We all know that babies aren’t exactly the deepest sleepers, to the point that I have no idea who coined the phrase “sleeping like a baby.” Of course, a cranky baby also leads to cranky parents, and all parents are going to want their newborn to sleep as soundly as possible, both for the sake of the infant and for the sake of their own sanity.
Keep reading to see our top-ranked nursery blackout curtains for your baby’s nursery that will really make sense of the saying “sleeping like a baby.”
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Types of Blackout Curtains
Just like with just about everything else, there are a few different types of blackout curtains. And just like with just about everything else, there are pros and cons to each type, and you should learn a little about each type before you can make your purchase so that you know what to expect. There are two main types of curtains; keep reading to learn more about them and their pros and cons.
Rod Pocket – These are probably the most common type of curtain. The pocket that’s mentioned in the name “rod pocket” is at the top of the curtain, formed by the stitching of the fabric. The rod slides through the pocket of the curtains and acts as the supporting bar. That’s it. Rod pocket curtains are simple and easy to set up but probably aren’t the best in terms of keeping out light.
Grommet – Grommet curtains are very similar to rod and pocket curtains, but with one main difference. Instead of using a fabric pocket to hang from the rod, grommet curtains are fitted with metal rings that slide along the rod. This makes for much easier sliding and adjustments but is a little more annoying to set up. That being said, grommet curtains usually have thicker pleating, which means that they’ll be able to more effectively blackout light.
My Top Picks for the Best Nursery Blackout Curtains in 2022
#1: West Elm Fair Trade Blackout Curtain (Best Value)
Our list gets started with West Elm’s Fair Trade Blackout Curtains. These affordable and reasonably-priced blackout curtains know to follow the KISS rule, and they’re the first option anyone should look at when purchasing blackout nursery curtains, or any blackout shades for that matter. They’ll make sure your baby’s room stays nice and dark so that nap time can be pleasant and uninterrupted, you’ll have no trouble setting them up, and they’ll look good anywhere. Keep reading to learn more about why the West Elm Fair Trade Blackout Curtains are some of the best blackout curtains on the market.
Reason #1 to Choose This Product: Dual-Hanging Options
It’s always nice to have options. And if you don’t like the classic rod-and-pocket hanging style for your baby’s room, then the West Elm Fair Trade Blackout Curtains let you opt for the back-tab hanging method. Back tabs are simply loops on the back of the curtain pocket that you can slide over the curtain rod. This creates a look that some might find more appealing, as it completely hides the curtain rod from sight. There’s no real difference in utility between the hanging methods, it’s strictly a matter of preference. But we put a lot in store in flexibility, so the dual-hanging feature definitely helped the West Elm Fair Trade Blackout Curtains earn the title of the best blackout curtains on our list. Additionally, these blackout curtains come in different sizes, so flexibility really is what the West Elm Fair Trade Blackout Curtains apart.
Reason #2 to Choose This Product: Fair Trade Certified™
In this day and age, it’s usually hard to be a conscientious consumer, and blackout blinds are no exception. That’s why it’s a big win that the West Elm Fair Trade Blackout Curtains are, as the name implies, fair trade certified. This means that the workers who made these blackout curtains are the ones benefiting from the purchase, and you and your baby can sleep easy knowing your money is going to a good place.
Drawbacks
No blackout curtain is perfect, and even our best blackout curtains aren’t without their flaws. The West Elm Fair Trade Blackout Curtains might have what some consider a bland design, and the curtain rod is sold separately. But you’re getting quality performance for an affordable price, and these West Elm blackout shades block out sound as well as light, so you can guarantee that your baby’s blackout curtain will help them sleep as soundly as possible. The West Elm Fair Trade Blackout Curtains were an easy pick to be our best blackout curtains.
Our last blackout shades may have been the best bang for your buck, but sometimes you’re willing to splurge a little even if it means diminishing returns. The TP Galaxy Kids & Nursery Blackout Curtains are a little pricey, but these space-themed blackout curtains offer a lot that make them worth the price. Keep reading to see why you might decide to splurge and use these grommet curtains to help your child get a good night’s sleep.
