Product Spotlight Series: Blankets (1/15)

doxiemoxie212 · January 2018

This is a place for FTMs to ask questions and S+TMs to share the wealth of knowledge they've accumulated on baby products. Each week we'll spotlight a new category of product to help streamline and make it easier to refer back. This week it's.... blankets! Swaddles, toddler blankets, stroller/carseat blankets, and anything in between.

Please use the prompts below to try to share as much relevant info as you can in a format that is easy for those reading to absorb/respond to. If you'd like to recommend/ask questions about more than one product, please copy/paste the prompts as needed.

For S+TMs:

Any specifics that may differentiate your preferences:
Favorite [blanket]:
Link/picture:
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
Age appropriate for:
What you like about it:
What you don't like about it, if anything:
Is there a [blanket] you don't have but are considering? Why?:
Is there a [blanket] you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?:
Additional thoughts on [blanket]?:

For FTMs

[blanket] you're interested in:
Link/picture:
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
Any questions about it/them for S+TMs?:

To view past Product Spotlights or view the upcoming schedule, see here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gjNtxy2Kd2JceTYYR5wkwVcpTbU-khgazhjcZnfI1y4/edit?usp=sharing

(Also just a reminder that if anyone wants to revive old threads to ask questions as we get further along and it becomes more likely everyone is doing further research, please feel free!)

doxiemoxie212 · January 2018

I'm trying so hard not to buy anything for baby that she won't use before 6 months since we're likely moving, etc., but oh man, I didn't know that Anthropologie has kids stuff now: https://www.anthropologie.com/kids

My fav blanket they have is this one:

[blanket] you're interested in: Rachel Castle Toddler Quilt (and it's on sale right now!)
Link/picture: https://www.anthropologie.com/shop/rachel-castle-toddler-quilt?category=kids&color=010
Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.): $78 on sale, $98 regularly ( )
Any questions about it/them for S+TMs?: nope

sunshineandwhiskey · January 2018

@doxiemoxie212 OMG LOVE

We got this in two of them. We love love love them. Its great for the car seat, both infant and convertible, and we use it outside in the grass too. Its nice and think, but super soft.

I have no real suggestions on swaddle blankets other than get the ones the Velcro or zipper. Don't mess around with actual blankets lol.

Get lots of light blankets though. We used them for everything. Burp clothes don't really work for spit up, since it just kinda goes everywhere haha We also used them for changing "pads" and stuff.

Oh and get these - we use these for EVERYTHING. we put them on top of the changing table, use it for naked time, under her crib mattress for easy clean up.

krash_ · January 2018

@sunshineandwhiskey part of me hates being team green because I would love to have a personalized receiving blanket for the hospital. Oh well. We can order one shortly there after but I'm sure with a newborn it will be one of those things you say you're going to do and then they're like 3 and they still don't have a personalized receiving blanket.

becca_123 · January 2018

@doxiemoxie212 aww love it

@krashke you could always do one that says babylastname for the hospital and then order one with their name on it afterwards?

There are so many different kinds of blankets! I keep going into Target and wandering by the Cloud Island section and seeing the cute little security blankets, but I actually have no idea what their purpose is? I'm assuming it's like a "safe" toy that the baby enjoys as it's something familiar but is it also a blanket? They're so adorable I want them all but I don't know what they are

Also @doxiemoxie212, slight ocd that doesn't matter but do me a favs and change the bolded "toys" to "blankets" in the intro post

jsl82 · January 2018

@doxiemoxie212 very cute and super sweet. DD is just over 1 years old and we still do not put anything in her crib with her while she is sleeping. We have a crib set somewhere (my MIL got it for us, it was not requested as I wasn't planning on buying one at all). Are you the type of person to change your mind on decor often? Since you don't know what DD's room will eventually look like (size/shape) it can be hard plan out a nursery- if that is a color scheme you would want to use ect. If you think that you will love it in a year or two than buy it- the bedding sets typically come in a plastic bag that can be slid under your bed until you use it. You will also be able to use the sheets and crib skirt when you move DD into a crib (typically around 4 months). Also do you have space in your room (where I assume you are planning on keeping her until you do relocate) to make a space for her? You can hang the blanket on the wall in her area of the room (above the crib/ bassinet or the dresser you have her clothes in). It might even be a way to help your nesting instincts since you won't have a nursery to put together.

+1 to everything @sunshineandwhiskey said. Receiving blankets are okay for cover-ups for breastfeeding, light blankets for the car, stroller, ect but unless you are a nurse or have magically powers you will be like every other parent I know and completely helpless when it comes to swaddling. The zipper and velco swaddles were the only way we got DD swaddled and she still broke out of them. The swaddle transitions worked for us. I loved the Baby Merlin's Magic Sleep suit: https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Merlins-Magic-Sleepsuit-Cotton/dp/B00KHZPH74/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1516121426&sr=8-3&keywords=merlin+sleep+sack&th=1.

