Babies under the age of 1 shouldn’t have a blanket in their cribs or sleep areas, but there are still plenty of reasons to want a blanket for your newborn. They’re great for keeping baby warm during stroller walks outside, spread out on the floor as a soft place to play and snuggling under when it’s time for skin-to-skin cuddles. The best baby blankets are soft, durable and in our opinion, machine washable, like our top pick—the Loulou Lollipop Muslin Quilt Blanket.
I interviewed parents, pediatricians and put many blankets to work to find the best best baby ... [+] blankets.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers
“Babies shouldn't be sleeping with any blankets anywhere during the first 12 months,” says Dr. Wendy Johnson, a pediatrician at Tribeca Pediatrics. If you’re looking for something to keep your baby warm as they sleep, you’ll want to pick a swaddle for infants or a sleep sack for bigger babies who can roll over. If you’re on the hunt for a traditional baby blanket, we’ve found the best options, based on interviews with doctors and parents and plenty of hands-on experience.
An Editor Favorite With Many Patterns To Pick From
LOULOU LOLLIPOP US
Loulou Lollipop Muslin Quilt Blanket
Size: 47 x 47 inches| Care: Machine wash, tumble dry
This muslin quilt has many fans among the parents we polled, because of its wide range of adorable prints and durability. It’s woven from a blend of bamboo-derived rayon and cotton, and it’s Okeo-Tex 100 certified meaning it’s free from a wide range of concerning chemicals. The material is nice and breathable, making it perfect for warmer temperatures.
What the parent tester says: “We were given the Loulou Lollipop muslin quilt blanket in the ‘rosey bloom’ print as a gift when I was expecting my first daughter,” says Cory Baldwin, Forbes Vetted executive director of commerce content and strategy and mom of two. “Two and a half years later, it's still her favorite blanket. It’s held up astonishingly well through daycare naps, car and plane trips and countless nights in the crib. Plus, the print is so sweet (and coordinates with other Loulou Lollipop products, if you're into having matching PJs or sleep sacks).”
Best Budget Baby Blanket
Organic Cotton At A Great Price
Amazon
Burt's Bees Baby Reversible Blanket
Size: 30 x 40 inches| Care: Machine wash, tumble dry
Another option available in many print combinations, from dinos to butterflies, this reversible baby blanket from Burt’s Bees costs less than $30. I also love that it’s made with 100% certified organic cotton. It has a polyester batting inside, adding cushioning and warmth. It’s both washing machine and dryer friendly.
What the parents say: Although I haven’t personally used this exact product, I’m a big fan of Burt’s Bees baby products for their durability. I’ve used the brand’s onesies, crib sheets and towels—they’ve all held up great throughout many, many washes. This blanket has an impressive rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Amazon, from nearly 300 reviews. “I love Burt’s Bees blankets,” writes one. “They’re so soft and easy to wash.”
Best Personalized Baby Blanket
Your Baby's Name In The Font And Color Of Your Choice
A range of baby blankets can be monogrammed, but what we love about the Chappywrap is that there are so many personalization options. Once you’ve selected the blanket pattern of your choice, you can add either text (like baby’s full name) or initials—with your choice of font and letter color. It is made from a blend of cotton, acrylic and polyester fibers.
What the parent testers say: Chappywraps are “super warm and great for winter stroller rides,” says Karen Tietjen, Vetted’s senior updates editor. They’re also a favorite of Baldwin’s.
Best Milestone Baby Blanket
Photoshoot-Ready Blanket With Frame Included
Amazon
Gerber Baby Cotton Monthly Milestone Blanket
Size: 47 x 47 inches| Care: Machine wash, tumble dry
Milestone blankets are an adorable way to document your baby’s growth throughout the first year of his or her life. This affordable option from Gerber is made from 100% cotton and is available in two cute designs: a delicate floral or sweet forest creatures. We also like that it includes a felt frame, which can be placed on the number that corresponds to your baby’s age.
