7 Best Crib Sheets for Your Little One, Tested and Reviewed

Crib sheets can get pricey, but the Honest Baby fitted crib sheets manage to deliver high quality at an affordable price tag. These sheets fit snugly over my daughter's mattress, creating a nice, sleek fit that was the most precise of all of the sheets I tested. The pattern is pretty without being over-the-top, and Honest has an arsenal of other color and pattern options to choose from.

These sheets are made from 100% organic, GOTS-certified cotton, and have a soft feel that gets even more comfortable with repeated washings. It held up well over several wash cycles—there was no pilling or shrinkage—and has continued to perform well, even after the testing was finished. The sheets did wrinkle out of the dryer, but because of the secure fit the wrinkles mostly went away once the sheets were back on the crib. I was impressed by the high quality look and feel for $20—these sheets are stitched well and seem durable enough to be handed down at some point. In fact, I loved these sheets so much that they’re currently on my daughter’s mattress. At this price point and with the sweet pattern selection, I’ll not only keep using these with my daughter, but pick them up for great baby shower gifts in the future.

Material: 100% organic cotton | Care instructions: Machine wash

Rookie Humans features the work of talented artists, creating a canvas in every crib sheet—and swaddles, rugs and more. The Rookie Humans Fitted Crib Sheet lived up to the hype, with an adorable space print everyone in my family loved. (The brand has several other fun, artistic prints for parents to select from, including one that looks like baby is napping next to woodland animals.)

But these sheets do more than just look good. The sheets are OEKO-TEX certified and made without harmful chemicals, and the sateen weave is smooth to the touch. The sheets felt a little stiff at first, but softened up with repeated washings. They still weren’t the softest I tested, but they also weren’t the scratchiest, and the fit was impressively perfect, like it was tailor-made for my daughter’s mattress.

The sheets are machine washable, and I tossed them in with the rest of my laundry. I had no issues with fading or pilling, although the sheets looked a little wrinkled out of the wash. However, because the fit of the sheets is so good, the wrinkles stretched out on my daughter's mattress. These sheets are great for photos and the colors and print really pops. If you have a muted nursery decor, these sheets are unlikely to work for you. But for those looking to branch out a little, they pay for themselves in photo ops alone.

Material: 100% cotton sateen | Cleaning instructions: Machine wash

Parachute has built a reputation for creating luxury bedding since its launch a decade ago, and the brand’s brushed cotton crib sheet features the same high-end material as their adult version. The sheets feel high-quality right out of the package—the fabric is strong and the elastic is sturdy. They fit well over my daughter’s crib, but did have a little extra room. (Making sure the corners are tucked in tight creates a sleeker fit.)

These sheets only come in two colors—ivory and dusk—but they match nearly any decor. My daughter's nursery mostly features lighter shades, and I had concerns about how this would look, but it blended in perfectly. The sheets, which are OEKO-TEX certified to be free of certain harmful substances, are machine washable and held up just fine with my other laundry. They also got softer with each washing, creating a buttery feel with a crisp look. However, they did become wrinkly out of the dryer and maintained that slightly wrinkled look on my daughter's mattress until they were tucked in tighter.

The sheets aren’t cheap, but they’re sturdy and very likely to be hand-me-downs in the future. I’m the daughter of a home ec teacher, and I know my tailoring—Parachute did a great job with these sheets.

Material: 100% brushed cotton | Cleaning instructions: Machine wash, tumble dry

There are soft crib sheets, and then there are crib sheets that are so buttery, you can’t stop touching them. Copper Pearl’s Premium Fitted Knit Crib Sheet falls into the second category. These sheets have the same feeling as an old T-shirt, with a stretchy feel that makes them a breeze to put on a crib mattress.

The sheets feature a tight, thick elastic band with strong stitching that looks like it will hold up for years. They also have quirky prints—we tested the adorable milk and cookies design, but also loved the buffalo grazing by cacti and the lounging sloths. The printing quality is top tier—there's even shading on the cookies—and it didn't fade with repeated washings. And while the softness and prints are the big draw, Copper Pearl’s sheets are also impressively resilient. I washed them with my son’s ice hockey equipment (which features plenty of hard edges) and there was no pilling or damage to the sheets. These sheets are made from rayon, not cotton, but they feel like they could be used for a long time.

Material: Rayon | Cleaning instructions: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low

Babies with sensitive skin can be irritated by just about anything, including crib sheets. Burt’s Bees’ Beesnug crib sheets feature 100% organic, GOTS-certified cotton that’s designed for sensitive little ones. The sheets fit perfectly on my daughter's standard crib mattress and did a nice job of hugging the corners.

I was surprised by how much I loved these sheets. My family’s used Burt’s Bees cotton shirts and onesies in the past, and I’ve never been crazy about them, I always thought they were slightly stiffer than other brands. But these sheets are the perfect amount of softness—not overly stretchy but not stiff, either. If you’re looking for sheets for sensitive skin, the quality of the fabric is going to be super important, and these sheets fit the bill.

Of course the quality doesn’t stop at the fabric—the stitching and fabric all look like they’ll hold up well over time, and the printing is high quality. I tossed these sheets in with the rest of my wash and they came out great, with no difference in color or the print after these sheets were repeatedly washed.

Material: 100% organic cotton | Cleaning instructions: Machine wash

Whether you live in a warm climate or your baby tends to sleep hot, breathable sheets can help your little one feel more comfortable in bed. The high quality muslin fabric on the Mushie Extra Soft Muslin Fitted Crib Sheet has a light, airy texture, making them the most breathable crib sheets we tested. The sheets are soft to touch but durable, with heavy-duty elastic around the bottom for a secure fit.

Visually the sheets are gorgeous, with a range of neutral tones and muted patterns that will match well with nearly any nursery. I was impressed at how well these held up in the wash. They accidentally went through a round in the washing machine with a pair of velcro-closure sneakers at one point and didn’t have any pilling or damage. Mushie’s sheets would make great gifts, given their pretty look and comfortable feel.

Material: 100% cotton | Cleaning instructions: Machine wash, lay flat to dry

Crib sheets with non-cotton fabrics can run up to $60 and beyond. Olive + Crate Crib Sheets are made from 100% lyocell, but clock in just over $20, making them a good pick for those looking for a bit of a softer, sleeker feel at an affordable price. The sheets even have an added feature that others don't—an extra elastic strap that hugs the corner to ensure your corners won't pop up. While the elastic around the crib sheets was solid, that added strap felt like a nice insurance policy. Olive + Crate’s sheets come in 11 different shades, ranging from plain white to a muted blue, giving you plenty of colors to choose from.

A heads up: The company recommends that the sheets be tumble-dried on a low setting. I tossed mine in the dryer on a standard setting and had no issues, but sticking to the manufacturer’s instructions will likely extend the life of the sheets. The sheets wrinkle at least a little, no matter how they’re dried (on a line, on low and on regular heat settings). However, they’re comfortable and slightly cool to the touch—my daughter had no complaints.

Material: 100% lyocell | Cleaning instructions: Machine wash, tumble dry low