I Love Our Swaddling Blankets

We’ve talked a lot on this blog about aden + anais blankets and for good reason.  They are wonderful blankets, and we offer them at the lowest prices on the internet (as far as I am aware).  And to have four of these blankets around just makes life easier.  They are wonderful for swaddling your baby and calming them down.

I’ve been writing about these blankets for over a year now, but now I am actually experiencing their benefits.  Our little Emil, who is almost 3 months old now, loves his aden and anais blankets.  Our bedtime routine includes his last feeding of the night, a burping, a change and then straight to the crib for swaddling in one of his muslin wraps.  To top it off, I’ll usually hum a lullaby.  It doesn’t matter if it is his mom or me, Emil loves being wrapped in these blankets.

Our son has been having some tummy issues.  In fact, he’s had them since he was born.  He’ll eat and then in about an hour, he’ll get very fussy.  There are different kinds of techniques we use to comfort him, but one that works is keeping him warm and snug in a swaddling blanket.  It gives him a sense of peace and comfort when he is wrapped.

He has a wide assortment to choose from.  We have the Mod 4 pack, which includes fish, bees, frogs and caterpillars.  We also have the Little Man 4 pack, which has 4 different designs in aqua blue.  I love the camo blanket the best.  He looks so awesome in it!  Below is a pic of Emil while on our trip to Nashville in a crib that’s gotten some good use from our relatives.

How To Swaddle A Baby – Video

I think my wife is the Swaddle Queen.  We knew going into our pregnancy that these aden + anais blankets were great.  Our customers tell us all the time, and the swaddle blankets are our top sellers.  Well, there is good reason why.  The blankets are perfect for swaddling.

In this video, you’ll see why they are so good for swaddling.

1. They are large, 47 x 47 (these blankets are larger than the aden and anais at Target or Babies ‘R Us)
2. They are stretchy – you can wrap the blanket around the baby and give it a good tug to secure your swaddle.  When you have a fussy baby or an escape artist, like we have, a tight swaddle is a must.  You don’t want the baby waking himself up i the middle of the night by an arm out and scratching his face.
3. They are soft – just one touch, and you’ll know exactly what I mean
4. They are breathable – your baby will stay warm, but he won’t overheat.  We’ve had hot 90+ degree weather here in September.  Wrapping our baby in these blankets is still fine because they breath so well.

There are certainly a lot of great baby blankets out there, and each serve their purpose.  But when it comes to swaddling, you can’t go wrong with aden & anais.

aden + anais cozy swaddles are here!

Blanket My Baby is offering aden + anais cozy swaddles to add to our terrific line of this industry leading brand.  We have five different prints to choose from, and they are all adorable!  The great thing about these blankets is that they are composed of the same muslin cotton that you love, but they just have a double layer of it.

It’s 96 degrees in Cincinnati today and cozy swaddles may be the last thing on your mind, but just like the ant and the squirrel, we believe in hard work and preparation.  So yes, while it’s hot and all you may be able to think about now is how to escape the heat, soon enough, Old Man Winter will come blowing in.  These blankets are perfect for cool walks in the park and cold nights at home.  While keeping your baby warm, they still breathe well so that baby will not overheat.

The blankets are perfect for swaddling as well as play blankets, stroller blankets, and a number of other functional uses.  The large 47 x 47 size gives you plenty of options.  Enjoy.  Find them all here!

Best Baby Blankets?

Since opening our store, many of our friends and family are often asking us, “what are the best baby blankets on your site”?  Well, it really depends on what you are looking for.  From the very beginning of this site’s existence, we have striven to be your one destination on the internet for all of your baby blanket needs.  We’ve had our work cut out for us!  There are many different categories of baby blankets, and so the best baby blanket needs to begin with the question, “what are you using it for?”

Do you need a swaddling blanket?  Do you need a security blanket?  Do you need a receiving blanket?  Do you need a stroller blanket?  Some blankets will cross over into multiple categories, but others are designed specifically for one reason.  For example, the Snug and Tug on our site is strictly a swaddler.  However, our aden and anais blankets can serve as swaddling, stroller blankets, play blankets or many other uses.  Our Swaddle Designs lovies are definitely meant to be a security blanket as well as a fashion statement.  Many celebrity moms love these blankets.

So, what is the best baby blanket?  It’s really up to you!  Determine what the purpose is, then shop our store by category.  OR, shop our store by color.  OR, shop our store by price.  OR, shop our store by brand.  Ok, ok, I’ll stop.  But, you get the idea.  Some blankets may be better quality than others.  We love the aden and anais muslin wraps, but it’s hard to say which are the best.

Muslin Cotton Swaddling Cloths are a Family Tradition

I was talking with my mom over the weekend letting her know how much my sister-in-law loved the Aden and Anais swaddling blankets we gave her for the birth of her fourth child, our second niece.  My mom told me that while muslin swaddling wraps are really popular with modern moms, my great grandmother, better known as Granny, used muslin cloths to swaddle her children and grandchildren.  The material is breathable, stretches and is great for securing a snug wrap that will keep baby’s arms and legs tucked in. Believe me, if Granny did it, it is worth considering.

