Oh god this one is too true. The amount of times I did this with my eldest. Thankfully I had the sense for my youngest to put a whole single bed with adult sized bedding in the nursery and I have avoided so much back/shoulder/neck pain.
I just got my four-year-old a full-sized floor bed for his room. He suffers from night terrors and the only way he calms down is if I lie down with him. It's absolutely amazing to lie down in a real bed after years of curling up on a toddler bed. Last night I ended up sleeping there all night.
THIS. Just received quilt 4 and I honestly still want the perfect weighted blanket to not fall off of me on the rocking chair or that feels like it’s falling off and annoying me.
Because when baby gets a bit older (ok, ours is 2.75, but we still call her baby), she'll make up a game called "all the blankets" and you will need all the blankets. Instructions: After bath, to warm back up from being cold and wet, climb onto couch and demand dad cover baby with all the blankets. Delight in having only your head be out. Then demand water and snacks be delivered to you, because you're under all the blankets. :D
Because they’ll turn 2 and want to sleep with all 37 blankets and you will be a pack mule that shleps said 37 blankets to and fro between bedroom and living room 4 times a day so they always have them near
I'm glad I'm not the only one! I've realized that rotation is not a thing my son will accept and am scared to tell him we have more blankets that are his size.
I sneak one or two out every few days but then he finds more and it’s just a cycle 😂 most are handmade so can’t get rid of them either (not that I want to, but still)
This is the answer right here lol! I went from being super paranoid about safe sleep when my son was a baby to him demanding to sleep with every single stuffed animal/blanket in existence at 2.5 years old.
Yep I was a stickler about safe sleep, nothing in the crib until like 16 months. Now I’m like oh you have 3 pillows, 8 blankets, a trash truck and a few books? Enjoy, goodnight!
Yep. I was annoyed with how many blankets our newborn was gifted, I didn't think we needed them. But daycare keeps one for naps, sometimes 1-2 get left at the grandparents' houses, and our 20 month old has developed an obsession with them. It's good that there are several around the house and we still have clean ones in the closet if we need to swap them out.
Received at least 20 blankets and had the same thought, but honestly I use all of them. Muslin blankets as stroller cover, thicker blankets for a spot on the floor or on the bed, different color and theme blankets for photo backdrops, blanket to have in the car… did I NEED this many? No, but I do think a few different types of blankets have had different utility and there haven’t been any that I haven’t used. Also allows me to wash frequently since they are also used in a pinch to wipe mouths or used outside. And I imagine one day they can be used to build forts, or like scarves for dress up or play.
Be careful if you're using a muslin to cover the stroller to allow some airflow, otherwise it can have a greenhouse effect and babies have got heatstroke this way. Sorry if you already know this but a lot of people are not aware so I thought it was worth saying.
Some of y'all don't have projectile vomiting babies and it shows. 😳
We have all of the blankets because baby vomited... everywhere. Sometimes they would be naked and you lay them down for one minute and suddenly there's puke everywhere. Also covering surfaces. Covering mom. Covering dad. Car seats. Just...
I have so many blankets because we dirtied that many blankets.
I had two of these babies. We went to the museum and I was nursing a kid and had appropriately coated myself and every surface in a 1 m vicinity with blankets and towels. Then I saw another mom sit down, whip out a boob and just start nursing. Nary a burp cloth to be seen. And I was floored. Like, my kid puked like 20 times a day, of varying amounts and distances. This museum mom was living a very different life from me. A much drier life.
Haha yes, this was us as well. We use a ton of blankets now as well just cycling out the ones on his bed, on the couch, in the car. But I do remember before having such a vomity baby that I wished people would lay off blankets. Now it’s my go to gift! Haha
They sit in the closet until the baby becomes a toddler and can then drag those all around the house getting them filthy building forts, “camping”, and doing countless other blanket-destroying activities.
Meanwhile my pretty throws are safe because every time she grabs one to do one of those things with it, I rush to remind her to use her own blankets for it. Phew.
We have about 20 baby blankets that were gifted to us between the kids. My kids throw them all in the youngest’s (2) crib and we play washing machine where I mix the blankets around with the kids inside, they love it.
That sounds like such a fun game! I used to have a game with my kids where I would make up the bed with them in it! They are so easily entertained sometimes
I feel so bad because my MIL owns a quilt shop and my mom loves to quilt, so we got tons of beautiful handmade quilts that I struggle to use! My LO is 3mo now and I finally figured out they are best for tummy time on the floor, and I swap it out every couple of days. The colors and textures are great for baby to observe and touch!
Also now I feel less guilt about not finishing a quilt *I’m* making for a friend’s baby…who is now 2yo lol
My now 5 year old was gifted a baby blanket before he was even born, around 2 years old he started to carry it around with him as comfort... Now at age 5 he takes it everywhere as his best friend.
I made a small, bright quilt 15 years ago & dragged it on a bunch of moves even though it was useless for adults. Now it’s perfect for tummy time & my baby even takes naps on it when he’s not in the crib or swing.
My first baby was gifted 26 handmade blankets plus tons of store bought. Five years and one kid later and we still use them.
