As the parent of an 8-year-old mythical creature fanatic, I’m always looking for ways to help my little one channel her inner unicorn or mermaid—but doing so isn’t always a simple process. Most mermaid costumes are too cheesy or too hot, and the ones that do interest her don’t always come in larger sizes. That’s why we were stoked to try out LAGHCAT’s Mermaid Tail Blanket, a popular gift for girls her age. The crocheted, unique hybrid between dress-up clothes and bedding has been making a splash across social media. Was my daughter able to snuggle up and pretend to be half-fish, or would she toss it to the side in frustration? Let’s find out.
Packaging: Simple but effective
The mermaid tail blanket arrived in a simple plastic protective package, which we expected. What we didn’t expect was the bag it came with so it could be easily transported. The drawstring tote is simple, but my husband and I love that the mermaid blanket fits easily inside it; it makes for easy transport to sleepovers (while keeping the blanket from being dragged across the dirt or driveway). The blanket also arrived with another surprise: a cute silver-colored necklace, which was basically a mermaid hanging from a chain. The necklace was simple but appropriate for our 8-year-old, who quickly put it around her neck. It was an unexpected (but welcome) bonus for our mermaid fanatic, who has been wearing her new necklace any time she gets the chance. The one downside is that the blanket had a bit of an odd smell when it came out of the packaging. We threw it into the dryer with a couple of dryer sheets, and it wiped out any hint of the smell.
Design: Crocheted waves and flowing tails
One of the things we really liked about this blanket was the design. It’s made of acrylic fibers that are crocheted in a wave pattern, so it truly incorporates the sea theme down to the last detail. The throw is designed to be fitted on the top half, and it drapes out into a wide tail dramatically at the bottom. Our child audibly gasped and then grabbed at the blanket when she saw how cool the pattern was. She hopped inside, pulled the top of the blanket up to her shoulders—this blanket is open down the back for maximum snuggling—and then threw herself across the couch to watch the tail fan out. As she did this, the blanket came to life. This blanket is available in several colors, from bright teal to mint blue. We chose a more muted peacock blue color, but it isn’t just a flat color like we’d expected. The material has flecks of bright colors woven into it. Those small details really make the blanket pop (and help hide things like lint and cat hair, which we learned when our cat started trying to snuggle on it, too). Overall, the design of this mermaid tail blanket is pretty solid, and the wave pattern helped earn it some extra points from our child.
Comfort: Perfect for snuggling in any weather
This blanket is as comfortable as it is cute. We have a ton of throw blankets in our living room, but this one has become the go-to for our child. The fabric is incredibly soft, and the lighter weight of the crocheted fabric keeps it from becoming too hot. We liked that this blanket was so lightweight and breathable, but people in colder climates might prefer a thicker, warmer option.
Age Range: All ages
There isn’t a specific age range listed for this blanket, but it worked for the adults and the kids in our house. One of the things we love most is the blanket’s length. It’s much longer than your typical mermaid blanket, so it’s perfect for a “blanket world”—the phrase our child has coined for pulling a blanket over her head to play on her iPad in peace. The blanket is also plenty long for us parents to borrow, too; I’m 5-foot-5, and it comes to the top of my shoulders when it’s fully extended. After all, we all like to channel our inner mermaid sometimes—provided we can pry it out of our child’s sticky hands long enough to use it.
Care: Washer-safe
As a mom, I appreciate that this blanket is super simple to wash: Just throw it in the washing machine on cold and tumble dry on low. We have washed it a couple of times—thanks to messy eaters who do so while pretending to be a mermaid—and we haven’t had any issues with the fabric fading.
Price: Affordable for a quality blanket
This blanket retails for under $20—the price ranges from $17.85 to 19.85 depending on the color choice—which is a great price for a mermaid tail blanket. Similar blankets can be easily double or triple the price.
Competition: Mermaid tails galore
There are a ton of mermaid tail blankets out there. If you’re in the market for one, you’ve probably seen ad after ad on your Facebook feed. But not all of them are as affordable and well-made as the LAGHCAT blanket we tried out. Take, for example, this HoRmi Mermaid Tail Blanket, which is in a similar price range but made of printed fleece rather than crocheted. We much prefer the breathable fabric and intricate pattern on the LAGHCAT blanket, as it can be used year-round, while the fleece would be too hot for our southwest Colorado summers. The Catalonia Mermaid Tail Sherpa Blanket is crocheted like LAGHCAT’s mermaid tail blanket, but it’s more expensive. It’s also lined, which would also make it much warmer than the one we tried out. We prefer the breathability of the LAGHCAT blanket, but Catalonia’s lined blanket would be a good option for cold weather climates. The LAGHCAT Mermaid Tail Blanket is really nice—especially given the price. Our mermaid lover has grown really attached to it, and it’s been perfect for her to use on both warm afternoons and cool mornings.