What the parents say: This baby blanket is so handy for snapping those monthly milestone photos—and that’s its main purpose. It isn’t the warmest or thickest blanket in the bunch, in other words, serving more as a prop. Still, the majority of shoppers give it 5 stars on Amazon, but one reviewer notes: “Very cute, comes with little frame for the numbers. It is a thin muslin blanket, so if you put it over a patterned rug that will show through.”
Best Cashmere Baby Blanket
Washable Cashmere That's Soft And Luxurious
Quince
Quince Washable Cashmere Pointelle Baby Blanket
Size: 30 x 40 inches| Care: Hand wash, lay flat to dry or dry clean
Cashmere is a popular option for people who want to splurge on that special little one. However, most cashmere is dry clean only, something that doesn’t always work well with baby spit-up. That’s why our recommendation is this baby blanket from Quince, which can also be hand-washed in cool water and laid flat to dry. (You still have the option to dry clean it.) It’s available in soft brown or light pink, and it’s very lightweight and breathable.
What the parent tester says: I have a Quince cashmere baby blanket, and it’s undeniably soft and luxurious, making it an ideal gift for your expecting friend.
Made in the U.S. from mostly recycled fibers, In2green’s blankets sport patterns that are bold and modern yet playful and cute. Many of the designs can be customized with your baby’s name. I’m a big fan of the hedgehogs and toadstools, but the other include a stylish herringbone or an alphabet design where the letter of your choice (perhaps your baby’s first initial?) is woven in a contracting color.
What the parents say: “Just bought another in pink and it is my go-to baby gift. It’s really beautiful, green, soft, washable,” writes one reviewer on In2green’s site. “What’s not to love?”
A receiving blanket is traditionally the blanket you use at the hospital when a baby is first born, so something that can be used as a swaddle is ideal. Dr. Johnson recommends looking for a “gauzy, airy” fabric to use as a swaddle blanket. These 100% cotton swaddles fit the bill, and come in a range of pretty prints to boot.
Just keep in mind that swaddles are only safe for newborns. “When an infant exhibits signs of attempting to roll (which usually occurs at 3–4 months but may occur earlier), swaddling is no longer appropriate because it could increase the risk of suffocation,” says Dr. Pombar. These swaddles easily transition to multipurpose blanket when ready.
What the parent testers say: A number of parents on the Forbes Vetted team rave about the utility of these lightweight blankets. I used these muslin blankets from Aden + Anais for swaddling, but also as a nursing cover in a pinch. My son slept well in them, too. They come in a range of beautiful patterns and have held up well after plenty of wash and dry cycles. Deputy editor Rose Gordon Sala swaddled her firstborn in these, and then used them for years as her kids’ daycare nap blankets. “They’re stretchy enough to use as a swaddle,” says Sala, “and large enough to work as a cover or blanket as needed.”
Barefoot dreams blankets have reached a viral level of popularity, in part due to their super soft feel. This blanket perfect for stroller walks on chilly days—it’s very warm yet lightweight and more than covers my toddler (for smaller babies you can fold it in half). For safety reasons, it’s best to strap your baby in first into their stroller first, and then place the blanket on top, otherwise the blanket may interfere with a secure fit. It’s extremely fluffy, and would also make a great option for sending to daycare with your toddler for naptime.
What the parent tester says: The first time I took this blanket out for a test drive with my toddler, he exclaimed “cozy!” It’s fuzzy and soft, and reminds me of a cuddly plush toy. The version I have comes in a just a few solid colors, but the brand also offers several baby blankets in its popular Disney collection.
Cotton muslin is an ideal material for baby blankets according to the pediatricians I interviewed, because it’s so breathable. These throw quilts from Little Unicorn are big and snuggly, offering generous coverage but in a lighter fabric. You can use these as a play blanket, a lightweight stroller blanket or a throw once they graduate to a toddler bed. The patterns speak for themselves: Classic, nostalgic and completely adorable.
