The 6 Best Baby Blankets of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
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Our overall winner was the NTBAY Jersey Cotton Quilted Baby Blanket for its incredibly soft, sweatshirt-like feel, and for its durability and great value.
People / Jessica Juliao
Baby blankets are one of the most popular gifts for new arrivals. They’re useful for many purposes—tummy time, an extra layer for warmth in the stroller, to use while feeding — and there’s a nostalgic quality to them, as well. Some of us even hold on to our favorite blanket for decades after childhood.
Given the popularity and versatility of baby blankets, we put 22 to the test for new parents and gift-givers. Please note: Baby blankets should never be used in a crib or sleeping space for children under one year.
“Babies under a year old should never sleep with a loose blanket and no blankets rolled into a makeshift sleep positioner," pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp, founder of Happiest Baby tells PEOPLE. "In short, there should be no blankets in your baby’s sleep space whatsoever! But that doesn’t mean baby blankets are useless."
He notes that a soft and cozy baby blanket is perfect to lay on the floor for tummy time and that a lightweight, breathable blanket can be draped over you and your little one while nursing. "And in cold weather, a warm blanket can be snugly tucked around your baby in the stroller," he notes.
Out of the nearly two dozen blankets our testers evaluated, we named nine winners. Read on for more on our favorites.
Best Overall: NTBAY Jersey Cotton Quilted Baby Blanket
Pros
It has incredibly soft material.
It's a great price for a blanket that’s built to last.
Cons
It has specific washing instructions (but you can wash it with other similar items and it should be fine).
We found this quilted cotton blanket to be very soft — almost like sweatshirt material. Our tester's infant child liked to grab the edge and "gum" it, and enjoyed holding it in his hands and playfully scrunching it up.
Though we had some concerns that the material would become rougher when washed, the opposite proved to be true — in fact, the material actually got softer after laundering. While we did follow the instructions exactly (machine-wash cold, gentle cycle, tumble-dry at a low temperature), we also expect the blanket to hold up if you wash it the way most new parents would: in a large load of laundry without fussing over settings.
“In the avalanche of baby blankets you get, it's nice to have a thicker option that can grow with him,” our tester said of the blanket, which she used during tummy time and in her carrier for chilly walks outside. “I plan to use this for a long time, simply because it has been so durable and is a nice, thicker blanket.”
And the price is the icing on the cake — around $15 for a blanket you're sure to use for years to come is an excellent value in our book.
Size: 30 x 40 inches | Colors: 10 | Material: Cotton jersey
People / Jessica Juliao
RELATED: The Best Sleep Sacks of 2023
Best Knit: Sweet Acorn Knit Baby Blanket
Pros
It has a high-end look and feel.
It has breathable material.
It's a great baby gift that would photograph well.
Cons
It's not as soft as chenille if that’s your preferred blanket fabric.
Your baby will be newborn photoshoot-ready with this knit blanket perfect for gifting. “This would make a great baby gift and is definitely photo-ready for cute newborn images with its knit construction,” says our tester. “Looks high end.”
A medium-weight blanket with a decent amount of stretch, we thought it would be a great option for tucking around a baby in a stroller on chilly days. We also appreciated that it's 100% organic cotton to give you a bit of peace of mind about what is touching your little one's skin. Considering the sweater-like material and solid construction, we found this blanket to be a great value.
While the blanket did wash well in testing, it’s worth noting that the care label says to reshape and lay flat to dry — not the most realistic chore for a new parent. However, one of our testers did not have a drying rack accessible so she draped the blanket over a laundry basket to dry, “and it seemed to retain its shape just fine!”
Size: 30 x 40 inches | Colors: 6 | Material: 100% organic cotton
PEOPLE / Jessica Juliao
Best Versatility: Burt’s Bees Baby Reversible Blanket
Pros
It's very soft.
It's both affordable and versatile.
It washes well.
Cons
Our tester found it to be a bit of an odd size.
We tested this breathable blanket with an organic cotton shell and polyester fill in various scenarios: On the couch while the baby lounged, on the floor for playtime, and over a stroller for use during outings. We found it to be a bit of an unusual size that might be best suited for use as a quilted play mat rather than taking it on the go where it might not properly provide enough coverage for your baby's stroller or to use for taller toddlers.
Overall, this blanket is well-made, soft, not too heavy, and durable. The quality of the blanket remained in tact after washing, too.
Size: 30 x 40 inches | Colors: 10 | Material: 100% organic jersey shell, 100% polyester fill
PEOPLE / Jessica Juliao
Best Bamboo: Emerson and Friends Wild and Free Luxury Bamboo Baby Blanket
Pros
It has soft, stretchy material without bulk.
It washes well.
Cons
The price point is on the higher side for a baby blanket.
For this chic printed bamboo blanket, one of our testers used it with her 6-month-old daughter while she was in her stroller. “She was happy to be wrapped in this blanket,” says the tester. “At no point did she look uncomfortable and kick it off.”
The material is interesting — almost like a stretchy T-shirt — albeit very soft with a nice weight that doesn't feel too heavy or bulky. After multiple washes, it remained soft and stretchy with no pilling. Additionally, we found this blanket to be very easy to layer under a footmuff, in a car seat, or a stroller.
While we did consider the price to be on the higher end of the spectrum for what you get, it's overall very durable and high-quality.
Colors: 1 | Material: Bamboo
PEOPLE / Jessica Juliao
Best Splurge: Pottery Barn Kids Meredith Oversized Muslin Baby Blanket
Pros
It's a great size for use through the baby and toddler stages.
It's very durable and well-constructed.
Cons
It's expensive (though worth its value over time).
