Just a few clips make all your baby blankets multi-functional

Our last blanketmybaby.com blog post introduced nursing covers.  Well, let us introduce you to another hand-freeing product that can be used with all your blankets and could even help you create your own nursing cover.

One super-simple fix that’s used by trendy, thrifty parents are blanket clips and snaps. This relatively inexpensive cure-all solves the problem of only having two arms, two hands and one you!  If you have trouble keeping blankets on your baby and off the ground, you may want to do a little research into some of the products below.  Blanket clips, snaps, straps and bungies help keep blankets in the stroller or car seat or covering mom while she’s nursing.  Clips can also help you create a quick sun shield to protect your baby from harmful rays.  These products have so many possibilities–just be creative and you’ll have a homemade nursing cover, stroller blanket or car seat cover.  If you have a unique use for blanket clips, let Blanket My Baby and our readers in on your genius by posting a comment.

Blanket clips are available in a variety of colors, patterns and sizes that will coordinate with the accessories and blankets you already own.  They are sure to add style and functionality without putting too large a dent in your wallet.  They make great baby shower gifts.

Check out some of the products we found that are available at online boutiques and stores:

Blankie Bungie (Blanket Clip) from Z Daisy Boutique

Stroller Suspenders

If you want the blanket attached, check out Secure2Me baby blankets.  Click below to watch a quick video on the uses and simple functionality of the Secure2Me line.

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 – You don’t always have to buy the perfect baby blanket – Handmade, crocheted blankets are my all-time favorite

Lisa, 33, Eastgate, Ohio
Proud mom of Nolan, Rylie and Ashlynn

Of all the baby blankets I’ve owned, I would have to say my overall favorites are crocheted blankets.  I’ve never made one myself, but I’ve received many as gifts.

I love that crocheted baby blankets are:

1) handmade by special people (a great heirloom for you or your child)

2) breathable (The natural holes from crocheting make the blanket breathable, as well as the often used cotton yarn.  However, if the crochet pattern is too loose, little fingers and toes can get stuck in the blanket.)

3) great for use as a blanket or for decorating (I love the look of crocheted blankets and often drape them over the crib or hang them on the wall)

4) unique (Since no two handmade blankets are exactly alike, they are always unique.  I have several made with unique colors or patterns.  The yarn used may also have a unique texture or be made from an organic yarn like wool or organic cotton.)

I am a photographer and one of the crocheted baby blankets I own is featured in a picture in my portfolio.  You can view it on my website.  Just follow this link to the Hezlep Photography site.

An Everyday Parent’s Advice for Buying the Perfect Baby Blanket – Unique, personalized blankets with the baby’s name embroidered make great gifts

Lisa, 33, Eastgate, Ohio
Proud mom of Nolan, Rylie and Ashlynn

If was going to buy a unique baby blanket for a friend, I would buy a personalized blanket embroidered with the baby’s name.

I received a personalized blanket as a gift from a client of mine for the birth of my third child.  It is made of a very soft, pink, fleece material and has an attached bunny.  My baby loves to play with it and hold on to it.  The picture below was taken of her with the bunny blanket and is featured on my website, http://hezlepphotography.smugmug.com/, under “Portfolio” and then the “My Kids” tab.

When buying a personalized blanket, it is still important to purchase a blanket that the baby will love to cuddle with and that the parent will actually use.  Blankets can be unique and practical at the same time.  See the following post featured on blanketmybaby.com for my general blanket-buying advice:

An Everyday Parent’s Advice for Buying the Perfect Baby Blanket - Swaddling blankets and multi-purpose blankets - Babies need different blankets as they grow

You may have noticed that she is laying in a basket with another homemade, crocheted baby blanket.  I do not usually give crocheted blankets as gifts because I do not know how to make them.  If you would like to read why crocheted blankets are my all-time favorite baby blanket, visit the following post:

An Everyday Parent’s Advice for Buying the Perfect Baby Blanket – You don’t always have to buy the perfect baby blanket – Handmade, crocheted blankets are my all-time favorite

An Everyday Parent’s Advice for Buying the Perfect Baby Blanket - Swaddling blankets and multi-purpose blankets - Babies need different blankets as they grow

Lisa, 33, Eastgate, Ohio
Proud mom of Nolan, Rylie and Ashlynn

Below, Lisa, mom of three, explains that babies will require different types of blankets as they grow and as their needs change.  To help other parents and blanket shoppers in their baby blanket searches, she describes her criteria for swaddling blankets and her preferences for blankets for swaddle graduates (older babies).

