The Best Absorbent, Durable Burp Cloths to Keep on Hand (2024)

byZara Hanawalt

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Why We Love it

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Efficient and easy on your budget,Comfy Cubs’ burp cloths are a favorite among parents in the What to Expect community. In fact, they were picked as the Best Burp Cloths in last year’s What to Expect Feeding Awards, What to Expect's 100 percent community-driven awards franchise. Voters praised the burp cloths for their generous size, as well as how easy they were to clean.

Parents also raved about the burp cloths’ ultra-soft muslin material, which is smooth and comfortable against your baby’s delicate skin. These cloths also boast quick-drying properties and won’t shrink in the wash. Reviewers were impressed by their absorbency, with six layers that are thin but will catch spit up and dribbles without a problem. Plus, they’re not too large or bulky, making them easy to stash in your diaper bag for messes on the go.

Material: Muslin

Dimensions: 20 x 10 inches

Quantity per pack: 6 or 10

Number of layers: 6

• bbbattlestargalactica

  “[O]nce you hit the reflux or spit up stage these are everything. They’re very simple nothing fancy but they’re soft and absorbent. Just make sure you dry on low or air dry because they do shrink.”

• cinquieme

  “I also love Muslin swaddling blankets. Used those for a swaddle, nursing cover, burp cloth, sun shade, towel… so many uses!”

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Cooper Pearl’s burp clothsare thick, plush and super absorbent. I personally used these burp cloths after I welcomed my twins and can vouch for their durability and absorbency. The secret to their absorbency: A hidden fleece layer that prevent messes from seeping through the cloth and onto your clothes or belongings. I also loved the shape of these burp cloths. The long design allows them to drape over the shoulder really well and provide extra coverage to catch spit-ups.

Karen Sly, Finance Manager at What to Expect, has found that the Copper Pearl burp cloths work exceptionally well for absorption and have held up over several years across her two babies. “I like the Copper Pearl ones because they have multiple layers and absorb those big spit ups,” she says. “Since the outer layers are thinner material and the absorbency happens with the middle layer, they aren't as good for wiping up messes. I tend to use Burt’s Bees [burp cloths] for that instead.”

The one downside? They’re on the pricier side, with three cloths costing $22. However, I and several parents in the What to Expect community felt that the price is worth it because of the thickness and large size.

Material: Cotton exterior, fleece interior

Dimensions: 21 x 10 inches

Quantity per pack: 3

Number of layers: 3

• m823

  “Yesssss. Copper Pearl burp cloths are SO worth it. I had cheaper Copper Pearl knock-offs from Amazon and they weren’t as nice. Also had a bunch of random burp cloths. I ended up purchasing more of the Copper Pearl because they were significantly better than anything else! I had a super spitty baby, so we went through so many burp cloths and bibs a day.”

• TXFamof6

  “I really loved them too. They were always my fav because of how big they are and they seemed to be more stain resistant. These and the burpy bibs were always my favorite that I found myself reaching for.”

• amommyof2sweetpeas

  “I did love these copper pearl with my son. They are huge and thick! They cover your shoulder great so you’re less likely to get spit up on you.”

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Using diaper burp cloths is a wise parent hack that’ll save you money without compromising on absorbency. TheGerber Flatfold Cloth Diapers are a great option because they’re made of organic cotton that will be soft and gentle on baby’s face — and several reviewers mention successfully using these diapers as burp cloths. Many even say their own parents did the same. The cotton is quite thin — with many comparing it to cheesecloth — so parents advise folding it once or twice for adequate absorbency. The extended size allows plenty of fabric for folding while still protecting your clothes. And, because it’s designed to be used as a diaper, you can rest assured that it will soak up liquids super well. Plus, when baby no longer needs burp cloths, many reviewers say you can use these cloth diapers as rags for wiping or dusting surfaces.

Material: Cotton

Dimensions: 24 x 27 inches

Quantity per pack: 10

Number of layers: 1 before folding

• mommybecca24

  “I second this! Four kids in and these are still my go to!”
  

• babyAmomma44

  “I bought the Gerber cloth diapers and used them as burp cloths. They’re just plain white but really when you’re wiping spit up, how cute does it need to be? ?? They are nice and absorbent which I didn’t think most actual burp cloths were.”

• mamabear24308

  “We always used these when I was a preschool and childcare teacher! I thought it was hilarious when I found out they were cloth diapers.”

• WillaMay

  “Gerber cloth diapers in a pack of 10 are hands down the best burp rags out there.”

