Receiving blanket is used to swaddle a newborn baby, which also be considered one of the baby’s necessities. I think each version of mothers shopping list will have this one.
Different Usages of Receiving Blankets
1. The main purpose of using a receiving blanket is to swaddle the baby. In the United States, if moms-to-be go to attend the prenatal classes, they must learn how to swaddle their babies with receiving blankets. Don’t worry if you don’t attend this kind of class. After the baby is born, the nurse will teach you.
2. The receiving blankets can be rolled up as Head Positioner in the infant car seat to protect the newborn’s head. Although there are HEAD POSITIONER in most of the car seats, according to the experience of many mothers actually used, it seems to work better with Receiving Blanket, especially for babies who are born with small size and light weight.
3. Whether your baby is sleeping at home or out in the stroller, you can use receiving blanket as your baby’s blanket.
4. It can also be placed on the shoulders of adults when the baby is burped, or placed under the head while the baby is sleeping to prevent the baby from spit-up to soil the clothes.
5. You can use the receiving blanket to cover the crib sheet to avoid frequent replacement of the crib sheet.
6. When you are out, you can also use it as a crawling mat for your baby.
Here is the list of best swaddle blankets for new parents.
Why to Swaddle a Baby?
Some expectant mothers may have questions about why they should swaddle the baby with receiving blanket. Isn’t it better to let your baby stretch freely? actually not.
In addition to having an ordinary warm-keeping function, swaddling has a very important advantage is that it can play a role in comforting the baby. Especially for newborn babies, they have been used to the environment in the womb. They will not be able to adapt to the new environment when they are born, and the swaddling can simulate the feeling that the baby is surrounded tightly in the womb and can make the baby feel safe and sleep better.
Swaddling can also relieve baby moro reflex to a certain extent. For newborn babies, because the terminal nerves are not yet fully developed, moro reflex is the problem of involuntary arms waving. If you do not wrap them up with receiving blankets, it is easy for your baby to wake up when he is involuntarily waving his hands and feet.
How Many Receiving Blankets Need to Prepare?
Normally the hospital will give two when your baby is born, but the size given by the hospital is not great. In my experience, it’s better to prepare 4-5 receiving blankets, more convenient for changing and washing.
With regard to the size of the receiving blanket, most of the products sold on the market today are 30 x 30, which is relatively small and can only be used in a short time as baby grows fast. Some mothers suggested that the size of the package should be at least 30 x 40 or larger, and the swaddling of the larger size would be easier, and it could be used for a longer period of time.
In general, the cotton material should be enough. But you can try some organic muslin swaddle blankets, which is my favorite.
My Recommendation of Receiving Blankets
There are lots of brands selling receiving blankets in the market, and they all have different sizes and prices. I did compare Swaddle Designs VS. Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets before. You can check and see which one is more suitable for you.
Currently, the one I recommend is the Classic Muslin Swaddle Blanket 4 Pack by aden + anais. This size is 47 x 47, made of cotton.
Aden+anais is a native American brand, and many mothers love this one. According to the reviews from other moms, the advantage of the aden+anais swaddle blanket lies in the fact that the material is relatively thin and breathable so that the baby does not feel very hot inside. The large size of the 47×47 can then completely wrap the baby. It is much more practical than the small size; the feeling of the blanket is also very soft, and it is more comfortable for wrapping the baby.
It’s also available on Amazon. You can find lots of colors and designs but there are slight differences in the prices of various designs.