Product Spotlight 02/09: Blankets

wanderlustsoul · February 2021

Time to discuss Blankets! (Note: for at least the first year of baby's life, blankets should not loosely cover baby or be put loosely in the crib for sleeping (per the American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep recommendations), but there are many uses for sweet baby blankets!)

What are some categories of blankets to think about? I think we've discussed swaddling elsewhere but it would be great to share again what our favorite swaddle blankets are (including NOT using blankets and choosing instead velcro or zip-up swaddles). Our babies will be born at the beginning of summer: what are some materials with different weights or warmth to consider? Favorite brands?

But there's more to blankets beyond swaddling: what are your favorite blankets for throwing on the floor for baby to roll around on? Which blankets do best to double as a stroller cover or nursing cover? Or a lovey blanket when they're a little older and need something to snuggle and drool on? Or a nice fuzzy thick blanket to wrap mom and baby in while nursing? Are there any extra special splurge-y blankets out there? Do you have any monogrammed blankets and if so where did those come from? Please share!

Prior and Upcoming Product Spotlights

marebear15 · February 2021

Skip the cute fuzzy blankets. There's really only two types of blankets I used:
1) Receiving blankets. I have tons of these and I used them as burp cloths. Traditional burp cloths seem too small to me, but the receiving blankets were the perfect size. I'm pretty sure I had at least a dozen, and I used them all the time.
2) Muslin swaddle blankets. These were my go-to when I was trying to get baby to sleep or they were sleeping in my eyesight. I never used these in the crib. They are also perfect for a nursing cover if you're on the go and want some coverage. I also had 3 in rotation at the nursery for naps, so I had probably 7 total.

I did have one thicker blanket I used for DD2 (January baby) that I covered her with in the car.

In the crib at night I used Love to Dream zipper swaddles.

kristah2 · February 2021

Don’t forget the fitted sheets for the crib and pack and play and bassinet!

Don’t waste your money on blankets to match the nursery. They won’t get used. Plus you’ll get gifted 100. DD is 2 and just now using them.

Get all the receiving blankets. We still use them at 2 and 4. Bring them on! I can’t wait to get more. I love the Carter’s brand since I find them big.

We usually toss one in the car seat along with a shower cap style cover during the winter.

My kids didn’t line being swaddled but I do have those easy swaddles.

We also had sleep sacks which were never used if you insist on blankets they’re a great option.

DoubleUp8 · February 2021

@marebear15 yes receiving blankets for burp cloths 100%! They give you better coverage and they absorb well.

mc0303 · February 2021

RECEIVING BLANKETS ARE LIFE! I love em. I want more and I already have a million. I literally don’t know what I use them for but I use them all the time, even now.

Muslin swaddle blankets are also THE best for everything. Laying them down when you’re out...swaddling...covering...literally everything. Def register for them bc they do get pricey. Aden + anais had the best quality for me but are also stupid expensive.

For burp cloths, I used Gerber flat cloth diaper things. So absorbent and cheap.

I got like 3 sets of sheets for both the bassinet, pack & play, and crib.

laurad75 · February 2021

We have so many blankets that we never use. I keep one in the car since he doesn't wear a coat in his car seat and now that he is 2.5 he likes being 'tucked in' with a blanket. But for the first 2 years we only used receiving blankets and swaddling blankets. I got about 25 muslin swaddles as gifts and used 2 or 3 of them. I never mastered the swaddle.

My pediatrician did recommend getting three identical breathable swaddle blankets that could be used as a 'comfort item' so I bought 3 very light and simple blue blankets (3 so you would always have one even if it needed to be washed or if one gets lost). It's still his favorite blanket - he calls it blue.

Not related to the blanket theme but it reminds me that if your baby is becoming attached to a comfort item make sure you have a minimum of 2 identical items so it isn't stressful if it gets dirty or lost.

ashaislurking · February 2021

I'm OBSESSED with muslin swaddles. I don't use receiving blankets as much but definitely won't turn them down if gifted. My kids are in love with all things fuzzy so I try to get at least a couple super plush fuzzy blankets for play time on the floor, car rides, etc.

disgruntled_pelican · February 2021

I’ve always made my babies a small “quilt” (I don’t think it qualifies as an official quilt) while pregnant with them. We lost DD3’s blanket in a Joann’s parking lot when she was around 9 months old. I was devastated and still am! I’ve been hesitant to make this baby one because of it, but I’m going to Joann’s on Saturday to purchase the fabric. We are also buying this baby a milestone blanket. Once we have the name nailed down (it’s our 4th girl, we are running out of names lol!) I will probably order this from Etsy. Also shown is our long lost blanket.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/mt/jhw7jxg4kl6n.jpeg

_orchid_ · February 2021

@disgruntled_pelican that 🦔 blanket is so cute! I didn't even think of looking on etsy for a milestone blanket- great idea! Yeah this is our third boy in a big extended family of boys so we're struggling with names too.

wanderlustsoul · February 2021

Ok I genuinely don't know the difference between receiving blankets and Muslin swaddle blankets.

