Best Crib Sheets: Best Safe & Comfortable Materials for Your Newborn

Babies have delicate, sensitive skin, and they love to put nearby objects in their mouths. That’s why it’s so important to create a secure sleeping environment for them, with only safe, clean and gentle materials in their cribs. 

The best sheets for newborns are soft, easy to care for and free from toxins and allergens. After all, bedtime and sleep training are already a challenge. You shouldn’t have to worry about introducing hazards into your nursery.

Baby-Safe and Earth-Friendly Materials

Ideally, the fabrics in your nursery should be free from chemical additives and should start with a certified manufacturing process. The more you know about your crib sheets and baby bedding and where it comes from, the better.

Avoiding Hidden Hazards

Many of the synthetic softening additives and dyes used in textile manufacturing can actually be hazardous or allergy-inducing. That’s why it’s so important to know as much as possible about your baby’s crib sheets and shop exclusively from safety-focused brands. 

Organizations like GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and Oeko-Tex work hard to ensure the fabrics they certify are safe for consumers like you, for your little one, for garment workers and for the environment.

By choosing GOTS and Oeko-Tex certified sheets for your baby, you’re joining a proactive global movement focused on safety and maintaining the health of the planet for future generations.

For more information about Oeko-Tex and GOTS and they’re certification processes, read on: 

• What is Oeko-Tex? Learn About This Textile Certification Standard

• What is GOTS Certified Organic Cotton? Learn More About This Textile Certification Standard

Simplified Care for Crib Sheets

Laundry is one of those unavoidable tasks in any home, especially once a baby arrives! Simplify your laundry and cleaning routine by choosing the best crib sheets made with fabrics that have easy, hassle-free care instructions. By starting with the right materials, you can spend less time doing the wash and more time snuggling and watching your baby discover their new world.

When it comes to laundry, the simpler the better. That’s why Parachute focuses on high-quality materials that won’t require fabric softeners, harsh detergents or complex washing and drying instructions.

Read up on caring for your baby’s bedding in our helpful guide: The Best Way to Wash, Dry and Care for Baby Bedding & Baby Towels.

Organic cotton is one of the most impressive and comfortable fabrics on the planet. That’s why it’s such an ideal material for the best baby sheets. From its soft and inviting texture to its lasting durability, cotton is a truly fantastic fabric for your baby’s crib. 

By choosing a soft and snuggly Organic Cotton Crib Sheet, you can prioritize healthy sleeping habits for your little one. 

In your search for the best crib sheets, you may find that many manufacturers claim to offer organic cotton, yet few are certified organic by GOTS and hazard-free by Oeko-Tex. Go the extra mile for your baby and the planet by selecting only the best organic cotton crib sheets and bedding products.

To learn more about your baby’s sleeping habits and what to expect at bedtime, read our guide: Newborn Sleeping Habits: Sleepytime Tips for Your Baby.

Light and Baby-Safe Linen

It’s important to maintain a comfortable and safe temperature when we sleep. No one wants to wake up too hot or shiver in the night. For babies, a consistent temperature between 68° and 72 °F is vital for good health.

Linen is a versatile crib sheet fabric for any climate, keeping hot sleepers cool and cool sleepers warm. Take advantage of Oeko-Tex certified Linen Crib Sheets to keep your baby happy and comfortable all night long.

Percale for Easy Care

Diaper leaks, spit-ups, spills and other messy accidents happen frequently in any home with a newborn. Make your life a bit simpler with the best crib sheets made from materials that are easy to machine wash and dry without the need for chemical fabric softeners. 

Percale is one of the best crib sheet materials because it’s breathable, durable and pill-resistant. As an added benefit, Percale Crib Sheets continue to get softer with every wash, so you can look forward to many cozy nights ahead.

Unparalleled Softness of Brushed Cotton

Who doesn’t love to slip into a well-worn t-shirt at the end of a long day? Brushed cotton baby bedding provides a similarly cozy feel to your most comfortable clothing so your little one can drift off to dreamland on a layer of softness.

As you shop for brushed cotton crib sheets, look for garment-washed fabrics for a soft touch from the very first use and vibrant colors that won’t bleed in the wash cycle or on delicate skin.

