8 of the best baby bedding for cots, cribs and Moses baskets

If your baby is struggling to sleep, even with their brand new bedding, then it may be worthwhile trying a sleep aid or white noise machine to help them drift off.

Best baby bedding at a glance

• Best Moses basket sheet: Sue & Samuel Moses Basket Sheet, £12.99
• Best waterproof sheet: Fred & Flo Waterproof Cotbed Sheet, £7
• Best long-lasting sheet: Snüz Cot & Cotbed 2-Pack Fitted Sheet, £24.95
• Best organic sheet: The Little Green Sheep Organic Cot & Cotbed Fitted Sheet, £24.95
• Best temperature-regulating sheet: Panda Pack of 2 Bamboo Cotbed Fitted Sheets, £40
• Best bedside crib sheet: Mothercare Jersey Fitted Bedside Crib Sheets – 2 Pack, £8
• Best sheet for neutral tones: Mamas & Papas Born To Be Wild Safari Cotbed Sheets – 2 Pack, £29
• Best sensory bed sheet: Gilded Bird Fitted Cot Sheet, £35

What to consider when choosing baby bedding

Size – Whether your baby sleeps in a cot, cotbed, crib or Moses basket, ensure that your chosen fitted sheet is designed to fit, so that it is not baggy or too small for the mattress. We've included the sizes the sheets fit in the product specifications below to help you out.

Ease of care – Your baby's sheets will need washing regularly, so it's a good idea to get ones that are easy to wash. All the choices in the round-up are machine washable, however, some can't be tumble dried so make sure to read the care instructions before purchasing.

Fabric – Cotton is the most common fabric used for baby sheets and is a good choice as it's breathable, light and soft. However, for sustainable options try organic cotton and bamboo, which is really good at regulating your baby's temperature.

Is it safe to use a duvet in a cot?

A baby should not sleep with a duvet until at least 1 year old. We reached out to The Lullaby Trust regarding safety surrounding baby bedding. Kate Holmes, Head of Support and Information, said, "The safest place for a baby to sleep is in their own clear separate sleep space, such as a cot or Moses basket, free from pillows, toys, cot bumpers, duvets and loose bedding. For bedding, firmly tucked in sheets and blankets (below shoulder height) or a well-fitted baby sleep bag are good options for babies to sleep in. As overheating is a known risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), it's important to keep an eye on your baby for signs they are getting too hot. If the back of their neck or their chest feels sweaty or clammy it means they are too hot, so remove a layer of bedclothes or bedding to cool them down."

Here's our pick of the best baby bedding:

1. Sue & Samuel Moses Basket Sheet, £12.99

– Best Moses basket sheet

Fabric: Cotton | Size: Moses basket | Care: Machine wash

Sue & Samuel has a lot of wonderful designs in its Moses basket fitted sheet range. Its sheets are handmade with an elasticated edge to fit around the Moses basket mattress, are made from 100% cotton and are machine washable.

We love this pretty Wild Flowers print, but if this pattern doesn't take your fancy then there are so many more to choose from, including a cute Fairy Mouse print and a chic Eucalyptus design.

Parent tester Sally tested these sheets in her 6-week-old baby's Moses basket (pictured above) and said, "I can confidently say that this is one of the best bed sheets I have used for my babies. After a wash, it remains super soft and still fits perfectly."

The sheets are specifically designed to fit Moses baskets, although you can get the same designs for cribs, cots and cotbeds on the Sue & Samuel website..

Pros: Beautiful handmade designs, high quality, various sizes available, washes well, soft feel
Cons: Not available in plain colours

Available from: Not On The High Street and Sue & Samuel

2. Fred & Flo Waterproof Cotbed Sheet, £7

– Best waterproof sheet

Fabric: Cotton, polyester | Size: Cotbed | Care: Machine wash 40°C, tumble dry low heat

This Fred & Flo waterproof sheet is ideal for babies who have a lot of accidents, protecting your cot mattress from any stains and keeping it dry in the face of nappy leaks. It's also really affordable, meaning you could buy multiple sheets for when the others are in the wash.

When it does need washing, it can easily be machine washed and tumble dried at a low temperature.

The sheet – only available in standard cotbed size – is plain white and pattern-free, so is a great choice for minimalists and will coordinate well in any nursery or bedroom.

Pros: Waterproof, easy to wash, affordable
Cons: Plain design, only available for cotbeds

Available from: Tesco

3. Snüz Cot & Cotbed 2 Pack Fitted Sheet, £24.95

– Best for longevity

Fabric: Cotton | Size: Cot, cotbed | Care: Machine wash at 40°C, tumble dry

Snüz offers a 2-pack of high quality plain white sheets to fit both cots and cotbeds. Made from 100% cotton, they are a good quality option that should be a long lasting buy.

The jersey cotton helps make the sheets soft and breathable for your baby, encouraging a good night's sleep for everyone. The sheets are also machine washable and tumble dryer safe.

