You pull the curtains together before a nap, and a bright line still runs along the window. Before ordering a thicker pair, I’d check where that light is coming from.
If your existing curtains make the room as dim as you need, hang safely, and aren’t a nuisance to open or clean, keep them. You don’t need to replace a useful pair just because another one is marketed for a nursery.
When choosing blackout curtains for a nursery, I’d give the fit, package count, and care instructions as much attention as the blackout claim. Those details decide whether the curtains work with your window and your routine.
Check the light before replacing the fabric
Look at the closed curtains in daylight. Light coming through the cloth calls for a different solution from a bright strip around an edge. You can have both problems. Pulling an undersized pair flat just to make the edges meet leaves little room for folds or overlap.
Sun Zero's explanation of its light-blocking test describes measuring light through a small fabric sample. That helps explain why a fabric claim cannot tell you how dark the whole room will be: the test doesn’t include your curtain rod, the space above it, or the gap where your panels meet. Curtains can help control incoming light; they aren’t a promise of longer naps.
Measure for the way the curtains will hang
Before choosing a size, measure the span the curtains need to cover across the installed rod, including the coverage you need beyond the window edges. Then check the drop from the actual hanging position. The height of the window glass alone doesn’t tell you where the bottom of an 84-inch panel will land. Grommets and rod pockets also hold fabric differently, so use the measuring instructions for the heading you choose.
For width, leave room for the fabric to gather and for the panels to cover the sides and meet in the middle. Two 52-inch panels add up to 104 inches laid flat. They do not give you 104 inches of usable coverage once hung with folds. If your window needs all that flat width just to reach from side to side, don’t assume this pair will be enough.
Check the rod diameter as well. The NICETOWN pair discussed here has grommets with a 1.6-inch inside diameter. That’s the opening in the ring, not a stated maximum rod size or a guarantee that a rod of the same diameter will slide through comfortably. The Sun Zero Oslo panel has a stated rod limit of 1.5 inches in diameter. Use appropriate brackets and securely mounted hardware for the curtains you choose.
If the size or hanging style doesn’t work for your window, pause the purchase. Switching to a different length, color, or heading changes the product you’re choosing; the details below apply to the versions named here.
Two options for different laundry routines
| What changes your choice | NICETOWN grommet pair | Sun Zero Oslo rod-pocket panel |
|---|---|---|
| Version discussed | Pure White; 52 W × 84 L inches per panel | Black; 52 W × 84 L inches; model 52469 |
| In one package | 2 panels | 1 panel; rod sold separately |
| Rod fit | 1.6-inch grommet opening; not a stated rod-diameter limit | Rod diameter up to 1.5 inches |
| Care | Avoid washing where possible; cold hand wash if needed | Cold, gentle machine wash; tumble-dry low |
| Reason to consider it | White front, sewn-in black lining, grommet heading | Machine-wash care and a rod-pocket heading |
| Tradeoff to accept | Heavier panels; restrictive care; reported light/length variation | Buy by the panel; opening may take effort; reported sheen and short length |
NICETOWN: a white front with sewn-in black lining
I’d consider NICETOWN’s Pure White grommet pair if you want a white face with a sewn-in black lining and you’re comfortable with heavier panels and hand washing when needed. If being able to put the curtains in the washing machine is a requirement, I’d skip this pair.
This is the 52-inch-wide by 84-inch-long Pure White version sold as a pack of two. The black lining is sewn in, so you can’t remove it and wash it separately. The panels are relatively heavy, which matters when you lift them onto the rod or take them down for cleaning.
The detailed instructions for this white pair recommend avoiding washing where possible. When washing is necessary, they call for cold hand washing, a short soak, and mild neutral detergent, with no bleach and low-temperature ironing. Don’t assume that a general machine-washable description elsewhere applies to this pair.
Buyer reports for this white pair include light coming through, differences in length, and repeat purchases that didn’t match earlier pairs. There’s also a report of black dye transferring onto the white fabric after washing, although the full washing method isn’t clear. Those reports don’t tell us how often these problems happen. They do make it worth checking both panels together before washing them or deciding to keep them.
Sun Zero Oslo: machine-washable, sold by the panel
For a family that needs machine-washable curtains, I’d start with the black Sun Zero Oslo rod-pocket panel. Just count the panels before comparing the cost: this listing is for one, not a pair.
The version here is Black, 52 inches wide by 84 inches long, model 52469. If your window plan calls for two panels, you’ll need two packages of this version. The rod is sold separately. A product photo showing a dressed window doesn’t change what comes in one package.
The manufacturer’s care directions allow a cold, gentle machine cycle, low tumble drying, and a cool iron if needed. They specify non-chlorine bleach only when needed. Being able to machine-wash the panels matters each time you take them down for cleaning.
The rod passes through a sewn pocket at the top. Opening the curtains means moving the fabric itself along the rod, which can take more effort than you expect. If you’ll be opening and closing the curtains throughout the day, don’t choose this style on the assumption that it will glide easily.
Reviewed’s 2024 Oslo rod-pocket review describes a shiny finish, so I’d be cautious if you want a matte, linen-like look. Those observations don’t establish exactly how every color or batch will look in your room. A buyer of the black 52-by-84-inch version also reported a panel shorter than its labeled length. Check the actual drop before you wash it.
The machine-wash option is useful, but I’d pass if a matte finish or easy, frequent opening is essential to you.
Check the panels before washing them
When either order arrives, count the panels and check the color and size on the package before hanging anything. Lay the panels out and measure them; if you’ve bought a pair, compare their lengths side by side. Check the seams and read the care label. If that label conflicts with the product instructions you used to choose them, clarify the correct care before washing.
Once they’re safely hung, close them in the daylight that usually bothers you. Look at the fabric, the top, the outer edges, and the center. That is the moment to decide whether the panels cover your window as intended. Don’t cut, punch holes in, or otherwise alter the curtains to compensate for a poor fit.
Keep curtains away from the sleep space
Keep the crib and play yard away from the window and from fabric a child could reach. CPSC recommends moving cribs, beds, furniture, and toys away from windows and window-covering cords, preferably to another wall. If there are blinds or shades behind your curtains, their cords still need attention; adding curtains doesn’t remove that hazard. Choose cordless window coverings in a home with young children, and don’t add reachable tiebacks, cords, or small clips to close gaps.
Curtain fabric should never hang into, be placed in, or be draped over a crib or play yard. CPSC's safe-sleep guidance calls for an otherwise bare infant sleep space with a fitted sheet. For the wider room checklist, see our baby sleep essentials guide.
A few buying questions
Why is there still light with “100% blackout” curtains?
A fabric claim does not account for gaps around the installed panels. Check the top, sides, and center before assuming a different fabric will solve the problem.
Does one package mean one panel or a pair?
It depends on the listing. The NICETOWN version above is a pair; the Oslo version is a single panel. The number you need still depends on your coverage.
Can both options go in the washing machine?
No. Of these two versions, Oslo has machine-washing directions. The NICETOWN white pair has more restrictive care; use its detailed instructions.
The next time you close the curtains in daylight, look at where the light gets in. If the pair you own is doing enough, keep it. If you need a replacement, take your measurements and your preferred washing method with you when you shop.