Having a clean burp cloth on hand during feeds is a must for burping your baby. An absorbent burp cloth catches liquid before it wets or stains your clothes, and it can also be used to wipe away everything from milk and spit-up to mucus and drool. Hundreds of Pampers Parents voted on the best baby burp cloths, and we’ve reviewed their favorites here to help you choose which product to buy.
Why You’ll Need Some Burp Cloths
With a baby or toddler in the house, you’ll be reaching for a burp cloth every day. You'll need one to cover your shoulder during burping sessions to protect your clothes from spit-up, and you may grab one to wipe your baby's runny nose or to capture spit-up, drool, or milk that hasn’t quite made it into the mouth. In other words, you’ll be getting lots of use out of your burp cloths.The soft fabric of a burp cloth makes it ideal to place under your baby’s head as you hold her against your shoulder or chest, and helps protects your clothes from any drool.Some Pampers Parents also mentioned placing a burp cloth on the changing table to soak up any messes during diaper changes. And, some Pampers Parents reported using clean burp cloths as DIY shade covers over the stroller to add a little extra sun protection. Much later on, once your little one no longer needs to be burped, the absorbency of burp cloths makes these products great for cleaning up household spills, for example.
How Many Burp Cloths Do You Need?
There’s no easy way to know ahead of time how many burp cloths you’ll need. Consider having at least one each for the diaper bag, car, and nursing station. Plus, you might like to have some spares stashed away in the nursery in case you run out of clean ones.Don’t forget that you’ll be washing burp cloths regularly, so you can’t go wrong with having a few to spare while the rest are in the wash. All in all, if you buy a multipack and you find you’re still running out of clean burp cloths, then you’ll know it’s time to buy another pack or two. All of the burp cloths that Pampers Parents voted as their favorites come in packs of at least three, though there are some eight packs on the list, too.
How to Choose a Burp Cloth
When it comes to choosing the right baby burp cloth, consider the following features:
Softness. Pampers Parents most frequently mentioned softness as the top feature they looked for in a specific burp cloth. It makes sense, because you want the fabric touching your baby’s delicate skin to be nice and gentle. This is even more important should your baby have drool rash and the area you’re wiping is already feeling quite sensitive or sore.
Absorbency. After softness, this was the feature that Pampers Parents mentioned most often as being of top importance. Whether the burp cloth is thicker or thinner, if it’s super absorbent Pampers Parents loved it. Some burp cloths come with a plastic liner or an ultra-absorbent middle layer so that moisture doesn’t seep through, whereas some products are just so thick that that they catch most of the liquid. Keep in mind that size is also important when it comes to avoiding mess. Even if a smaller cloth is quite absorbent, a bigger amount of spit-up or vomit can roll right off it and onto your clothes.
Machine washable. This is a must because you’ll be washing the burp cloth regularly after spit-up, drool, or vomit. Check that the fabric can go in the dryer, too. Some Pampers Parents mentioned that certain burp cloths fade or lose their shape in the wash, so check out what Pampers Parents say about this (in the product reviews below) before making your choice. All of the products on our list are machine washable.
Colors and patterns. Since you’ll be having the burp cloth on your shoulder, why not choose colors and patterns that bring you joy. There are lots of different burp cloth patterns on the market, so you’ll likely find one you like. Busy patterns may hide stains better. If you buy a multi-pack you may have to settle for liking some of the patterns a little more or less than the others.
Fabric. All of the burp cloths on our list are made of cotton, but some Pampers Parents made a point of saying they appreciated if organic cotton was used. Three of the products voted as the best by Pampers Parents are in fact organic cotton, so look out for these if this is important to you. Another thing that Pampers Parents mentioned was that some fabrics show stains more easily than others, and that some fabrics are more stain resistant than others. Consider this angle, when making your final choice.
Size. Some Pampers Parents favored large burp cloths, which may be less likely to slip off the shoulder, but others said bigger was not always better, because any excess fabric can get in the way.
Shape. Some Pampers Parents mentioned wanting a peanut shaped burp cloth, with a cutout for the neck so that it rests on the shoulders more easily.
Durability. Go with a burp cloth that can withstand lots of wear and tear and won’t fray, fall apart, or lose its shape. Choose one whose stitching and fabric are durable.
Price. You’ll want enough burp cloths so that you never run out of clean ones. The good news is all the burp cloths we recommend come in multipacks. Of those on our list, Hudson Baby Unisex Baby Cotton Flannel Burp Cloths has the most affordable price overall (and you get four burp cloths), but Gerber Baby 8-Pack Flannel Burp Cloth is the most affordable per burp cloth because each cloth comes in at just over $2 each.
The 7 Best Burp Cloths
Ready to shop? Here are the best burp cloths as voted by Pampers Parents:
1. Burt's Bees Baby Burp Cloths
Why pick this one? These 100 percent organic cotton burp cloths were chosen as the best by Pampers Parents. They are two-ply thick for added absorbency, and are made up of three panels for even easier folding and storage.The burp cloth’s size is 16 x 11.8 inches so it can be thrown over the shoulder and may stay on without slipping off.Some Pampers Parents mentioned that these burp cloths withstood up to hundreds of washes. This durability could be due to the rib knit fabric, which the manufacturer claims holds up better than jersey knit fabric.Some parents wished that the packet of five cloths could be slightly more affordable, and that it would be better if more cloths came in a pack.There are lots of different colors to choose from, with each pack having its own unique color scheme. For example, there’s a set with pretty purple and pink florals, and other sets with an emphasis on blue, gray, or teal. Most sets come with mix of busy patterns as well as plain colors.