Pros: 2-pack, durable, breathable, easy to wash, good quality
Cons: Plain white design, no Moses basket sheet option

Available from: Snüz

4. The Little Green Sheep Organic Cot & Cotbed Fitted Sheet, £24.95

– Best organic sheet

Fabric: Organic cotton, organic linen | Size: Cot and cotbed | Care: Machine wash, tumble dryer safe

The Little Green Sheep use organic materials in most of its products, and this fitted sheet is no exception. Made with organic linen and organic cotton, it's a fantastic breathable sheet to help keep your baby cool at night.

The sheet is designed to fit most standard cots and cotbeds and is available in a variety of colours; Honey Rice, Linen Rice, Dove Rice and White Rice.

The sheets are easy to wash too, just put them in the washing machine and tumble dry.

Pros: Organic materials, breathable, variety of colours available, easy to wash
Cons: No Moses basket sheet option, pricey

Available from: The Little Green Sheep

5. Panda Pack of 2 Bamboo Cotbed Fitted Sheets, £40

– Best temperature-regulating sheet

Fabric: Bamboo | Size: Cotbed | Care: Machine wash, line dry

Panda Kids create bedding made with bamboo, which is sustainable, softer than cotton, has anti-allergy properties, helps regulate your baby's temperature and is a great choice for sensitive skin.

Bamboo is very absorbent, so wicks away moisture and odour, helping to keep your baby dry and comfortable while they sleep. However, due to the absorbency of bamboo it does mean that the bedding will shrink up to 4% during its first couple of washes. To make up for this, the bedding will be around 4% larger when you first buy it.

The bamboo sheets are machine washable, however, it is advised that you line dry them rather than tumble dry. They are available in cotbed size and you get 2 per pack, which helps to justify the premium price tag.

Pros: Made from bamboo, sustainable, anti-allergy, good for sensitive skin, helps regulate temperature, 2-pack
Cons: Slightly big at first to account for shrinkage, cannot tumble dry, only available in cotbed size, pricey, plain white design

Available from: Dunelm

6. Mothercare Jersey Fitted Bedside Crib Sheets – 2 Pack, £8

– Best bedside crib sheet

Fabric: Cotton | Size: Crib | Care: Machine wash, tumble dry

Mothercare's sheets are exceptional value, with a pack of 2 coming in at just £8. They're made of 100% cotton and are designed to fit cribs including the best-selling Chicco Next2Me Crib and Tutti Bambini Cozee Crib.

The sheets are easy to wash at 40°C and are tumble dryer safe too. Much like the Fred & Flo sheet, these are plain white, meaning they will fit in with any nursery decor and are a brilliant budget option.

Pros: 2-pack, excellent value, easy to wash
Cons: Only available for cribs, plain design

Available from: Boots

7. Mamas & Papas Born To Be Wild Safari Cotbed Sheets – 2 pack, £29

– Best sheet for neutral tones

Fabric: Cotton | Size: Cotbed | Care: Machine wash at 40°C, tumble dry on low

The Mamas & Papas sheets are a seriously stylish choice, with the pack of 2 including a delicately illustrated safari print and a coordinating plain oatmeal shade. The neutral aesthetic of the sheets is a great way to add subtle hint of colour to your baby's cotbed, without being too bright, meaning it should fit with most nurseries.

With 2 sheets in a pack, you'll always have one ready to use while the other is in the wash. The sheets are made from 100% cotton and are machine washable and tumble dryer safe at a low heat.

The sweet gender-neutral safari themed sheets are available in standard cotbed size.

Pros: Cute design, neutral colours, 2-pack, easy to wash, good quality
Cons: Only available for cotbeds, pricey

Available from: Mamas & Papas

8. Gilded Bird Fitted Cot Sheet, £35

– Best sensory bed sheet

Fabric: Organic cotton, elastane | Size: Cot and cotbed | Care: Machine wash, tumble dry very low

Gilded Bird has a similar aesthetic to Sue & Samuel, offering lots of beautifully-designed sheets for your baby, albeit at a higher price point.

Parent tester Hayley tested a feather design Gilded Bird sheet in her baby's cot (pictured above) and loved how high quality it was, commenting: "This sheet is exceptional quality, incredibly easy to put on the mattress and washes really well, keeping its shape and softness."

The Woodland cot sheet was a particular hit, thanks to the contrasting black and white design featuring pretty hand-drawn woodland motifs which can help your baby's sensory development.

The sustainably-produced sheets are made of organic cotton, with a touch of elastane to help them fit your baby's mattress perfectly.

They fit standard cots and cotbeds and are machine washable and tumble dryer safe.

Pros: Beautiful designs, good for sensory development, made from organic cotton, sustainably made, easy to wash
Cons: Only suitable for cot and cot bed, pricey

Available from: The Gilded Bird