If you've ever stood in a store (or scrolled endlessly online) trying to figure out what size blanket to buy a baby, you're not alone. It's confusing, blankets labels say "receiving", "crib", and "toddler" without really explaining what the differences are and what they're for, and you're left wanting specific advice. Here's our breakdown.
Baby blankets are typically 30 by 40 inches for newborns and 36 by 48 for toddlers and young ones.
There's no single standard size because the right one depends on age and what the blanket is for. Most commonly:
| Blanket type | Size (inches) | What it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving blanket | 30 x 30 to 30 x 40 | Swaddling and feeds in the first weeks and are washed constantly |
| Newborn blanket | 30 x 30 to 30 x 40 | Stroller, car seat, tummy time, cute photos |
| Crib blanket | 36 x 48 | Nursery use in year one and in the crib after month twelve |
| Daycare or nap blanket | 36 x 48 | Standard nap mat with extra tuck-in room |
| Toddler blanket | 36 x 48 to 50 x 60 | Toddler bed, couch, travel |
| Throw blanket | 50 x 60 | Older kids and adults, sharing on the couch with family or draped over furniture |
Black links are navigation and blue links are for external examples
- Receiving blanket size
- Newborn blanket size
- Crib blanket size and daycare nap blankets
- Toddler blanket size and when to move to a throw
- Our three sizes: mini, midi, and throw
- What to buy, and for whom
Receiving blanket size
30 by 30 to 30 by 40 inches
Receiving blankets are the small blankets that are used the most in the first few weeks. They're for swaddling or draping over your lap or shoulder during feeds which also means they catch the majority of the spit-up and messes. As a result, parents keep a rotation of these because of how frequent they're either in the wash or waiting to be washed. Since they're handled to so roughly and washed so often, these blankets are usually inexpensive and are meant more for their utility than something long lasting.
Newborn blanket size
30 by 40 inches
This type of blanket is what most folks mean when they're searching for a "baby blanket". It's a similar, slightly larger size to receiving blankets but are used entirely different. These are the ones you typically see in strollers, on car seats, or used for tummy time, so they're meant to last for comfort first and aesthetics second (for the pictures and memories!).
It's not washed as frequent as receiving or swaddle blankets because they don't through as much wear and tear, so parents and families would want to invest in something quality.
That's also what we made our Mini Blankets for. They're sized and designed for newborns, babies, and toddlers: 30 by 40 inches, big enough to tuck around a baby without yards of fabric dragging on the ground yet small enough for easy travel and safe cuddles. Ours are knit to order in our Long Island factory in Egyptian cotton, organic cotton, or extra-fine merino, with designs curated from independent artists.
Crib blanket & daycare nap blanket sizes
36 by 48 inches
One safety note: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies and infants under twelve months shouldn't sleep with anything loose in the crib, including blankets. So, these should be used in the nursery outside the crib at least during the first year.
The names give it away, but these are for cribs and nap time as a blanket to sleep with. Standard crib mattresses are about 28 by 52 inches, so a 36 by 48 inch blanket easily covers the width while leaving some extra fabric to tuck on the sides.
Separately, nap mat sizes at daycares are similar to that of crib mattresses, about 22 by 48 inches, so 36 by 48 inch nap blankets are perfect. Here's how you'd visualize a 36 by 48 inch blanket covering a standard crib mattress or nap mat:
Shop Biquette's Play & Grow Blanket →
By this age, a blanket isn't catching food spit-up or messes anymore but instead slowly growing with toddlers as fond memories and in family photos, so it's important to invest in one that's quality made, soft and non-irritable towards skin, and also has a great design that matches your kid's taste!
Biquette's personalized knit baby blankets take that a step further. We've curated a collection of baby blankets with complementary knitted personalization, meaning you can add a name, a date, or a short note that becomes part of the design itself.
Explore Biquette's Baby & Kid's Blankets →
Toddler blanket sizes and when to move to a full throw
36 by 48 to 50 by 60 inches
A toddler bed uses a crib mattress, so a 36 by 48 still fits. As kids get bigger, a 50 by 60 throw covers them with plenty of overhang, works on the couch for the whole family, and usually starts moving out of the nursery and into the rest of the house.
At the 50 by 60 inch size, rather than just being nursery decor or a blanket to sleep with, these throws become a household fixture that should feel very luxurious and soft to the touch.
Biquette's full-size knit throws are made and designed to be a statement piece in any room you leave it. These are knitted in the same Egyptian cotton, organic cotton, and extra-fine merino wool as other sizes with the same independent artist designs and made-to-order process.
Our three sizes: mini, midi, and throw
We knit in three sizes, each meant for a different use and recipient.
- Mini, 30 by 40 inches. For newborns and the first year. Big enough to swaddle, lay down for tummy time, or tuck around a baby in a stroller or car seat without fabric dragging on the ground.
- Midi, 36 by 48 inches. Covers early and growing toddlers with more fabric, fits a crib mattress once a child is old enough to sleep with a blanket, works as a daycare nap blanket, and is still the right size for a five-year-old on the couch. This is the best size if you're buying one blanket for a young kid or looking for a good lap blanket.
- Throw, 50 by 60 inches. For adults or older kids. Covers one person from lap to shoulders on a couch or in a reading chair, and folds well over an armrest or the end of a bed when it's not in use.
If you're deciding between two sizes, go larger. Extra fabric gives you more to work with, and a slightly larger blanket ends up feeling more inviting.
What to buy, and for whom
If you're shopping for a baby shower gift, the most common instinct is to grab something small and baby-specific. But, the most loved gifts tend to be the ones that last past the newborn phase. A knit baby blanket for the nursery in the 36 by 48 range won't be outgrown at least for the first few years and fits beautifully in the space. Our baby shower gifts collection is sorted with that in mind.
If you're buying for a baby under six months, keep in mind that the everyday washing-machine blankets are a practical need any parent has already sorted out. What they might not have is something that looks beautiful in the room, holds up over time, and is a memorable one-of-one.
All of our blankets are machine washable on cold and tumble dry safe on low, so they can be used and cared for over the long run. We dive into our manufacturing practices and sustainable philosophies about our brand here.
For more on what separates a blanket that lasts from one that doesn't (fiber, construction, and finishing), see our guide to how to choose a knit throw blanket, or browse our full blankets collection.