Swaddlers

For newborns you need a great swaddling blanket!  Look for blankets that are:

1) perfectly square
2) stretchy
3) big (when I’m using them to swaddle, most regular receiving blankets don’t feel big enough)

I own a receiving blanket made of thermal material that I would recommend.  It’s made by Koala Baby and can be purchased at Babies “R” Us.  The blanket is green, made of 100% cotton, very stretchy and perfectly square.  You can easily swaddle a baby with it and it keeps the baby warm during the colder seasons.  A great swaddle would keep my baby comfortable and sleeping.

Koala Baby Thermal Receiving Blanket – Babies “R” Us (pictured)

I would not suggest buying regular, cheap receiving blankets for swaddling infants.  At my house, they just ended up being used as burp cloths.

Swaddle Graduates (older babies)

As babies get older and more active, I recommend blankets that are:

1) breathable
2) soft (babies LOVE soft materials for cuddling and playing, especially silk or satin)
3) durable (during this stage, babies become attached to certain items—namely their blankies—so you want one that will hold up)
4) big (it’s nice to have a blanket big enough to throw on the floor at other people’s houses and let the baby play)

One word of warning:  In my experience, the blankets that have a solid silk or satin side with the opposite side made of a soft material tends to make babies sweat profusely.  The sweating is usually worst if they are touching the silky side of the blanket.  This is one of the reasons I recommend breathable material.

An Everyday Parent’s Advice for Buying the Perfect Baby Blanket – Mom of 5 tells us some things to avoid when buying a baby blanket

April, 35, Burlington, KY
Proud mom of Kelsey, Jackson, Sydney, Elisa and Kaira

•    Avoid baby blankets that are not intended for everyday use
Wash-ability is important!  Someone gave us a dry clean only blanket once.  It was beautiful to look at, but I never actually used it as I was afraid I would ruin it.

•    Avoid baby blankets made of coarse material or that your baby will get stuck in
I received a crocheted baby blanket for my son at one of my baby showers.  It was hand crocheted with a course yarn and had fringes on the ends.  When he was a baby, he didn’t mind it that much (although it was not his favorite to cuddle with).  Now that he’s older, he doesn’t like it because the fringes tickle his face.  We also avoid crocheted or knitted baby blankets with holes larger than baby fingers/toes.  In playing, they often get stuck and require a lot of getting out from mommy!

•    Avoid having only one type of baby blanket
You will need different types of blankets, made of different fabrics and in different sizes depending on the situation.  As you build your collection of blankets consider preparing for weather, uses, age, growth, nursing and more.

Valentine’s Day Baby Blanket Gift Ideas Part 2 - Baby blankets for special occasions series

This is part two of our list of Valentine’s Day baby blanket gift ideas.  This list includes items for sale and ideas for making your own unique baby blanket for February 14th!

Unique Baby Gear Ideas - Red Valentine’s Blanket

On the Unique Baby Gear Ideas website, they suggest buying a cheap, red fleece blanket at a store and then adding a white stitch around the edges, attaching lace or sewing on accents.  They also advise personalizing the blanket with your baby’s name and embroidering hearts or other Valentine’s Day images.

What a great idea for a quick, homemade blanket!

Green Start Baby Art

Green Start Baby Art carries the unique, eco-friendly, love-bug-themed baby blanket on the right.  It is 100% organic and made of natural jersey cotton. The fabric color is natural cotton (looks almost white), which has no dye.  The blanket is made in the USA.

The cutest part is the creative text on the blanket.  On one side, the blanket has a picture of the love bug with a heart and says “little luvbug”.  On what Green Start Baby Art calls the bum side, the blanket says “luv stinks”!  Creative.

