Unique Muslin Swaddle Blankets for Baby: Practical and Posh

If you’ve read any of the blanketmybaby.com blog series, “An Everyday Parent’s Advice for Buying the Perfect Baby Blanket” you may have noticed a trend.  Many moms and dads recommend swaddling blankets for new babies, but complain that typical receiving blankets are not big enough to swaddle with.  Several of these parents also mentioned that the fabric of swaddle blankets is key.  You want a blanket that will keep the baby warm.  However, the fabric should still be breathable so that the baby does not sweat and become uncomfortable.

We at blanketmybaby.com found a product line–Aden and Anais Australian Muslin Baby Wraps–that seem to come in a size and fabric that will quiet both complaints.  The swaddle blankets are 47 inches X 47 inches and are large enough for a comfortable swaddle.

The cotton muslin fabric keeps babies at a comfortable temperature.  According to Aden and Anais, “Muslin is a unique cotton fabric first introduced into England in the late 17th century. Muslin has a light, open weave that allows air to flow seamlessly through the material. The soft natural fibers allow your baby’s body temperature to adjust naturally, eliminating over-heating, but ensuring warmth and comfort.” Swaddle instructions and unique product options can be found on our website.

These products were developed by two moms who moved to the U.S. from Australia.  Shortly after the move, both moms looked for muslin swaddling cloths for their babies (apparently a baby staple in Australia) only to find that muslin swaddling blankets were actually quite uncommon in the U.S.  After many compliments on and requests for their hommemade muslin baby blankets, the two moms created Aden and Anais.

Aden and Anais muslin swaddle blankets come in many patterns and color combinations.  The blankets pictured above are from their mod line.  These are mostly white with small, colorful graphics.  From traditional solid to trendy prints, these blankets are both practical and posh.  They can be purchased in packs of two or four.  The blankets are machine washable and are safe to put in the dryer.  They actually get softer as you wash them!  Aden and Anais also carries muslin wash cloths and hooded towels.

A unique way to gift a homemade receiving blanket at a baby shower

This idea was submitted by:
Heather, 28, Florence, KY
Proud mom of David, Marisa, Joseph and TBD

My mom makes really big receiving blankets for everyone who has a baby, and wraps their gifts in them.  She makes them at least a meter squared.  They stretch width-wise across the crib with room to tuck in a bit, and I use them all the time.  When securely tucked in, they can go directly next to the baby’s face in the crib.

My sister-in-law loves them for nursing because they provide great coverage, but don’t over-heat the baby.  They’re also good for getting a snug, not-going-anywhere swaddle.

So if you want a quick, easy sewing project, buy a yard or so of cute cotton flannel (preferably one with finished edges along two sides) and all you have to do is hem or serge the other two sides.  If you’re making a blanket for your own child, my only advice would be to not over-estimate how much available time you are going to have to make these blankets after your baby arrives.  I’ve got lots of material in the basement for cute blankets that I doubt I’ll ever get around to sewing.  Make them before baby arrives if you can, new moms are busy ladies!

An Everyday Parent’s Advice for Buying the Perfect Baby Blanket – My top three criteria include Fabric, Functionality and Style

Heather, 28, Florence, KY
Proud mom of David, Marisa, Joseph and TBD

The perfect baby blanket depends on the owner.  It has to be perfect for you and your baby.  My top three criteria for finding a baby blanket I love are:
fabric, functionality and style.

Fabric
The feel of the fabric must be comfy for the baby and not irritating to me.  The fabric should be heavy enough to keep my baby warm, but light enough so that the baby does not wake up drenched in sweat.  I avoid heavy fleece, thin cotton that allows my baby to feel a draft and all fabrics that are not breathable.

I despise cheap cotton/flannel receiving blankets.  They end up all skewed and out of square after the first washing. I know there’s no way to check for this before buying them, but my Gerber receiving blankets all did this, along with others from cheap stores. Name brands like Carters make really sturdy, much higher quality receiving blankets and it’s well worth paying a bit extra for blankets that hold up.  I use receiving blankets for EVERYTHING.  I love them.

Functionality
The blanket has to be big enough to swaddle with.  There are few things more annoying than trying to swaddle a baby with a blanket that is just a centimeter too small.

Also, since babies are professionals at getting things dirty, the blanket must be durable and able to withstand many washings.  As stated above, I suggest avoiding cheap, cotton/flannel receiving blankets.

Style
The blanket must be cute and unique.  There is a large selection of baby blankets on the market, so I look for one that meets all of my criteria.  With a little searching, I can always find a baby blanket that has a comfy fabric, functionality and my style.