The waterproof pad are also amazing. We have the smaller ones for her changing table, but I could see keeping one of the larger ones in the car for road trips, events where you will be changing diapers on the go. Also one trick that helped us last week when DD had her stomach bug was to layer waterproof pads between 2 sets of sheets. If there are any messes in the middle of the night- you can strip off the soiled sheet and the waterproof pad and the sheet under will be clean and ready for baby.

doxiemoxie212 · January 2018

@jsl82 mmm I don't have room to hang on the wall, lol, but I don't know that I care too much if it matches any eventual decor. I had a "baby" blanket (who knows if my parents let me have it as an actual baby or not?) growing up that I was very attached to. It didn't match any decor at all, but it was just something I liked to snuggle, bring to sleepovers, etc. So I just like the idea of something that's cute on its own that could serve that purpose eventually. I figure it can live on the couch or something most of the time until she can safely sleep with it.

mytinc · January 2018

+1 to the Magic Merlin Sleepsuit that @jsl82 mentioned . We also used Halo swaddles and sleep sacks for naps/night time sleeping until about 12 - 18 months old. As far as personalized baby blankets, we register for or buy one for either kid. We had a few handmade blankets from family/friends given to us at showers, but nothing with names on it.

marcus7676 · January 2018

I bought the disposable version of the second blanket @sunshineandwhiskey linked for myself pre- and post-partum. I was terrified of my water breaking in bed and ruining our mattress. I also used it post-partum on the bed, couch, glider, car since I was worried about bleeding. I ended up taking an awesome one from the hospital and use it for DS's crib all the time.

dinodna3 · January 2018

We mainly used Aden and Anais muslin swaddles as an everyday blanket. I have two summer babies June and Sept and it’s way too hot for anything heavy here.

https://www.target.com/p/aden-174-by-aden-anais-174-swaddle-4pk-sailing-sea/-/A-51188736#lnk=sametab

+1 to those Velcro swaddle sacks. They are so easy to use and contain super squirmy babies.

Im also a huge fan of Zippadee Zips when babies start turning over. We call them “the flying squirrel suit” and work wonders on the swaddle to no swaddle transition.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B078SCR9J2/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1516142088&sr=1-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=zippity%2Bzip&dpPl=1&dpID=41qlgQPKMdL&ref=plSrch&th=1&psc=1

comolaflower · January 2018

Another +1 for the velcro swaddle blankets. I can't even make a burrito, swaddling with receiving blanket while my son did newborn jazzercise was impossible.

May14th2011 · January 2018

+1 to the Velcro swaddles. We used SwaddleMe brand because it's available at most stores

MoonOverGoldsboro · January 2018

I cannot possibly more highly recommend the Love to Dream Swaddle Up: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081GIZ52/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_3dRxAb8KQ9362

My son hated being swaddled with arms down because he soothed himself with his hands, but he obviously needed something to control his startle reflex. This was PERFECT. We got his first full night sleep with this thing, and I sang to the angels. Will surely vary by baby, of course. When you want to transition out of the swaddle, Swaddle Up makes a version with zip-off sleeves, so they can learn to sleep with one arm out at a time. Also a game-changer for us!

Before this we used Halo sleep sacks, and we also liked those okay (certainly better than regular swaddle blankets), but my son could still manage to bust out of those.

ETA: I linked to the zip-off version above. Here’s the smaller one we started with when he wa little: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0081GJ038/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_CkRxAbCDS87Y0

sunshineandwhiskey · January 2018

I guess i'll add this here, i'm not sure where the best place is - We were not allowed to swaddle DD. She was born frank breach and had to see a hip specialist and not only did we have to do exercises with her, but we were told no swaddling. While, this sucked at first (thank you startle reflex), we didn't have to worry about the transition out of swaddles. I'm not sure what we will do this time, but I just figured i'd include this info. Most won't need it, but it is always something to think about haha

PatientlyWaiting10 · January 2018

In MN daycare is not allowed to have anything in the crib/PnP, including a swaddle even if it closes, so we started from the beginning with DS with no swaddle. He didn't have anything in his crib with him until he was probably 13 months and that was a blanket from Target.

If you're having a shower, I would recommend waiting on buying blankets because you will probably get 15. No joke. Duplicates are good, don't get me wrong, but sometimes it's a little too much.

I returned the ones I could that I didn't think we'd use.

If you do need to buy a blanket I would highly recommend these. They're lightweight and a good size. I used them for a nursing cover, to cover baby in the stroller/carseat on the cool summer days/evenings, and they're big enough to lay on the floor/ground while baby is non mobile for tummy/play time. And I like that they come in a three pack because you'll need to wash them frequently.

MissKittyDanger · January 2018

Since it's June and quite often it can get pretty humid, we're buying some light blankets. Should we get heavier ones as well?

Hospital a/c, outside possibly humid, car likely humid until a/c kicks in, and house could potentially have a/c on.

I've seen some really cute muslin blankets that are really light, but I don't wanna have baby freak to temp changes {or be too cold}

dinodna3 · January 2018

@MissKittyDanger DS is a June baby and we never used anything other than muslin swaddles. I’m in Florida, so it’s hot and humid and everywhere blasts a/c inside.

MissKittyDanger · January 2018

dinodna3 said:

@MissKittyDanger DS is a June baby and we never used anything other than muslin swaddles. I’m in Florida, so it’s hot and humid and everywhere blasts a/c inside.

Oh good to know!
We don't keep our house too chilly, but I know a lot of places do so I wasn't sure.

PatientlyWaiting10 · January 2018

@MissKittyDanger Like @dinodna3 said, the lightweight blankets are nice. Our DS is also a June baby and we used those lightweight muslin blankets the most of any. Now his snuggle blanket is a soft fuzzy one from Target but those lightweight ones were what we used all summer.

rnielsen321 · January 2018

So, on the topic of mattress covers, sheets and toddler beds, may I suggest Ikea?
I was previously quite close to 3 of them (25 minute drive in 3 directions) and I am obsessed with their kids products. We used/still use their mattress covers (plasticized flannel sheet) under the sheets, they are not fitted, so easier for crib changes, wash like a dream, and can then be utilized under the fitted in a larger bed for toddler wetting, or under a PnP sheet, etc. etc. They are inexpensive and so versatile.

https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/40143304/

The Len if anyone is looking for it. Worth picking up 2 or 3. IMO

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