Before you compare softness, compare the ingredient list. Little Giraffe's signature blankets are made from polyester microfiber—a petroleum-derived plastic fiber. Ours are made from natural merino wool and organic merino-cashmere.

That single material choice influences almost everything:

We chose merino because we believe it's the safest, most sustainable, softest, and highest-performing natural fiber on Earth. We believe a baby blanket should offer security and comfort while being easy to care for and providing benefits for sleep and skincare.

At first glance, Little Giraffe and AU Baby have a lot in common. Both are premium baby blankets designed to become cherished keepsakes. The biggest difference is the fiber itself.

Little Giraffe's signature blankets are made from polyester microfiber, a petroleum-derived plastic fiber engineered for plushness. AU Baby blankets are crafted from natural merino wool or a blend of organic merino and cashmere, two exceptionally fine protein fibers prized for their softness, breathability, and remarkable performance.

The fiber is the foundation of everything else a blanket does. It influences how the blanket regulates temperature, manages moisture, interacts with skin, and performs over years of daily use.

For thousands of years, merino sheep evolved to stay comfortable in the harsh conditions of life lived outdoors, including freezing winters, scorching summers, wind, and rain. Their fleece’s inherent protective properties create a remarkable fabric built for all season comfort and an ability to adapt to the wearer’s needs. 

Unlike polyester, merino actively responds to changes in your baby's microclimate. It absorbs moisture vapor before skin feels damp, helps release excess heat when your baby is warm, and traps insulating air when temperatures drop. It naturally resists odor, static, and stains, meaning it requires less frequent washing than synthetic blankets. 

Since babies can’t communicate when they are too hot or cold, merino’s intelligent design comes in handy to keep little ones comfortable in every season. Since these performance benefits are a natural part of merino’s design, no chemical finishes or coatings are necessary.

Sleep is where merino truly shines compared to cotton and polyester. Multiple clinical studies have shown that sleeping in superfine merino wool helps people fall asleep faster, spend more time in restorative sleep, and experience fewer nighttime awakenings compared with sleeping in other common fibers. Polyester, on the other hand, is known to trap heat and moisture vapor, creating a clammy, hot environment.

The key difference comes down to thermoregulation. When the body maintains a more stable sleeping temperature throughout the night, sleep quality improves. Considering babies do not actively regulate their core temperature well on their own and instead rely on the room temperature and layers they wear, this is an important consideration for sleep quality.

Babies spend more time asleep than any other stage of life, yet the blanket wrapped around them is rarely considered part of the sleep environment. Whether in the stroller, car seat or crib, our merino blankets gently support sleep by adapting to temperature fluctuations. 

A baby's skin is still developing, making it more vulnerable to irritation than an adult's. At the same time, nearly one in four children now experiences eczema, making skin comfort a priority for many families.

Research has shown that children with eczema who wear superfine merino wool experience significant improvements in symptoms compared with standard care alone. Merino is naturally breathable, moisture managing, and composed of keratin—the same structural protein that makes up the outer layer of our skin. Unlike rough wool, our superfine merino bends softly against the skin instead of pricking or irritating, engineered by nature for the closest contact.

Polyester performs very differently. Unlike merino, it traps heat, manages moisture poorly, and sheds microplastic fibers throughout its lifetime. Like many manufactured textiles, polyester fabrics may also contain dyes, resins, wrinkle-resistant treatments, and other finishing chemicals that can contribute to skin irritation, especially for babies who have an immature skin barrier.

For families looking to reduce everyday plastic exposure and create a gentler sleep environment, fiber choice becomes an important consideration. Our baby blankets are also HSA/FSA eligible for qualifying skin conditions (like eczema, psoriasis and contact dermatitis), reflecting the role thoughtful textiles can play in supporting sensitive skin.

Every material decision we make reflects the same philosophy: start with the best natural ingredients, then honor them through exceptional craftsmanship.

Our Heirloom Merino Collection is plant-dyed in Italy using botanical pigments, while our Cashmere Cloud Collection uses GOTS-certified dyes chosen for their rigorous environmental and human health standards. Both collections are crafted using regenerative or responsibly sourced natural fibers and finished with traditional linking techniques that create beautifully seamless edges.

For families who choose personalization, our hand chain-stitched embroidery transforms a cherished blanket into a deeply personal heirloom. Just another example of how we combine craft and handiwork to foster the warmest welcome to the world.

Little Giraffe has built a reputation for exceptionally plush polyester blankets, and for families whose highest priority is that signature feel, it's easy to understand the appeal. But as more parents learn the importance of natural fibers and how to read textile ingredient labels, we see a near future where polyester has no place in the luxury market.

At AU Baby, we believe the blanket your child sleeps with should be made from exceptional natural fibers, thoughtfully dyed, and crafted to support better sleep, healthier skin, and years of everyday comfort.