An Everyday Parent’s Advice for Buying the Perfect Baby Blanket – Why you should buy unique baby blankets and an idea for the next top-selling, functional blanket

Heather, 28, Florence, KY
Proud mom of David, Marisa, Joseph and TBD

Unique Blankets
I like to buy baby blankets with really unique patterns and high quality, all-natural fabric.  I want a blanket that screams “unique” at first glance.  Why put in the effort to find a one-of-a-kind product if everyone mistakes it for a Babies-R-Us or Walmart blanket?  I try to find something that catches the eye of anyone passing the stroller.

Fashion is fun, but not most important.  You still have to be practical when it comes to baby products.  I would want a heavy enough weave to keep the wind out, but not bulky or too warm.  I like a blanket that can be used during all seasons.  I avoid materials that pill or fade quickly so that it seems indulgent and special for longer than all the generic, cheaper, common blankets.

My idea for the next best-seller
I think a blanket with a slit at the center of the lower third that you could put the bottom of a car-seat or stroller buckle through would be a nice addition to my collection.  This way the baby could be bundled up from below for extra insulation rather than just wrapping the exposed top of them. But, the slit would have to have some sort of soft flap so it wouldn’t be drafty.  It would also need to be designed so that it wouldn’t be bunchy for the baby to sleep on.

An Everyday Parent’s Advice for Buying the Perfect Baby Blanket – Choose a blanket that is big enough for swaddling and lets you know when the baby is wet

Heather, 28, Florence, KY
Proud mom of David, Marisa, Joseph and TBD

My favorite swaddle blanket
I think the blanket was purchased at Walmart, but I’m not sure.  It is made of a very heavy, very soft cotton fabric and has a satin edging all around the blanket.  One side is solid baby-blue, the other is patterned. This blanket is my favorite because it combines a lot of my preferences: the satin trim is snuggly, it’s a fairly heavy cotton fabric, it has a very dense weave and it is the perfect size!

Of all the preferences listed above, my FAVORITE feature of this blanket is that it’s slightly wider and longer than all my others!  There seems to be some unspoken rule out there about the dimensions of a baby blanket.  They’re all the same size–too small!

The small blankets are fine for the initial swaddling but there’s no extra fabric.  This means that as soon as the baby starts to move its arms or legs the wrap comes loose, and within a minute they’ve wiggled themselves cold. The blanket I’m talking about is the only one like it that I have.  It’s truly unique in that it’s just a bit larger, and tucks a bit further around the baby than my other blankets.  It truly keeps my kids swaddled.  This blue blanket has been my favorite for all three babies even though Marisa is a girl.

Pee ID
The solid color on the underside of this blanket means you can identify instantly if the baby has peed or spat up.  Blankets that are all patterned hide so much that the baby might be wet and uncomfortable but you can’t see it.  This blanket goes dark, so it’s obvious.  I always wrap the baby so the dark side is outward and I can tell if my baby is wet right away.

I prefer cotton to fleece.  Fleece fabrics feel dry to the touch no matter what, so it’s harder to tell when the baby has soaked the blanket.

Personalized Baby Blankets - Satin Trimmed

The personalized blanket seen above is from threadsmith.com. It is a satin trim, microfleece blanket, and it comes in baby blue, pink or white. Your kids will love this blanket for the silky trim and the warm, fleece like microfiber. The microfiber blanket is made from 100% polyester so it won’t snag or wear down. This is a very functional blanket and able to be machine washed. It’s also quite large, with dimensions of 36″ x 50″. The blanket starts at $22.95.

A very nice feature to this blanket is that you can customize the embroidery. Your first choice is where you would like the embroidery - top center, bottom center, top left or bottom right. The customization doesn’t end there. You get to place whatever message you want on the blanket, choosing from a huge list of fonts. They also have clip art to choose from or you can use a predesigned template. You have your choice for all kinds of messages, styles and colors. This is a great place to buy a personalized baby blanket! You can be as creative and unique as you’d like to be.

Filed under Baby Blankets, Blue Baby Blankets, Embroidered Baby Blanket, Fleece Baby Blankets, Personalized Baby Blankets, Pink Baby Blankets, White Baby Blankets | Tags: babies, Baby Blankets, personalized baby blanket, satin trim blanket | Comment (0)

Personalized Baby Blankets - Ultimate Puppy Girl Luxury Blanket

It seems that so many parents and gift givers are looking for the perfect baby blanket for a newborn.  Shopping at baby boutiques can be expensive and stores like Babys R Us don’t have unique baby blankets.  So, online shopping is the way to go.  

In order to give a truly unique gift, a lot of shoppers turn to personalized baby blankets to send a special message.  Over the next few posts, I’d like to present some fantastic products of personalized and embroidered baby blankets.  Giving this blanket as a gift shows that you have gone the extra mile to show you care.  