Granny was an amazing figure of strength in my family and had wisdom that takes a lifetime to acquire.  I admired her faith and her compassion, which were apparent in all she did.  Born in 1912, she saw a lot in her lifetime.  She lived much of her life in poverty and hardship, but was always giving to others.  One of the ways she served her poor farming community was by acting as a midwife.  She delivered many babies in a time when you had to boil water for sterilization and signal an ambulance by ringing a huge emergency bell in the yard.

The woman knew how to deliver a baby and get it to sleep without any fancy methods.  She tore apart old cotton muslin sheets to make tried-and-true homemade swaddling wraps. She knew that swaddled babies sleep best.

Granny died a few years ago and our family really misses her.  I carry on many of the things she taught me and hope that when we are blessed enough to have our own children, they will continue to carry on her legacy of faith and strength.  Whenever I wrap them in muslin swaddling blankets I will remember Granny.

For unique swaddling blankets in mod fashion (and we promise they’re not made of old sheets) check out blanketmybaby.com’s selection of Aden and Anais muslin cotton wraps.

How To Swaddle A Baby

Ok, you’ve heard all the rage.  You’ve read all the articles.  You know that swaddling is a good idea for your baby.  Not only can it help prevent SIDS, but it also provides a comforting, warm place for your baby.  This of course leads to a good night’s sleep for your baby.  And what does that mean for mommy and daddy?  You guessed it!  SLEEP!!!  We know how important it is for parents to get a good night’s rest.  If not, you’ll be walking around like my good friend Aaron “Harang-a-tang” Harang, who looks like the living dead most of the time.

Aaron Harang-a-Tang

Don’t wind up looking like this Reds pitcher.  You can do better than that.  So, here is a video to teach you how to swaddle your baby.  You may ask which blanket is best for swaddling.  We recently gave an aden and anais 4 pack to my brother and sister and law for their 4th child, and she swears by them.  Little Hallie has been sleeping great with these blankies and your son or daughter can too.  Shop for all of our swaddling blankets here.  But first, a bit of instruction.

Now, go get some sleep!

Ajax in his Ultimate Receiving Blanket

Here is our new favorite buddy, Henry Ajax Knoechel.  He is the first baby of our best friends Josh and Stacy, and what do you know?  He’s all swaddled up in his Brown Mod Circles on White Ultimate Receiving Blanket, which came from Blanket My Baby.

Swaddled Baby

I was visiting Ajax for a bit today, and noticed he was resting well in this blanket.  One of the greatest things about these blankets are the size.  At 42″ x 42″, they are large enough to make a secure swaddle around the baby.  Ajax seems to like it, and he’s drifting away to sleep land.  If you don’t know why he’s named Ajax, no, it’s not for the cleaning product.  He was named after the amazing Greek hero.  You can see him here.

Ajax in Ultimate Receiving Blanket

aden + anais Swaddling Blankets

We just added some great new swaddling blankets to the site from aden and anais.  You can have your choice from single wraps, 2 pack winter warmth blankets or 4 packs.  The 4 packs provide tremendous value because you are getting 4 large swaddling blankets for a great low price of $43.95.  Most parents know that this is a good deal for a quality swaddling wrap.

These blankets are large, 47 x 47, and the are made of muslin cotton.  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.

The blankets are also function.  They are machine washable, which makes moms very happy.  Why a 4 pack?  If you’ve been around babies at all, you know that blankets can get dirty very quickly.  So, while some are in the wash, you have some spares to keep your baby snug and cozy.

aden + anais 4 pack swaddling blankets

SwaddleDesigns zzZipMe Sack

Ok, so here’s another one from SwaddleDesigns.  This is the zzZipMe Sack – Fuzzy Lime with Brown Mod Circles.  This blanket/sack is designed for infants 3-6 months old.  Basically, this product is a variation of Halo’s SleepSack, which was a huge success.  The design is to help babies reduce the risk of SIDS.

The zzZipMe Sack was created for babies when they are ready to move on from swaddling.  A nice feature of this blanket is a 2-way zipper, which opens from the bottom and the top.  The concept is to zip down from the top to easily place your baby inside, but while changing a diaper, your baby can stay warm by zipping from the bottom to the top.  It’s a very clever feature that is great for parents.

This blanket has gone through much testing in the United States and the United Kingdom and meets CPSIA requirements.  The Fuzzy Plush zzZipMe Sacks have a TOG rating of 2.2.  The recommended use for a blanket of this rating is temperatures between 65 – 70 degrees F, which is the range medical experts recommend for sleep environments. This blanket is 100% polyester and made in the USA .

We find this product to be excellent, keeping your baby warm while allowing them some space to wiggle their legs.  We’re looking forward to offering this product once our store is up.  You can find this sleep sack for around $36.  Shop our sleep sacks to find this product.

zzZipMe Sack

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.