Reason #1 to Choose This Product: A Design That Your Baby Will Love
The space theme of these blackout curtains will really tie your baby’s nursery together, and that makes the TP Joy Galaxy Kids & Nursery Blackout Curtains the perfect blackout curtains for any natural-born explorer. Plus, I know how restless kids and babies can be, and putting something in your child’s bedroom that they actually enjoy looking at is a great way to make nap time a little more fun for your little one.
Reason #2 to Choose This Product: Choose Between Blackout Fabric and Privacy Lining
As I made clear with our West Elm blackout curtains, I like flexible products, and these galaxy-themed TP Joy blackout curtains are guaranteed to offer exactly what you need for your baby’s nursery. Our second-to-best blackout curtains come in two versions, the blackout lining version, and the privacy lining version. The blackout lining will, as its name suggests, keep out more light than the privacy lining, which is obviously what you want from blackout curtains, but I understand that some parents might want a gentler touch depending on their baby’s temperament and comfort with darkness. Additionally, the TP Joy Galaxy Kids & Nursery Blackout Curtains come in six different sizes and can be completely customized, so it’s literally impossible that you won’t be able to fit these curtains to suit your child’s nursery. These room-darkening curtains are sure to have exactly what you’re looking for.
Drawbacks
The most obvious flaw with the TP Joy Galaxy Kids & Nursery Blackout Curtains compared to our West Elm Fair Trade curtains is the price. Beyond that, the space theme does set a certain shelf life for these curtains, as your child will eventually grow out of them. But this is a list for nursery blackout shades, and you can cross that bridge when you get to it. The flexibility of these curtains can’t be beat, and the grommet design can be expected to offer a little more in terms of room darkening. If you’re the kind of customer that wants to splurge for the best, pay for the TP Joy Galaxy Kids & Nursery Blackout Curtains.
#3: The Sleepout Portable Blackout Curtain 2.0 (Best For Traveling)
Early parenthood can involve a lot of traveling. Whether you’re visiting Grandma’s house to relieve some of the stress of taking care of a newborn, or you’re just not quite ready to give up on those weekend getaways, it’s pretty likely you’ll be taking your new bundle of joy on some overnight trips.
Easy Setup and Installation
These curtains are incredibly easy to set up, so you won’t spend hours installing them upon arriving at your destination. Plus, this portable curtain can be installed vertically or horizontally, so you’ll always be able to set them up according to your environment. And to top it off, the Sleepout Portable Blackout Curtain 2.0 boasts a modular design that adjusts to fit different window sizes. You’ll never find yourself unprepared with these blackout curtains.
Easy to carry
Thanks to the included travel bag, The Sleepout Portable Blackout Curtain 2.0 is the best friend of any parent on the move.
These mobile curtains weigh less than two pounds and measure 52 inches x 76 inches, and the travel bag is 14.5 x 5 x 5 inches. All in all, the whole package can fit in your suitcase, and it won’t waste any room at all in your car trunk.
Of course, as far as actual room darkening is concerned, the Sleepout Portable Blackout Curtain 2.0 features certified thermal-insulating 100% blackout fabric, sterling grey with ecru cotton flocking, and a soft microfibre finish. It’s not exactly cheap, but the utility of effective, portable, blackout curtains is just too much to pass up. Turn any room into your child’s bedroom with the Sleepout Portable Blackout Curtain 2.0.
#4: Redi Shade Blackout Pleated Paper Shade (Best Low Cost)
Parenting is expensive, and sometimes you just need something cheap. I understand that, and I want to make sure that even parents who are struggling to stay within their budget can find good blackout curtains for their child’s room. Luckily, these blackout window liners will fit into just about anyone’s budget.
Each Redi Shade Blackout Pleated Paper Shade blackout window shade is long enough to cover almost any window, and you can trim it to perfectly fit the window frame in your nursery. Despite the cheap cost, the Redi Shade Blackout Pleated Paper Shade boasts a tools-free, easy installation, and claims to block 99% percent of light. Redi Shade also proudly states that their blackout lining is “made of durable paper that will not yellow or crack from sun exposure.”
There really isn’t much more to say about the Redi Shade Blackout Pleated Paper Shade. These cheap curtains are the best blackout curtains for anyone trying to cut their spending, and you can guarantee no stray headlight or early sunrise is waking up your baby when you put these on the window frame.
You also don’t have to worry that the price indicates a bad product; customers on Amazon loved these cheap shades.
