heavy, they wash well and they fit my crib mattress perfectly.” Cristina Gutierrez, former director of branded content, concurs, adding she felt the crib sheets were even nicer than the ones on her own bed. (Plus, if you catch them on sale, they’re fairly reasonable too.)
Fast Facts
- Fits: standard crib mattresses (52” by 28”) up to 10” deep
- Colors/Patterns: 9 solid colors, 96 patterns and designs
These sheets get softer with every wash. Seriously. After five years of use, they’re velvety, with minimal fading and zero pilling, which is why I’ve deemed them worth the splurge. (They’ve also held up well against diaper leaks and spit-up, emerging from the wash virtually stain-free.) While the pattern options are more limited than others on this list, their latest design is sure to hit you right in the nostalgia: Just peep this Sesame Street collab!
Fast Facts
- Fits: standard crib mattresses up to 6” deep; 38” mini crib designs also available
- Colors/Patterns: 11 (from solid white to jungle patterns and Sesame Street characters)
Leave it to Target to offer cute prints at a reasonable price point. For $10, you get an OEKO-TEX certified 100 percent cotton sheet that’s fully elastic. I’ve found it’s easy to pop on to a mattress, but it doesn’t slip around easily, even if my son’s tossing and turning or trying to yank on the fabric. I’m partial to the potted plant design, but fitted crib sheets are available in a whopping 87 styles, from solid colors and classic rugby stripes to bold tropical leaves and watercolor whales. (Psst: For an even more affordable option, opt for jersey knit, which is a little stretchier and comes in a two-pack for $14.)
Fast Facts
- Fits: standard size 6” crib mattress; bassinet sizes available too
- Colors/Patterns: 87
Most Breathable Crib Sheets
4. Mushie Extra Soft Muslin Fitted Crib Sheets
What I Like:
- Crinkly, soft fabric
- Breathable weave for hot sleepers
- Muted colorways
What I Don't Like:
- Some say they don’t fit as snugly as desired
mushie
Dusty, muted neutrals have been a major nursery trend, and nobody nails that aesthetic better than Mushie right now. However, it’s 17 riffs on quiet luxury for bebé are hardly the only reason it’s become a PureWow favorite—it earns top marks for softness and stain resistance too. “I have the Newton Baby breathable mattress, so I wanted a nice, lightweight set of sheets that offered the same breathability,” says Commerce Editor Olivia Dubyak. “My baby also loves the crinkly texture of the muslin sheets. He has pretty bad reflux and has had a blowout or two on these sheets, and they wash very nicely and even get softer with each cleaning.”
Fast Facts
- Fits: standard crib mattresses up to 9” deep
- Colors/Patterns: 17
You trust Burt’s Bees for lip balm and baby shampoo, but don’t sleep on their bedding. Er, do sleep on it, quite literally. Multiple PureWow staffers have tried—and now swear by—the brand’s crib sheets, which you can buy in sizes fitting standard cribs, mini cribs (24”x38”) and bassinets (15”x33”), though designs are limited in the latter two. “I love that they’re organic cotton and most of all, affordable,” says Angela Pares, PureWow VP of Design and Branded Content. “I send them to daycare each week, so who knows what kind of things they see, but they always wash and look like new.” Another editor seconded how easy they are to clean, noting that they fit snugly too.
Fast Facts
- Sizes available: standard crib (28”x52”), mini crib and bassinet
- Colors/Patterns: 18
When you want something “aww”-inducing for your nursery, look no further. The brand’s delicate, charming prints stand out in a sea of chevron, dinosaurs and rainbows, offering an elegant take on typical nursery themes. It’s what got PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen hooked on the brand, though it’s not the only draw. “They're sorta stupidly expensive,” she admits, “but I like that they're percale instead of jersey, and they've held up great in the wash.”
Fast Facts
- Sizes available: standard crib mattresses up to 8 inches thick
- Colors/Patterns: 21
Made of 100 percent organic muslin, Lewis crib sheets earned rave reviews from PureWow parents for being incredibly soft and breathable (no night sweats for your little one!). But that’s far from the only reason people were quick to recommend them: “The patterns are so sweet, they hold up very well in the wash and they're great to give as a gift,” says Pares. What made them stand out even more is that the designs are unexpected—everybody’s doing stripes and florals, but where else can you get a geometric blowfish pattern? Or a speckled stingray set?
Fast Facts
- Fits: standard crib mattress
- Colors/Patterns: 3 colors, 9 patterns
Best Budget Mini Crib Sheets
8. David’s Kids Mini Crib Sheets
What I Like:
- OEKO-TEX certified
- Soft microfiber fabric
- Easy to use
What I Don't Like:
- some designs are a little cheesy
amazon
Mini crib sheets can be hard to come by, and when you do, options are typically limited to solid colors or the occasional striped number. I love the ease and convenience of David’s Kids sheets, which come in a three-pack, so you have extras on hand, and their microfiber fabric makes them incredibly soft, with just enough stretch to easily pull them on and off a mini crib while still staying taut. (Other cotton sheets I’ve tested often had wrinkles or were hard to fit on, making middle-of-the-night sheet swaps a pain.) Cleaning is as simple as tossing ‘em in the wash with cold water, and they haven’t pilled or shown signs of wear after five months’ use.
Fast Facts
- Sizes available: fits mini crib mattresses up to 5 inches thick
- Colors/Patterns: 7 options, featuring 1 solid and 2 printed sheets
What to Look for in Crib Sheets
Beyond the aforementioned features, it’s also worth noting the…
- Size: Double check whether you’ve got a standard crib (52 inches long) or mini crib (38 inches), and how deep your mattress is (most are 6 inches). Most crib sheets fit a six-inch-deep standard crib, but it’s worth making sure everything fits before clicking “checkout.”
- Fabric: Jersey and 100 percent cotton sheets tend to be very soft. Look for percale designs for crisper, more durable sheets, as it features a very tight weave. If air flow and breathability is what you’re after, try muslin.
- Elastic all the way around the crib sheet: Most are designed this way, and it makes a huge difference in how easy it is to get the sheet on the crib, while still being snug.
VP of editorial content
- Oversees home, food and commerce articles
- Author of two cookbooks and has contributed recipes to three others
- Named one of 2023's Outstanding Young Alumni at the University of South Florida, where she studied mass communications and business
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