Messages from the Heart Baby Blanket on eBay

This pink blanket made by Messages from the Heart is very soft, featuring a pink & brown argyle border and stitched corduroy and chenille hearts.  The words “Work of Heart” are embroidered on this classic style blanket.  The many textures and colors will make this blanket fun for your baby to touch and cuddle with.

Valentine’s Day Baby Blanket Gift Ideas - Baby blankets for special occasions series

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner.  If you have a special someone, I hope you have the perfect gift in mind.  We at blanketmybaby.com have some ideas for what to buy for your sweetheart…and we mean your baby of course!

Here is a list of Valentine’s Day baby blanket gift ideas:

-  Have a blanket in a Valentine’s Day color or print personalized or monogrammed for your baby.

-  Make your own blanket - For the talented with needles, knit a red and pink blanket or sew a heart-shaped blanket.  For the not-so-talented with needles, buy a red, pink or white baby blanket and sew or iron on a heart-shaped patch.  You could also buy heart-patterned fleece and a plain fleece and make a tie together fleece blanket.

-  Buy a unique Valentine’s Day baby blanket from a store.  You can find a very cute example of a baby blanket for Valentine’s Day from The Land of Nod.  The “Be My Valentine Blankets” feature a red/pink Valentine’s hearts pattern on a white background.  You may choose between a swaddling blanket made of 100% pre-shrunk cotton flannel with swaddling instructions and a cotton flannel security blanket with a silky satin border.  Both blankets are machine washable and made in the USA.

With a blanket this cute and holiday themed, your baby will be winning the hearts of everyone around!

Christmas Baby Blankets - Baby Blankets for Special Occasions Series

Unique Baby Blanket Ideas for Christmas

Make Your Own Christmas Baby Blanket

Visit the Michaels site to learn how to make the Caron Christmas Baby Blanket.  You can purchase Caron’s Simply Soft Yarn at Michaels and download a free pattern for knitting and then embroidering a Christmas baby blanket.

The blanket can double as a baby carriage cover.  This blanket pattern is rated as a 1 out of 5 for level of difficulty with 1 being the easiest.

The design is classic or country Christmas style and makes a great gift, keepsake or family heirloom.

The Royal Nursery First Christmas Blanket

This Christmas baby blanket can be personalized with your baby’s name and features an embroidered rocking horse.  The rocking horse design gives the blanket a very classic Christmas style.

The blanket is made of soft, white micro-fleece.

All you have to do is type the baby’s name into the web page!  As with most personalized items, order in advance because it will likely take a few weeks to embroider and ship.

Baby’s First Christmas Blanket from Blueberry Babies

Blueberry Babies carries a blanket made of white fleece and trimmed in satin.  Babies love to touch soft trims and other textures. A comforting fact (given that this Christmas baby blanket is stark white) is that it is machine washable.

The blanket comes with one of the embroidered designs pictured above: a reindeer, Santa or holiday tree. The chunky, rounded designs of the embroidery give the blanket a cutesy, contemporary Christmas feel.

The blanket can be personalized with your baby’s first name. If you want to use this blanket for multiple children, you can skip the name, or why not embroider your last name only and use it as a family blanket?  It would be a fun item to get out each year a baby in your family celebrates a first Christmas.

Do you own a great Christmas baby blanket or have feedback on one of the blankets showcased above?  Tell us about it by posting a comment so that our readers can have all the information they need before making their Christmas baby blanket purchase.

Homemade Baby Blankets Video Series: Part 10 - How to Finish Baby Blanket Corners

You are almost finished! Hang in there, Karina helps you finish your baby blanket in this video, “How to Finish Baby Blanket Corners.” Learn about how to finish the baby blanket corners with expert sewing tips in this free craft video clip. This is also a bit of a tricky technique, so rewatch it if you have to.

We hope this video series has been helpful for you if you are endeavoring in making your own baby blanket. It’s such a great gift for newborns and parents. Hope you have had fun making your blanket, and we hope you have enjoyed this video series!

Check back on our blog often for new content all about the best and unique baby blankets.