The only downside is that these black shades won’t exactly go well with your nursery decor. But they’ll keep the room dark and help with daytime naps, and isn’t that what we really want here? If you can do that at a cheap price, even better!
How I Determined the Best Nursery Blackout Curtains
The first time you’re buying any sort of product, it’s important to know what separates the good from the bad. To find the best blackout curtains, I made sure to do the research and save you all the trouble. Obviously, first and foremost, I looked for the best blackout shades that actually keep light out. After that, I looked for versatile products and well-received curtains that I knew you could trust.
What Should You Look for in a Nursery Blackout Curtains?
Nothing keeps things organized like a good list. If you want to know what to look for in the best blackout shades, then this is the place for you. I’ve organized everything into clear criteria so that you can quickly sort through all the different curtains out there and find the perfect curtains for you and your baby. Keep reading for a crash course on the best blackout curtains.
Versatility
Any curtain that’s suitable for multiple situations gets a boost in our books. This can mean coming in different sizes, patterns, or colors, or having different blackout lining options so you’re not stuck choosing between pitch black or light-as-day. Anything that’s suitable for different curtain rods is also a plus. Variety is the spice of life after all.
Aesthetic
Blackout curtains don’t have to be just plain black or neutral shades. There are white blackout curtains out there, and patterned curtains like the space-themed curtains from TP Joy. The best blackout curtains block light without draining the life out of your room. I want to help you find curtains that fit the nursery theme you’re looking for.
Price
Nobody likes spending more money. That being said, while I obviously wanted to find you the cheapest products, I focused more on the best deals. Expensive blackout curtains that justify their price is better than cheap curtains that break after a week or don’t actually keep light or noise out. It’s all about getting the most bang for your buck.
Does my baby really need blackout curtains?
It’s a good idea. Since babies have a need to sleep during the day that adults don’t have, good blackout curtains are very helpful.
This different sleep cycle makes keeping light out very important for optimal sleep. Especially if you live in an area that has long summer days, you’re really going to want to make sure you can turn off the natural lights for your baby during mid-day nap time.
Verdict: Your Best Nursery Blackout Curtains
We’re just about ready to wrap things up. But that was a lot of information to take in at once, and I know that your head might be spinning a little. A quick review never hurt anyone, so I’m going to recap some of our best blackout curtains according to the niche they fill. Keep reading to find the blackout curtains that are exactly what you’re looking for based on your needs.
If you want the best value for money, pick the West Elm Fair Trade Blackout Curtain.
The West Elm Fair Trade Blackout Curtains are sure to come in the exact size you’re looking for and offer the top-tier performance you’re paying for, and since these curtains are fair trade certified, all your money is going to a good place. On top of that, they can be hung with a pocket, or via back stitches, so you can pick the aesthetic that suits your taste. The West Elm Fair Trade Blackout Curtains even block out sound as well as light, so you can guarantee your baby will sleep like, well, a baby. At an affordable price, the West Elm Fair Trade Blackout Curtains are the best deal on the market.
If you need blackout shades that travel well, pick the Sleepout Portable Blackout Curtain 2.0.
Sometimes you just have to go away and have to bring your baby with you. And in those cases we don’t want your baby’s sleep schedule to suffer because they don’t have the high-quality blackout curtains they’re used to in their nursery. The Sleepout Portable Blackout Curtains, and the included travel bag, will help bring the full comfort of your baby’s nursery with you wherever you go! This blackout curtain is the best option for a parent on the go.
If you want to keep the spending cheap, pick the Redi Shade Blackout Pleated Paper Shade.
I know you probably spent a fortune setting up the rest of your baby’s nursery. Let’s save a little on the curtains for now. The Redi Shade Blackout Pleated Paper Shades are the cheapest option out there, and they even boast the advantage of being DIY and incredibly versatile. They come as part of a large sheet that you can trim as you see fit, so they’re sure to cover any window that’s letting in a little too much light. Did I mention they’re cheap? Save some money and help your baby sleep with the Redi Shade Blackout Pleated Paper Shades.
That brings us to the end of our list. If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for, I hope I’ve at least set you in the right direction; our criteria should help you do your own research. Remember, it may help to work backward for whatever feature is most important to you. That’s all for now. I wish you and your baby sweet dreams!