• annmay

  “Get Gerber Cloth Diapers makes very absorbent burp clothes and much cheaper than traditional ones.”

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TheseGreen Sprouts Muslin Burp Cloths are made in a kidney bean shape to ensure they’ll stay on your shoulder. And because they have a wider and longer design than most burp cloths, they’ll provide extra coverage. Each cloth is made of organic muslin, so they’ll also be comfortable and gentle against baby’s skin. And, with four layers of fabric, they’re thick enough to withstand big spit ups.

Alexandra Bisonó, Senior Art Director with What to Expect, used Green Sprouts burp cloths for her daughter’s first year. “We loved how soft they were, and they held up to many many washes and constant use,” she says. “They also never retained any smells or stains from the spit ups after washing. The curved shape around the neck was also comfortable, and the size was ideal.”

Parents found that they were plenty absorbent and, like Alexandra, appreciated the shape so it was less likely to slip off and lead to messes on their clothes. Keep things simple and stock the nursery with white, or pick from other bright solids.

Material: Cotton

Dimensions: 22 x 11 inches

Quantity per pack: 3

Number of layers: 4

• herman77

  “These are Green Sprouts muslin cloths from Target, super absorbent! Honestly the only kind I've tried so far.”

• meela

  “Green sprouts all day!!!”

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Burt’s Bees is known among What to Expect parents for its quality organic products, andthese organic burp cloths are no exception. They'remade from 100-percent organic cotton and — unlike other organic cotton picks on this list — are Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified, which is the world’s leading textile processing standard for organic fibers. Essentially, you can rest assured that Burt’s Bees organic cotton is of super high quality and sustainably made, which means it’ll be extra gentle on baby’s sensitive skin.

Parents have found that these burp cloths are super soft and don’t fall apart in the washing machine, even after constant cleaning. In fact, Jamison Hermann, Senior Video Producer at What to Expect, was able to use these Burt’s Bees burp cloths for both of his children, three years apart. “They’re soft and durable and have held up well from one baby to the next,” he says. “The colors and patterns are nice as well. They’re tasteful without being distracting.” And, because you’ll get five in a pack and they’re on the thinner side, you can easily store them in diaper bags and all over your home for when you need them at a moment’s notice — a tip that Jamison recommends for new parents.

Karen uses Burt’s Bees burp cloths in addition to the Copper Pearl cloths and has found that they’ve “held up incredibly well with many washes across two babies that spit up a ton.” She likes keeping these as backups in her diaper bag because they’re thin and tuck away more easily than the thick Copper Pearl ones.

Some parents noted, however, that they wished these cloths were larger and absorbed liquid more quickly.

Material: Cotton

Dimensions: 16 x 11.8 inches

Quantity per pack: 5

Number of layers: 2

• mmrichards1108

  “Burt’s bees are my fav!”

• AMomma80

  “I use the Burt Bees burp cloth. I love them. They are [small] and I keep one in every room because you never know when the spit up will come. They are super soft as well!”

• Donnababyb

  “I love the burts bees burp cloths. They fit in my diaper bag without being too bulky.”

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For a versatile burp cloth that you can use for a long time, check out the Aden + Anais Burpy Bibs. With four layers, these burpy bibs are perfect for soaking up messes that newborn are known for. They also have a kidney-shaped design to ensure they’ll stay on your shoulder and provide plenty of coverage.

Once your baby starts eating solid foods, you can repurpose it to protect their clothes (no puree stains here thanks to these large bibs!). The kidney design makes it easy to drape over baby’s shoulders, then use the snaps to keep it closed. Parents liked that they’re bigger than most bibs to keep clothes clean and make post-meal cleanup easier. You can also choose between a wide range of adorable designs.

Material: Cotton

Dimensions: 22.5 x 22.5 inches

Quantity per pack: 1

Number of layers: 4

• SmallPotatoes

  “Aden and Anais Burpy Bibs. They are a burp cloth and bib combined. They’re super thick and get softer and better with each wash. They are also amazing when it comes to starting solids!”

• ginaminich

  “Aden and anais burpy bibs are what we use and I love them! They have a bunch of patterns and are really soft and absorbent.”

• blueant

  “I stumbled across Aden anais burpy bibs when my son started solids - they are giant bibs that pretty much cover your child's entire torso. They can also double as burp cloths. I wish I'd just bought 6 or so of those in the beginning since they could be large burp cloths for a newborn and then great for a new solid food eating bib.”

• VelmaDinkley86

  “They're a little pricey compared to regular burp cloths but totally worth if you have a baby that spits up a lot.”