First up is the Ultimate Puppy Girl Luxury Blanket.  The price is a bit more than average at $139.95, but this truly is a luxury blanket.  The fabric is an extra thick fluffy microfibre.  It has a brown ruffle on the edges for little girls and a taggie blue dot fringe for boys.  The adorable puppy on the front lets you know right away that this blanket is going to be your little girl’s best friend.  You can pamper her with this extremely cozy blanket and place a personalized name on it, up to 8 letters. 

The blanket is large, 34″ x 40″, so as your baby grows, it can even transfer over to their bed.  In fact, many testimonials of this blanket say how it has helped kids transition to their beds when it is time.  

If you are looking for a super cozy, personalized blanket for a gift, this ultimate blanket would be a great choice. 

Unique Sleep Sack and Swaddle Combo Baby Blanket - May help prevent SIDS

Did you know that one way you can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is by keeping blankets and clothing out of your baby’s face?  An occurrence called rebreathing (the inhalation of carbon dioxide), has been tagged as a possible cause of sudden infant death syndrome.  This may occur due to loose blankets or oversized sleeves near the baby’s face.

With a little research, we at blanketmybaby.com discovered a unique swaddling blanket/sleep sack combo that converts to allow for multiple uses as your baby grows.  The combo blanket is specially designed to stay a safe distance from baby’s face.

Below is some information about the 2-in-1 product called the Halo SleepSack Swaddle.

•    Comes in three fabric options: 100% organic cotton, 100% cotton or micro-fleece

•    Available in numerous colors and patterns

•    It’s the only product that carries the gold seals from First Candle/SIDS Alliance and the Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths.

•    The American Academy of Pediatrics, leading SIDS organizations and health professionals suggest the use of wearable blankets to provide a safe sleep environment for infants. A percentage of our sales go to First Candle/SIDS Alliance and the Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths to support SIDS research and education.

For more information, visit the Halo SleepSack website, https://www.halosleep.com/.

An Everday Parent’s Guide for Buying the Perfect Baby Blanket - It’s all about the TEXTURE

Amie, 32, Cincinnati, Ohio
Proud mom of Allie and Ella

The top three qualifiers for a great baby blanket are definitely texture, color and size says Amie, mom of two.  However, she says a great texture is the number one baby blanket attribute by a wide margin.  Below, Amie shares why texture is key when it comes to finding a baby blanket that both you and your baby will love.

Well for me, it’s all about the texture…

Textures for play
Of all the baby blankets I owned, the one I liked best was a “tag” blanket that my sister-in-law made.  The blanket is a 24” square, colorful blanket with all types of ribbons on the exterior for babies to feel and chew.  Babies love to play with fun textures!

Textures for temperature
Recently I saw that they’re making baby blankets out of the same material as the extra-soft North Face coats.  The micro-fleece blankets feel fantastic and fleece is a great material for keeping your baby warm and cozy.

Textures for swaddling
For swaddling a newborn, the perfect blanket texture is just like an extra thick, cotton t-shirt.  The material is soft against your baby’s skin, not too hot and not too cool.  The elasticity in this type of material allows for the stretch needed for a good, tight swaddle.

Textures we could all live without
A dear friend made us a flannel blanket when one of my girls was born.  I love it because she made it for us, but we really never used it because it was just too stiff and bulky.  You wouldn’t use a blanket that was stiff, bulky, hot, itchy or otherwise uncomfortable.  Why wrap your baby in a texture you wouldn’t wrap up in?

“Dublin” the green for St. Patrick’s Day with these unique organic baby blankets - Baby blankets for special occasions series

Double the green this St. Patrick’s Day by purchasing an organic, St. Patty’s-themed baby blanket.  We at blanketmybaby.com found an online store with several unique, organic St. Patty’s blanket options.  Visit mygoodnessduds.com to pick from their array of Irish tag lines and designs.  Featured below is their St. Patty’s Day Organic Baby Blanket - Dublin the Blessings.  The blanket is made of organic cotton and has a white background with green detailing.  The “Dublin the Blessings” theme makes it a great gift idea for twins!

The following product description is as it appears on www.mygoodnessduds.com:

This organic blanket features our two little lucky Four Leaf Clovers with these words “Dublin the Bleesings”. If you have twins, this blanket was made for them.

DESCRIPTION: Organic Cotton Baby Blanket, a must have for all babies, very cuddly and soft. Not your usual receiving blanket these are made with a double layer of jersey knit and bound (not a serged edge). Made to last thru many babies and many washings! All blankets are made with natural jersey on one side, and you chose from our available colors for the other side. Approximately 28″x28″. Available in a natural color with your choice of contrast binding in sage green, slate blue or violet.

* Machine wash and dry
* Homegrown and hand sewn in the USA.
* Made of the softest 100% organic cotton jersey knit.