When you're getting ready to have a baby, you want to make sure you buy everything you're ever going to need for your new little one. Perhaps one of the most important things you need is one of the most cost-effective and easy to store — a swaddling blanket.
Learn what swaddling blankets are, how they're used and what to look for when buying one for yourself or other people expecting babies. You may want to invest in several swaddling blankets so you always have one available in your diaper bag, in your car, in the nursery or elsewhere.
What swaddling blankets are and how they're used
Swaddling blankets are special blankets used to wrap babies tightly so they are more comfortable. The purpose of swaddling blankets is to calm or distract a crying or fussy baby or to make a cold baby warmer. Most often, swaddling blankets are used to help babies sleep more naturally and for longer periods of time.
Babies sometimes suffer from a reflex that causes them to flail and panic as they sleep; a swaddling blanket helps keep this reflex at bay so babies can sleep more comfortably, similar to how they slept in the womb.
What to look for in swaddling blankets
Swaddling blankets should be thin in design and very stretchy so they can easily wrap and comfortably restrain a baby for sleep or comfort. Swaddling blankets should also be made of breathable materials like thin organic cotton or other easily worked material. You can buy swaddling blankets in a variety of sizes, although larger swaddling blankets may be more difficult to use for smaller or younger babies.
Never swaddle a baby in a blanket that is not a swaddling blanket, or cover a swaddled baby with another blanket. Swaddling blankets are not designed to replace other clothing or necessary covers for babies and any baby that is swaddled should be closely monitored.
When buying swaddling blankets, look for materials that are naturally fire-resistant and stretchy in nature. You want the material to be soft but not bulky, and free of artificial dyes or chemicals. You can buy swaddling blankets for your unborn baby at a local hospital gift shop, online, at a baby store or any store that sells baby clothing and accessories. Ask your obstetrician how to properly swaddle a newborn so you are ready for your own baby's first swaddling experience after they are born.
Share6 April 2021
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