Parents often use a receiving blanket to keep a newborn from moving around. Babies often wake up from their sleep due to their startle reflexes. They feel safe and reassured when wrapped up in a snug blanket. These baby blankets often feature soft materials like flannel or cotton to help keep your newborn comfortable and warm.
When a baby is born, the hospital staff may give them their first receiving blanket. The standard hospital blanket is white with pink and blue stripes, a design that both male and female parents can appreciate.
Diapers, baby onesies, blankets, bibs, and anything else a new parent may need are common baby shower gifts.
Difference Between Receiving Blankets And Swaddling Blankets?
It is common practice to use multiple blankets for a newborn, but each type of blanket serves a somewhat different function. The purpose of a receiving blanket is to keep a newborn warm and cozy immediately after birth. These blankets are durable, washable, and often slightly smaller than standard ones.
You can get swaddling blankets in various materials to go with different temperatures. In addition, they may have Velcro or particularly designed flaps or shapes to make for easier wrapping of newborns of differing sizes.
While you can use either type of blanket for cuddling or swaddling, a few of these characteristics make one type more appealing. In contrast to receiving blankets, which you can use for a variety of purposes, swaddling blankets are a specialized item.
Why is there such an emphasis on swaddling the baby? A new baby, after being swaddled, stays peaceful and eventually falls asleep. They are not startling themselves by haphazardly moving their arms, and before coming into the world, they were accustomed to being confined in a small space.
The Following Are Some Appropriate Uses For A Receiving Blanket:
- Sleep Prop
The receiving blanket is the one thing that will put your fussy newborn to sleep. Your newborn will feel safe and secure in its warm, familiar embrace and drift off to sleep in minutes.
- Wrap The Newborn After Bathing
After a bath, your newborn can be wrapped up in their first blanket. Your baby can relax on the receiving blanket’s familiar and cozy fabric.
- Outdoor Cover
Receiving blankets are an alternative that is easy to use for outdoor movement, you can use them when you are out and about with your kid, such as when you are going to the park or a friend’s house.
- Stroller Shade
The first blanket your child receives can be put to good use on a trip to the neighborhood park. Always have one to shield your child’s eyes from the sun by placing it over the stroller.
- Diaper changing Mats
Changing diapers on a receiving blanket is very acceptable. Spread the blanket on the changing table and change your baby’s diaper at the public restroom or at home.
- Burp Cloth
This miraculous piece of fabric will save you a ton of time cleaning up after your messy eater.
- Swaddling
Receiving blankets are the ideal first cloth for swaddling your newborn. When you master the art of swaddling, soothing your fussy infant will be a breeze.
- Breastfeeding Cover-Up
When out and about, you can use a receiving blanket to provide privacy while breastfeeding. It fits conveniently in a diaper bag because of its compact size.
How Long Do Babies Use Receiving Blankets?
Receiving blankets and other specialty blankets, such as swaddling blankets, will become obsolete for infants during the first year of their lives. This is due to the rapid rate at which they develop. On the other hand, the regular size of a baby blanket is intended to be sufficient for the initial year or two at the very least.
Can Baby Sleep With A Receiving Blanket?
Swaddling your newborn can begin immediately with the use of a receiving blanket. However, until after the baby’s first birthday, the risk of sudden infant death syndrome necessitates the absence of loose bedding and soft objects in the crib.
What To Look For In A Good Baby Blanket
There are a few things to keep in mind when picking out a receiving blanket that you and your little one will enjoy using on a regular basis.
The thicker material used to make receiving blankets makes them more long-lasting than swaddle blankets. Most are woven from thin flannel, making them warm and comfortable for your infant.
- Neutral Prints
Parents who want to save money on excellent products for their children might benefit from purchasing items with gender-neutral patterns. These are both fashionable and aesthetically pleasing. When you buy clothes with simple patterns and subdued colors, you can reuse them for subsequent children or pass them on to friends.
- Sensitive Skin
In order to protect a baby’s sensitive skin, bamboo is the best material to use. Its fibers are more comfortable to wear than the softest organic cotton since they are naturally round and smooth. Bamboo is a great option for parents who often worry about what goes into their children’s clothing (especially newborns with sensitive skin). This is due to its softness, breathability, absorption of sweat, and eco-friendliness.
- Breathability
One of the most crucial qualities of a baby blanket is its capacity to allow airflow. If the blanket covered your baby’s face, overheating or suffocation would be more likely than with a lighter material that would allow your baby to breathe through it. Fabrics made of cotton and bamboo are ideal since they are soft, lightweight, and packable in a diaper bag.
- Durability
The thicker material used to make receiving blankets makes them more long-lasting than swaddle blankets. Most are woven from fine flannel, making them warm and comfortable for your infant.
Safety Tips For Babies Receiving Blankets
You may be taken aback to learn of the precautions that you should take when using a receiving blanket on your infant but remember that you can always be cautious. Remember these guidelines if you want to use a blanket on your newborn.
- Never swaddle your newborn when they begin to roll over.
- Never put a baby’s blanket over their neck or head.
- In the infant’s first year, the blanket should never completely enclose him.
- Avoid leaving loose blankets in the crib at all costs.
Receiving Blanket Caution
Your infant should not sleep with a receiving blanket or any other blanket in the crib. To prevent suffocation or overheating, you should exercise caution and keep an eye on your infant while they are in a stroller or car seat. A receiving blanket, though, could be useful when it’s time to get cozy with your newborn.