This blanket is undoubtedly an investment, though it will grow with your child. While we found that it was too oversized to use as a stroller blanket, it was great to lay out on floor for playtime for both infants and younger kids. After age 1, you could also use it as a blanket in your little one's crib or as a bedspread or quilt when it comes time for their "big kid" bed.
“My daughter sits on it for a good portion of the day and her siblings come to visit her on the blanket too, so it gets a lot of wear!” says our tester. “We launder it often and it washes beautifully… just as soft as when we got it.”
Size: 47 x 47 inches | Colors: 1 | Material: 100% organic cotton muslin
Best for Nursing: aden + anais Dream Blanket
Pros
It boasts breathable cotton material while still being fluffy.
It washes well.
Cons
The natural material is not as soft to the touch as some polyester blankets.
It's on the pricey side.
Here’s another blanket that’s a good choice for laying on the floor for tummy time or playtime. The two layers of cotton muslin also make it a great choice for nursing as the material is cozy but breathable.
However, it’s not as soft to the touch as other blankets made out of synthetic materials, like polyester, but we like that the cotton is breathable while still being somewhat heavier in weight. (This blanket is substantially thicker than the very popular aden + anais swaddle blankets, which are also a great choice for draping over a shoulder while nursing.)
Finally, this blanket washed well, looking just as good as it did when we first received it.
Size: 47.24 x 47.24 inches | Colors: 22 | Material: 100% cotton muslin
PEOPLE / Jessica Juliao
Related: The 9 Best Weighted Blankets of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Things to Consider
Materials
Comfort is key with a baby blanket — using a super soft material that isn't took bulky or heavy is key so baby can be cozy and soothed. “I’m a fan of 100-percent organic materials for babies, which is super soft on a baby’s delicate skin,” says Dr. Karp.
Cara Dumaplin, founder of Taking Cara Babies, adds, “When looking for a blanket, keep in mind that new skin can be irritated by harsh dyes and chemicals. I recommend a washable blanket made of organic cotton or muslin. We also want to avoid fabrics and yarns that shed, threads that can easily unravel, and blankets with tassels." In other words, prioritize durability so that the blanket stays in tact and can also be used time and time again.
Related: The 7 Best Turkish Towels of 2024, According to Textile Experts and Our Tests
Safety
Babies under a year old should not use a blanket in their crib, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. When you are using a blanket with your little one, regardless of their age, consider the added elements that could pose potential danger. “You’ll want to make sure that your little one’s blanket is free of any would-be choking or strangulation hazards, like loose ribbons or buttons,” says Dr. Karp.
Pricing
Our winners came in a range of price points. 100-percent organic cotton tends to raise the price point, as does the larger size of some blankets. If those are priorities for you or for your gift-giving, be prepared to spend more. Our picks for the best splurge, knit, and nursing blankets are all 100-percent organic cotton.
PEOPLE / Jessica Juliao
How We Tested
Our testers unpacked, washed, and inspected each baby blanket for any damage. Then, they used each blanket regularly for one week, laundering as instructed, noting any shrinking, fading, or pilling of the materials. Testers gave each blanket a 1-5 rating on its comfort, ease of use, durability, and—only after learning the price—value. The scoring system, as well as testers’ commentary on each individual blanket, were factored into deciding the winners.
Frequently Asked Questions
If they can’t be used in a crib, what are safe uses for baby blankets?
“Although seeing a baby cuddled up in a soft, cozy blanket is an image many think of, the truth is that The American Academy of Pediatrics does NOT recommend using a loose blanket in the crib until babies are at least a year old,” Dumaplin tells PEOPLE. Instead, baby blankets can be used “on the floor for play or tummy time activities, over little legs in the stroller to protect skin from the sun or wind, or as a nursing cover if you prefer a bit of privacy."
Dumaplin notes that some blankets are simply keepsakes with baby’s name embroidered on them, so while they make for a great gift, it’s more of a decoration or something to be saved rather than used.
How many blankets does a baby need?
“I recommend having 4-6 blankets,” says Dumaplin. “Maybe one thicker, bigger one to lay down on the floor for play time, a couple smaller muslin ones to use as a quick cover, and then one or two warmer receiving blankets to cover baby on those wintery days when the stroller needs additional warmth.”
Adds content creator and mother of three, Ariana Christie, “The limit does NOT exist! Before our babies were born, I thought, 'We must have way too many blankets!' (we had an entire drawer full), but I quickly realized that you can never have enough blankets. Between using them for spit up, clean up, comfort, nursing, and swaddling, you can never have enough!”
What’s the best blanket for a newborn?
Dr. Karp suggests caregivers consider a swaddle-style blanket: “Swaddling is proven to help calm crying and prolong sleep. A swaddle blanket should be light and breathable, ideally made of cotton or muslin, and measure at least 44 inches by 44 inches. Swaddling a baby in a baby blanket that’s too big, too small, or too heavy can easily lead to unsafe unwrapping and/or overheating.
Adds Christie of her own babies, “it was important to learn to swaddle properly for safety. The nurses at the hospital taught us how to properly swaddle and we got it down to an art! Having a good quality blanket with a little bit of stretch is my favorite to swaddle with.”
Why Trust PEOPLE?
In compiling this list of best baby blankets, our staff writers relied on the experiences of our team of product testers, online user reviews, and interviews with Dr. Harvey Karp, pediatrician and founder of Happiest Baby, Cara Dumaplin of Taking Cara Babies, and Ariana Christie, content creator and mother of three.
Meet Our Experts
Dr. Harvey Karp is a pediatrician, child development and baby sleep expert. He is on faculty at University of Southern California School of Medicine and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Cara Dumaplin is a pediatric nurse and the founder of Taking Cara Babies — a resource for parents to help with an assortment of childcare concerns such as newborn sleep.
Ariana Christie is a content creator and mother of three with over 55,000 followers on Instagram.
What Is People Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
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