Baby Blanket

The number and type of blankets that a baby needs can be overwhelming.  Your infant will soon outgrow the baby blanket that was necessary at birth and as the climate changes; the warmth of their baby blanket should change also.  It is always a good idea to have an extra one or two on hand in case of an accident, so there is no such thing as too many baby blankets.

The hospital will wrap the newborn in a receiving blanket, which is a small, flannel or cotton blanket.  There is a trick to wrapping your baby up in this, so it holds their little arms and legs inside for safety and warmth.  They now come in various materials with Velcro or zipper closures so it is faster and easier to dress the newborn.  They go by names such as the sleepsack, swaddling blankets, lullabag, and bunting, and are great for the busy mother.

The materials blankets are made from will determine the warmth, weight, durability, type of care they require, and how soft they are.  The fleece blankets are very popular as they are lightweight yet warm and very soft to feel.  They are durable and easy to care for.  The Boysoy Signature Blanket is one of the few blankets to be made from soy fiber and cotton.  There are always the traditional wool, cotton and flannel, as well as many new manmade materials that blankets may be made from.  Both Sherpa and Baby Mink blankets are made of acrylic and polyester.  Most of them are machine washable, but you should always check the care instructions before you buy.

A baby blanket comes in different sizes, so as your child grows, so should the size of the blanket.  A blanket with a special use will probably be an odd size.  The Cole Outdoor Blanket is 5’ square with a durable outer fabric to put on the ground, concrete or whatever else you want to set him down on while the inner fabric will quickly wipe clean.  The two layer wind proof blanket has Malden Mills Microfleece on the inside and a sueded water repellant nylon on the outside.  This 38” blanket is both windproof and water resistant and it sports a head cap.  There are also blankets that make into sleeping bags and others intended for use as mats during nap time, so the sizes will vary depending on the intended use of the blankets.

The newborn is always being strapped into something, such as a car seat or a stroller, so a baby blanket does not always work well.  At times like these, you need to have appropriate baby clothes for the climate.  Baby warmers, like snow suits, sweaters, sweat shirts and pants, jackets and onesies with long legs and arms are more convenient for you and ensure your little one will not be cold from exposed skin.  Some of the swaddling items, such as the Hindu Wrap and buntings are made with this in mind and have feet at the bottom instead of a sack.  The wide selection of types of clothing makes it easy today to have a well dressed baby.   

If you're not sure about how best to wrap your baby. I found this video pretty useful, hopefully you will too:)