We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Why trust us?
Shop these top-rated fitted sheets to give your baby a safe and secure sleep.
Preparing for your baby's arrival involves plenty of exciting new purchases, including buying crib sheets. But besides looking cute, you want to make sure the sheet fabric is soft and durable enough to last through the toddler years, as well as safe to stay securely on the crib mattress.
The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Labs review all the must-haves for your baby – from diapers to crib mattresses and everything in between. We also thoroughly test bed sheets for adults with lab equipment and real consumer testers. We relied on our expertise in children's product safety along with our knowledge of fabric quality to pick out the best crib sheets you can buy for your baby. The picks below include baby versions of our top-tested bedding, personal favorites that our experts used for our own children, and popular styles from brands we trust backed by rave reviews from real users.
But before we get into our recommendations, there are a few things you should keep in mind as you shop for crib sheets — namely, safety and quality. Here's what to look for:
✔️Fabric: Woven cotton crib sheets are the most popular because they're natural, soft and versatile for year-round use. Your main weave choices are sateen (smoother) and percale (more crisp). Other popular cotton fabrics include jersey (which feels like a T-shirt), muslin (which is more breathable) and flannel (which is brushed to add warmth). If you prefer organic cotton, make sure you're looking 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.
✔️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 where babies pulled the crib sheet corner up and suffocated under the fabric. While it may be tempting to buy keepsake personalized sheets from boutique crafters, we recommend purchasing from reputable brands and retailers that are familiar with standard crib sheet size and safety guidelines. 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. Lastly, follow the CSPC's tips for a safe crib sleep environment, which includes using a tight-fitting crib mattress and putting baby alone in the crib without any blankets or stuffed toys.
PBK earns our top spot because it checks off all the boxes for a safe and comfortable crib sheet without being too pricey: It's made of soft and smooth organic cotton, uses a secure fit that stays in place on the mattress, and has held up well to years of use in our own homes. It also comes in seemingly endless styles to match any nursery, from solid neutrals to bright floral prints.
Crib sheets can get pricey, especially since you should purchase multiple to have on hand for the inevitable spit-up and diaper leaks. If you're looking to save, this one is under $10 and is Amazon's Choice for crib sheets with over 7,800 reviews and a 4.7-star average rating. It's made of polyester microfiber, which feels buttery soft (still, it won't have the same luxe feel as natural cotton). It also comes in nine different colors and a standard fit to match crib mattresses.
Brooklinen's Luxe Sateen Sheet Set is the winner of our best sheets roundup for adult-size beds thanks to its outstanding performance in Lab and consumer tests. It uses the exact same cotton fabric in these crib sheets for babies with a snug fit to stay on securely. The prints are more modern than your typical nursery style and can be purchased as a set of two where you mix and match the designs.
This organic cotton fitted sheet stands out for being both Amazon's best-selling crib sheet and a registry favorite at Buy Buy Baby. Besides being organic, it's a jersey knit that feels more like a soft T-shirt than a typical woven bed sheet. Jersey fabric typically doesn't hold up as well in our bedding durability tests, but this one's ideal for parents that are looking for a super soft yet safe surface for their babies.
This crib sheet is also a jersey knit that feels incredibly soft, but it features a range of beautiful prints from florals to animals to plaids and stripes. It's more expensive than others and the rayon fabric may pill more easily over time, but it comes in a wide range of coordinating items including changing pad covers, swaddles, burp cloths and more, so you can set up your entire nursery to match the fun designs.
Parachute's Percale Sheet Set is another top performer in our bed sheets tests and stands out for its basic weave that feels lightweight and crisp. It's also durable, so you can expect this crib sheet to last for years. This one's also perfect for parents with a minimalist aesthetic that want to avoid the loud baby designs you often find on crib sheets.
Aden + anais is best known for its multi-use muslin blankets, but you can get that same fabric in your crib sheet as well. The cotton muslin is more open and breathable 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. Just note that the looser weave may not seem as smooth or taut on your crib mattress.
Flannel fabric is brushed to help trap in air and add warmth. Since babies can't have blankets in their cribs, some parents may opt for a flannel sheet to help during the cold winter months. This one in particular is made of cotton and comes in a variety of prints. Just note that the brushed loose fibers that help it feel soft and cozy may also contribute to it showing signs of wear sooner than other sheet fabrics.