Learn more, Brushed Cotton: Know Your Bedding Like a Designer.

Best Baby Blanket Materials

Stay Warm with Cozy Cashmere

A Cashmere Baby Blanket is a perfect accessory for chilly days in the stroller and for rocking-chair snuggles. Offering the warmth of wool without feeling scratchy or irritating against your baby’s sensitive skin, cashmere is durable, pill-resistant and cozy without added bulk.

A honeycomb knit and 100% cashmere heathered yarn offer the perfect combination of style, softness and retained warmth.

You can learn more about what sets Parachute’s cashmere apart in our guide: What Makes the Best Cashmere?

Waffle Weave Cotton

No matter the weather, it’s hard to go wrong with a Waffle Baby Blanket. Offering gentle warmth while maintaining peak breathability, you can feel confident wrapping your newborn up for afternoon snuggles in comfy waffle cotton. 

Consider carrying an extra waffle blanket in your car, diaper bag or stroller for a quick and easy nursing drape. You’ll maintain your modesty without worrying about your baby overheating during mealtime.

What is Waffle Weave? Read on to find out. 

When you’re shopping for organic cotton crib bedding sets, look for products with the GOTS certification to boost your peace of mind. 

With GOTS-approved products, the full manufacturing process from growing the cotton to harvesting, weaving and dyeing the fabric are guaranteed free from harmful chemicals and pesticides. GOTS also ensures that garment workers are treated fairly and given a safe work environment.

Support Health with Oeko-Tex Safety Standards

While GOTS monitors the textile manufacturing process, Oeko-Tex tests finished textiles and all of their components, from threads and labels to buttons and zippers, ensuring they stay free from potentially harmful substances.

Companies that choose to maintain Oeko-Tex safety certification commit to keeping chemicals, toxins and harmful substances like carcinogens, pesticides, heavy metals and formaldehyde out of the manufacturing process and away from finished products. After all, the best crib sheets should help ensure the health of your newborn.

Selecting certified Oeko-Tex crib sheets for your baby means choosing only materials that can safely come in contact with your baby’s skin. That’s something every parent can feel good about.

Protecting the Earth With Carbon Neutral Bedding

Part of raising a happy, healthy baby is doing your part to protect the planet your family calls home. Parachute believes that while comfort and product quality are incredibly important, it's everyone’s responsibility to prioritize environmentally friendly practices as well.

That’s why Parachute works with Climate Neutral to support a sustainable future through carbon offset credits, actionable emissions reduction goals and a commitment to transition to 100% organic cotton for all cotton fabric products by the end of 2024.

To learn more about Parachute’s long-standing environmental values, read our Earth Day announcement: Parachute is Climate Neutral Certified. 

Set your newborn up for sleeping success with a super-soft Muslin Swaddling Blanket. Designed with breathability and cozy softness in mind, double-layer muslin blankets are perfect for making newborns feel secure as they slumber.

Toddler Sheets and Bedding for Continued Comfort

Between twelve and twenty-four months of age, your baby becomes a toddler and you can start introducing a pillow and blanket into their crib or bed. 

Even though they’re a little older and less at risk of nighttime hazards, it’s still a good idea to select bedding without fringes, buttons or loose components. It’s also wise to avoid heavy and oversized blankets.

Want to learn more about selecting bedding to go with your ultra soft crib sheets? Review what to expect when your toddler transitions to using pillows and blankets in our post: Baby Pillow and Blanket Guide: When Can Newborns Sleep With a Pillow and Blanket? 

Toddler Safe Pillows

For your little one’s first pillow, consider investing in a small Toddler Pillow with a hypoallergenic microfiber filling that’s easy to clean as needed. 

Choose a cuddly pillow sham made of linen or cloud cotton for the best naptime snuggles and post-feeding naps. These pillows also make a great addition to any nursery, providing extra arm or back support during feedings.

Toddler Quilts

A Toddler Linen Box Quilt or Cloud Cotton Toddler Quilt will keep your growing toddler cozy under fluffy, soft, baby-safe fabric, whether they’re sleeping in a toddler bed or watching their favorite movie on the couch.

For information about other safe and helpful accessories for your baby and toddler, read about Baby Bibs & Burp Cloths in our blog!