In any case, we had a ton of Aden & Anais Muslin swaddle blankets and they're amazing. But we had too many because I haven't used any in so long. I do love them though. I used it on my shoulder, as a towel, as a changing mat when we travelled, as a nursing cover since I would just casually cover if I was around family.

We had some really cute blankets - one my friend knitted for me and we still use it all the time and another one with my son's name that my sister got and that was used a lot as well.

@disgruntled_pelican, I love the milestone blanket. It's such a nice memory to have. And this is sad/sweet but my H's grandma, the day before she died, she was like "Oh my great-grandson just had his 13 month birthday, I have to go on Facebook to see his 13 month picture!" because every month, I did his monthly picture on the milestone blanket and she looked forward to it so much. So we will always treasure that.

Swaddles - my favourite swaddle EVER is the Ollie swaddle. I literally had that swaddle sent from the US to Canada to the Netherlands and even though we only got to use it for 5 weeks, it was a life changer. It's been sold out for ages but she just did a preorder so I ordered a 2nd Ollie that will ship in a few weeks to my mom. She's doing another one soon if anyone's interested. It's moisture wicking which will be nice for the summer months.

legallykate · February 2021

My STM tip is to hoard the standard-issue blue pink and white hospital receiving blankets. We came home with about 8 of those and used them all the time as burp cloths/etc. in the early days when DD spit up on everything. We saved the nice blankets we got as gifts for once she was past that stage.

laurad75 · February 2021

Yes, what @legallykate said. I think I stole 3 from the hospital and wish I took more.

_orchid_ · February 2021

I'm in the minority and don't like muslin blankets. They never feel soft to me even after hundreds of washes (literally hundreds- I wash daycare linens every weekend). They always feel starchy and stiff. Full disclaimer: I don't like plain cotton- just touching cotton balls gives me the herbie jeebies and make me gag. Eww just thinking about cotton balls 🤢

I DO like any bamboo viscoise blankets - Aden&Anais makes some that are thin and breathable, and tula makes thicker ones. We use sleep sacks bc we can never swaddle tightly enough. We used the halo ones.

We also used the hospital blankets- take as many as you can! And we cut some up for burp cloths.

sgrn18 · February 2021

I really like the muslin swaddles but DH was way better at getting DS swaddled just right in those. I used them forever though, as milestone blankets and breastfeeding covers, even to block the sun in the car/stroller! The receiving blankets are definitely good burp cloths too. For a warmer blanket the 4 layer muslin blankets are so nice and cozy, they make larger sizes too for toddler blankets.

Brands I like for swaddles were Aden and Anais and Burt’s Bees. For the 4 layer ones I really like the brand Little unicorn (I got it on buy buy baby).

I know we aren’t talking lovies here but like @laurad75 said, get multiple! We have this little stuffed animal blanket thing and I bought 2 more because he loves that thing so much. He would lose his marbles if it wasn’t with him to sleep so we rotate them out to wash them lol

klj0228 · February 2021

I did not use burp cloths or anything else. DD had terrible reflux so I just gave in and accepted my fate of being covered in spit up all the time.

I loved the Muslim swaddle blankets for covering while nursing in public or throwing over the car seat or stroller in public.

My mom makes a quilt for my babies and then I do too. They of course don’t get to use it until they are older, but I love having it.

I like the love to dream swaddle and many of the Velcro/zip swaddles.

the BEST crib sheets are the quick zip ones. So much easier to wash and change sheets. They are a little on the pricier side, but worth it.

marebear15 · February 2021

@AKuzReve - Muslin blankets are the huge swaddle blankets that are usually pretty thin and breathable. Receiving blankets are much smaller (like idk how some babies fit into them), made out of flannel usually, and are great for burp cloths!

MelissaMay82 · February 2021

We have so many blankets.

I got 2 of the Amazing Baby Muslin Swaddle. We used them all the time and still do in the warmer weather. I never used it as a swaddle but it was a great to cover DD from the sun on her stroller or throw it on her in the car in the summer.

I love the mid-weight Burt's Bees blankets for when the weather is a little cooler.

We have several fluffy blankets that I would use on the floor or as a blanket in winter for the stroller or car.

For swaddlers I love the Halo and SwaddleMe. And for sleep sacks I love Burt's Bees or Halo.

For burp cloths my favorites are Burt's Bees or Green Sprouts (I love those bibs too).

I honest don't think that we got any receiving blankets from the hospital, maybe I just left them there because we already had to many blankets, swaddles, burp cloths.

ramzlau · February 2021

I just went through our baby stash yesterday to figure out what we need for our registry.

We have 5 receiving blankets my mom made for us, 5 muslin swaddle blankets (mix of Happiest Baby and Aden & Anais), then a mix of 5-6 other blankets that were all handmade and gifted (knitted, giant fleece one that is great for tummy time, a super fluffy one from the first presidential family of Ireland (long story), etc).

I love having a good mix of thickness, breathability, and sizes because we use them for so many different things and while we don’t have major weather swings, when they are little I worry about the a/c, window drafts, keeping the sun off of them outside, etc.

Want a personalized experience?

Product Spotlight 02/09: Blankets

Re: Product Spotlight 02/09: Blankets

Choose Another Board

Search Boards