What the parent testers say: “We have Little Unicorn's Woof Cotton Muslin Quilt Throw on my toddler's bed in place of a comforter,” says Vetted’s senior updates editor Karen Tiejen. “It offers a cozy layered thickness with the airiness of muslin, and I find it's the perfect weight, especially now that we live in a warm climate. I found the quilts do get softer, so I have no issues throwing it into the washing machine when it needs freshening up. We love this quilt so much, we got my son the smaller Holiday Haul Quilt once his favorite blanket started unraveling.”
Best Lovey Baby Blanket
A Blanket That's A Snuggly Stuffed Animal, Too
Amazon
Bearington Stuffed Animal Security Blanket
Size: 28.5 x 28.5 inches| Care: Machine wash, air dry
For tots who love to snuggle a stuffie, these fuzzy blankets from Bearington are a great choice. There are several animal friends to choose from, including a puppy, elephant, giraffe and unicorn. The dual-purpose toy and blanket is great for travel—so there are fewer things for you to keep track of. The center of the blanket and the animals are a fuzzy and soft faux fur, while the edge of the blanket is trimmed in satin.
What the parents say: “I didn’t think too much of these gifts but they ended up being lifesavers for school,” one Forbes staffer told me. “Daycare didn't allow lovies (for safety), but said yes to use these since they are attached. Our girls had a hard transition at 1 year into school, so this helped them nap in a new environment.”
Best Toddler Blanket
Plenty Of Space For Snuggles Under This Big Blanket
Large and thick, these big blankets are an ideal pick for a toddler’s bed or for a baby to grow into. They’re also great as picnic blankets and play mats, and are available in a huge range of patterns and colors, from Elmo and friends to cherries or trucks. The stretchy fabric is made from a blend of polyester and rayon.
What the parent tester says: Tietjen has this three-layer quilt, and calls it a must-have. “In addition to being cute, they're ultra smooth and soft with enough stretch to wrap your baby like a cozy burrito,” she says. “Of course, we also had to get a bunch of the matching accessories, too. If staying on-theme or having matching nursery accessories is important to you, I highly recommend shopping at Copper Pearl—you can get items like crib sheets, bandanas, burp cloths, car seat covers, onesies and more in the same pattern.”
Here at Forbes Vetted, our parenting editors and writing take our mission of finding “best for baby” very seriously. We’ve researched and tested hundreds of baby gear items and toys, and as parents ourselves are always looking for items that genuinely make taking care of kids easier. Our staff has shared their firsthand experiences with their favorite products throughout this article. The author of this article, Margaret Badore, has covered health and science topics for over 15 years. She is an experienced product tester and also a mom to a toddler.
We also consult with child health experts, to help inform our product selection and search criteria. For this article, I interviewed Dr. Wendy Johnson, a pediatrician at Tribeca Pediatrics in New York, and Dr. Carolina Pombar, a pediatrician with the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City and assistant professor of pediatrics. Finally, we monitor government websites for safety concerns and recalls and stay up to date with the latest guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
How We Chose The Best Baby Blankets
To make this list of the best baby blankets, I first consulted with pediatricians to make sure I understood any safety concerns associated with baby blankets and safe sleep. I researched the kinds of blankets parents want the most (things like cashmere and personalization) to determine what categories to include on this list. I asked a range of new parents—including my colleagues here at Vetted—about the blankets they’ve used and loved the most. When available, I analyzed user reviews, and considered which blankets I liked and used the most with my own son.
When it came to making my final sections, I also looked at materials and care requirements and considered if the baby blankets could serve multiple purposes and grow with the child. All of the blankets on this list are machine washable, except for the cashmere pick from Quince, but it can be washed by hand at home.
A Note About Blanket Safety
When it comes to babies, blankets are for wake windows. When using a blanket either in a stroller or as a play mat, babies 12 months and younger should always be supervised by an adult. Here are some other safety tips to keep in mind.