How many in the pack: 5Price*: about $23.99 on Amazon.com
Pampers Parents pros and cons:
2. Gerber Baby 8-Pack Flannel Burp Cloth
Why pick this one? Coming in at the number two spot is this 100 percent cotton flannel fabric burp cloth.
Like the Burt’s Bees cloth, it has folding panels so that you can store it in the diaper bag or pack it away a little more easily.As we mentioned earlier on, this is one of the most affordable burp cloths on our list.If you like the teal and gray color scheme, then consider going for this one.
How many in the pack: 8Price*: about $17.99 on Amazon.com
Pampers Parents pros and cons:
3. Gerber Baby Flannel Burp Cloth
Why pick this one? At 20 x 14 inches this burp cloth is the same size as the Gerber product that came in at number two, but has bolder colors and patterns. There are not many burp cloths on our list that come in black, so if you like the sleek look of that, then this product could be the way to go.Keep in mind while stripes and dots are fairly common patterns when it comes to baby gear, the bunny print could be hit or miss — you might either love it or hate it. As we mentioned earlier, when buying a multi-pack, one of the drawbacks is that you might like some of the patterns or colors more than others.This product is 100 percent cotton flannel, and like the other Gerber burp cloth the edges are finished to help prevent fraying.
How many in the pack: 8Price*: about $21.94 on Amazon.com
Pampers Parents pros and cons:
4. Muslin Organic Cotton Baby Burp Cloth Set
Why pick this one? These burp cloths are offered in shades of pastel blue, green, yellow, and pink as well as plain white — lovely colors for a baby. There are no patterns, and stains may show more easily on these plain colors.Made of 6 layers of 100 percent organic cotton, these burp cloths should catch most liquids, but some Pampers Parents said they would have liked a thicker backing to prevent fluid seeping through. This burp cloth’s size is 20 x 10 inches, making it quite big, but not as big as the Gerber ones at number 2 and 3 on this list.One thing to bear in mind is that the manufacturer says these burp cloths require a gentle machine wash to ensure the fabric retains its quality. This could be a deal breaker for you if you hate separating laundry and don’t want to spend time gently caring for an item you’ll be throwing in the wash multiple times a week.
How many in the pack: 5Price*: about $17.25 on Amazon.com
Pampers Parents pros and cons:
5. Copper Pearl Baby Burp Cloth Set
Why pick this one? This product is made of 100 percent cotton for your baby’s comfort as she rests her head against your shoulder, and for your comfort (and to protect your clothes!) there’s a middle layer of fleece to catch any spit-up or drool.Some Pampers Parents noted that the middle lining can get out of shape after machine washes, but they also said this is easy to fix. These burp cloths are 21 x 10 inches, making them among the biggest of the burp cloths Pampers Parents voted as the best.Some Pampers Parents even reported their little ones using this burp cloth as a security blanket.Each pack comes with three different designs with colors ranging from black and pink to teal, and the patterns ranging from floral to dinosaurs. There’s one with little bikes on it, and another one that we love that has ice pops on it — perfect for the summer months!And, if you like your little one’s gear to match, you'll be glad to know that this brand has bibs in the same patterns and colors.
How many in the pack: 3Price*: about $19.95 on Amazon.com
Pampers Parents pros and cons:
6. Hudson Baby Unisex Baby Cotton Flannel Burp Cloths
Why pick this one? The products are made of 100 percent flannel cotton, and you’ll appreciate all the design options that Hudson Baby’s burp cloths come in. Each four-pack comes with three patterned burp cloths and one plain one. The best thing about this brand’s offering is the huge range of patterns you can choose from.
The middle panel is made of three-ply fabric, whereas the two outer panels are made of two-ply fabric. All these layers make for a super absorbent product.
How many in the pack: 4Price*: about $9.99 on Amazon.com
Pampers Parents pros and cons:
7. babyboo Baby Burp Cloths
Why pick this one? Last but not least is this 100 percent organic cotton burp cloth by babyboo.The products come in a variety pack of five burp cloths, each with a different design. You can either go for the one with a black/gray color scheme, or the one that has pinks and whites in it.The manufacturer says the extra middle layer increases the absorbency of these burp cloths, which are 20 x 9.5 inches in size.How many in the pack: 5
Price*: about $19.99 on Amazon.com
Pampers Parents pros and cons:
The Bottom Line
When it comes to buying burp cloths, you don’t need to over think-it. Go for a soft, absorbent product in a pattern or color that you like. Check that it’s machine washable, and if Pampers Parents mentioned that it can stand up to lots of washes, that’s even more of an endorsem*nt!Although wiping up your baby’s drool and protecting your clothes from spit-up probably won’t be your favorite parts of parenthood, having a burp cloth on hand when you need it makes cleaning up those messes a breeze. That way, you can get back to what’s most important: enjoying shared moments with your baby.While you’re here, read more about how and when to burp your baby. This article covers different burping positions to try, in addition to the shoulder position mentioned throughout this piece. And, if you’ve been reading this article because you’re looking for a baby shower gift idea, then a burp cloth is definitely a thoughtful gift the parents will get lots of use out of. Check out our other baby shower gift ideas for even more inspiration.
