Kids will put their beloved blankets through a lot, so you’ll want a baby blanket made from a durable material to help it last over the years. When reviewing products, we carefully looked over many factors, including material, age recommendations, ease of cleaning, and safety guidance from the AAP. Here are the best baby blankets for your little one. The kid’s size measures 30 x 40 inches, so it’s large enough to lay flat on the ground for playtime during the first year, but not too large for them to snuggle up with during the toddler and preschool years. It’s safe to toss into the washer and dryer and won’t lose its softness. Dimensions: 30 x 40 inches or 50 x 60 inches | Material: Polyester/Minky | Price at time of publication: $20 Dimensions: 28 x 40 inches | Material: Polyester | Price at time of publication: $11 Dimensions: 30 x 40 inches | Material: Polyester and Polyester Sherpa | Price at time of publication: $45 Dimensions: 30 x 40 inches | Material: Cotton | Price at time of publication: $15 You can safely toss these into the washer and dryer and they’ll continue to get softer over time without losing shape or falling apart. There are more than 30 color combinations to choose from, so there is sure to be one that will match your baby’s nursery aesthetic. Dimensions: 47 x 47 inches | Material: 100% Cotton | Price at time of publication: $60 Dimensions: 30 x 40 inches | Material: 100% Organic Cotton | Price at time of publication: $23 Dimensions: 50 x 36 inches | Material: 100% Turkish Cotton | Price at time of publication: $59 Dimensions: Varies between sizes | Material: 100% Organic Cotton | Price at time of publication: $40 Common materials for baby blankets include:
Muslin: Light, breathable, and stretchy, and an excellent choice for swaddle blankets. Muslin washes well and doesn’t shrink in the dryer. Wool: Some blankets have a wool filling which makes them very warm and a good option for colder months or climates. Wool often has special washing and/or drying instructions.Cotton/organic cotton: Soft, airy, durable, and usually safe for a baby’s sensitive skin. Cotton can usually be machine-washed and dried without a problem and makes for a great everyday baby blanket.Fleece: Very soft and warm with a slightly nubby texture. This is an especially good fabric for colder months or climates, and it’s not necessarily too heavy for warmer months, either; it’s just less breathable than other options. Fleece is ideal for a stroller blanket.Jersey knit: Super airy and lightweight with a bit of stretch and a smooth, soft feel. A lot of adult loungewear clothing is made from jersey knit (so you know it’s cozy). It tends to wash well without issue and is a good option all year long.Bamboo: Great for sensitive skin, soft to the touch, somewhat stretchy, and breathable. Bamboo is becoming a more and more popular fabric because it feels so soft and is machine-washable and eco-friendly. Minky: Plush, soft, cozy, and usually has a bumpy texture when it’s used in blankets. A lot of kids’ stuffed animals are also made from this material. The only downside is that it’s not a very breathable fabric, so a baby or kid that runs hot may not like it very much.
Durability
Kids will put their well-loved baby blanket through a lot, which means it needs to be able to withstand all of the wear and tear that comes along with childhood. Between spit-up, accidents, mud, dust, milk, and whatever else a kid can manage to spill on their blanket, it will go through the washer and dryer pretty regularly over the years. With that in mind, a baby blanket needs to be durable enough to survive without unreasonable tearing, fading, or pilling. Consider the material the blanket is made from and also take a close look at the stitching to see if it seems strong or like it will unravel within a year.
Comfort
Above all else, the blanket needs to be comfortable. The fabric should be soft and stay soft through washes, it should keep a child warm without overheating them, and it should be sized big enough to cover a toddler or preschooler but not so much that it overwhelms them (remember, babies should not sleep with blankets until they are at least 1 year old). This is going to be the blanket they sleep with, bring in the car with them, insist on taking to overnight stays at relatives’ homes, and carry around the house—so it needs to be cozy.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Ashley Ziegler is a full-time parenting writer and mom to a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old. She has personal experience in researching and purchasing a variety of children’s products and key considerations she used when selecting these recommendations include materials, design, and user reviews. One-year-olds are still at risk of becoming entangled in their blankets, which could obstruct their breathing. So it’s best to wait until they reach 18 months or older to give toddlers a blanket in their crib. Make sure that your baby is swaddled tightly enough that they can’t break out of the swaddle (since loose blankets are a SIDS risk). A baby who is swaddled should always be on their back. Once your baby starts trying to roll, or by 8 weeks old, it’s time to stop swaddling. Do not put blankets over your baby before buckling them into the car seat. They should be dressed in just one warm layer that is not bulky. Wearing extra layers or adding blankets before buckling can interfere with the car seat’s ability to protect in the case of a crash.