Safe Sleep
Both Dr. Pombar and Dr. Johnson emphasized that babies should not sleep with a blanket until after their first birthday. To reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), babies should be put placed on their backs alone in their crib or bassinet, without any “bumpers, blankets, soft mattresses, pillows, pillow-like toys, quilts, comforters, mattress toppers, fur-like materials and loose bedding, such as blankets and non-fitted sheets,” says Dr. Pombar. She adds that it’s also important for the sleep surface to be flat, and not inclined, per the guidelines laid out by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“Dressing the infant with layers of clothing is preferable to blankets and other coverings to keep the infant warm,” says Dr. Pombar.
Safe Travel
Never place a blanket under the straps of a car seat or stroller. Blankets and other bulky garments can interfere with a secure fit. If you’re using any sort of seat that uses a harness, it’s always a good idea to strap baby in first, and then if needed, you can place the blanket over the straps, making sure to not cover baby’s face.
What To Consider When Shopping For The Best Baby Blankets
If you’re shopping for someone else’s baby, it’s always a good idea to check their baby registry to see if the expecting parents have picked out a special blanket for themselves or if one has already been purchased for them. It’s good to keep in mind that blankets are an especially popular baby gift, and many parents end up with more than they actually need.
That said, here are a few other things to consider when shopping for baby blankets.
Materials
Health experts recommend natural fibers, like cotton or wool, for bedding because it breathes well and can help with temperature regulation. “Babies are prone to overheating, so selecting breathable fabrics is essential,” says Dr. Pombar. “Fabrics that allow air circulation help regulate body temperature and prevent excessive sweating. Natural fibers like cotton and bamboo are highly breathable and suitable for babies. Sheepskins and fleeces should be avoided.”
You also want a blanket that’s soft. “Babies have delicate and sensitive skin, so it's crucial to choose fabrics that are soft and gentle,” says Dr. Pombar. She adds that organic cotton helps minimize the risk of skin irritation or allergic reactions.
Bamboo-based fabrics have become popular recently, thanks to the environmental benefits of this fast-growing crop. However, it’s good to keep in mind that the resulting fabric is functionally the same as a soft rayon, due to the intense manufacturing process required to turn the woody bamboo stems into fabric.
Care
Baby blankets should be easy to wash, because you never know when they’re going to get hit with spit-up or other messes—and no new parent needs the extra work of dry cleaning or hand washing. The best baby blankets can be washed in the laundry machine and tumbled in the dryer.
It’s smart to wash any new blanket with a baby-safe detergent before your child uses it.
Size
There’s no official or standard size for baby blankets, although 30 x 40 inches is one of the most common baby blanket sizes. If you want something that can comfortably cover a baby and their grown-up, or something that fully covers a toddler bed, look for a blanket that’s at least 50 inches long or bigger—like the Little Unicorn Muslin Throw Quilt or Copper Pearl Three-Layer Jumbo Quilt.
When Can Babies Sleep With A Blanket?
Before the age of 1 year, blankets increase the risk of SIDS, says Dr. Wendy Johnson. Wait until after your child’s first birthday before introducing a traditional blanket to their crib. By then, “if there’s anything that they need to move out of the way, they can move it out of the way,” she says. “Unless they have some developmental problems that affect their ability to move around.”
What Is The Best Fabric For Baby Blankets?
“Something that’s breathable,” says Dr. Johnson. “Natural fabrics are always going to be more breathable than man-made fabrics.” She suggests looking for a cotton linen blend or Merino wool.
Dr. Pombo agrees. “Look for fabrics like cotton, bamboo, or organic blends, which are known for their soft texture.” She says some babies may have sensitive skin or allergies, and fabrics like organic cotton or bamboo are often hypoallergenic and less likely to cause skin issues.
Are Weighted Blankets Safe For Babies And Toddlers?
No. Weighted blankets, like other kinds of loose blankets, are unsafe for sleep for babies under the age of 12 months—and the AAP specifically advises against weighted swaddles, because they can be too much pressure on a young child’s chest. But they’re not great for toddlers either.
“I feel like babies should be able to move freely and there's no reason to force them to be in a position,” Dr. Wendy Johnson says. “They need to be able to move around. Just like a grown-up, if you're sleeping and you need to reposition yourself to be comfortable, they need that too.”