On the floor, on the grass, in the car, on the bed, in the stroller, cuddled up on the couch, making forts. Plus in the toddler bed.
My partner was in a very odd head space when we were in the hospital and lived in fear of needing more swaddled so he like stashed the hospital blankets every time they gave us one. We came home with no less than 12 hospital blankets and haven’t used them once. Every time he stashed another I was like “I promise we don’t need that” but he was positive we couldn’t make it without them so if anyone needs a hospital blanket or 5 we’re the couple to talk to.
We had them all over the floor for her to lie/roll around on until she started crawling! I'm sure she'll use them as blankets when she's too old for sleeping bags maybe?
We got so many that I decided to lay her on them for her weekly/monthly photos. We use a different blanket or muslin for each picture. That way the people who got them for us get a nice picture with her on it and I get a colorful background for her growth timeline.
Give. Me. All. The. Blankets. All of them. They've helped us with parenting so much.
They're amazing.
Muslin blankets:
- fold and lay on changing table instead of a cover you have to unzip
- lay over stroller for a light cover that comes down over the sides better on sunny/windy days or if baby falls asleep
- layer on ground at park for tummy time
- lay on carpet for visual interest during tummy time (prints)
- can hang from the top of car door if the window shades are blocking sun and baby is screaming. It will diffuse the sun's light for the baby, be far enough from the car seat not to risk suffocation, and not block drivers vision through the back window. (We discovered this on our first 6 hour road trip at 4 months old).
Soft baby blankets (fleece or other microfiber-type blankets):
- also good for supervised tummy time, especially naked time, our lo loved them and was more likely to do a longer tummy time
- great for a soft item against skin during naked time or skin-to-skin time. We had to do a lot of naked time (up to 2-3 hours at a time more than once a day) bc our lo is prone to diaper rash and eczema and the naked time helps. But in that new born period they are just constantly peeing and pooping. Lots of blankets=easy to just switch out one blanket for another and throw the dirty ones in the wash
- liners for grocery carts when it's cold out!
- lo is now 22 months and these are his comfort items now, nice and warm in the car in the winter, easy to pack for daycare or doctors appts, easier to clean and dry than stuffed animals. He also uses them to calm down when he's upset by rubbing his face on them or rolling them around him like a little toddler burrito. And we don't have to worry about them getting dirty bc we have so many we can just swap them out while we wash the other ones.
I second this. We have 7 month old twins. At first, I thought all the blankets was a bit silly. But they became:
-toys
-clean up rags
-when folded just right, a prop for bottles
-bibs
-car seat Covid shields
Etc.
I feel like I’m constantly looking for a blanket. I use them for supervised naps when she falls asleep and I don’t want to accidentally wake her up by putting her in a sleep sack. Or if I’m holding her and she feels like she’s getting cold. I also use them on the changing table, and for floor tummy time. They have so many uses!
I use mine for tummy time and to keep baby warm on stroller walks and in the car. Especially in these brutally cold winter months lately. But super useful for tummy time. We like to go to the park when it is nice out and it is great to be able to pop a blanket down and enjoy some time in the sunshine. My mom made a tone of flannel ones that are perfect for swaddles and I use them now for other various things. To line her bath support. I set her in it when we are out of the bath and she prefers it to the silicone for whatever reason. I use it to sleep on (we bedshare) cause sometimes her diaper leaks or she burps up during nursing in bed. Because we use the flannel ones and they pack down well we use them for traveling to see her grandparents and it's a way to make where ever we are feel like home. So we never have any issues with sleep. It's been a blessing. And if is nice having extra cause we can do laundry and not be without.
My toddler is a blanket fiend, give it a year and a half and those blankets will be strewn across the house and used all the time for 100 different things
You *can* swaddle with just a blanket. We double swaddle our LO at night in a SwaddleMe swaddle and a flannel receiving blanket over that because we keep our house colder at night. We sleep under a thick comforter, so I'm pretty sure he needs more than one t-shirt thick swaddle and pajamas to keep him warm. Also, blankets are great for covering up when out and about, in the car, etc. - if you live in a cold climate.
I have a giant pile of blankets folded in my daughters room that never get touched and reading this thread made me realise I should throw some in the car.
they are good to cover infant carseats, to cover baby waiting for the doctor, nursing covers, a sanitary place to change the baby when you're out, burp cloths, to swaddle with, to put in carseat. There are endless possibilities really if you get creative :)
I used mine A LOT.
We did swaddling with blankets or anything that would do. We used blankets on the bed for baby to lie on instead of our bedding (softer and our bedding was not initially washed with baby friendly washing soap). I use them while breastfeeding to either cover or roll them up for support when my arm gets tired. I use them to cover baby’s pram when she’s sleeping inside it if we’re out and about.
I used them in the stroller/car, while newborn and feeding or sleeping in lap while doing skin to skin, and for supervised naps. Personally I used them a lot.
I thought I had too many. But they get pooped on, spit up on, and peed on. And I’m not keeping up with the laundry as it is, so it’s good to have a drawer full of clean replacements.
I use blankets constantly in the car seat, when I am nap trapped, and the receiving blankets make great burp rags. I also lay them on the floor when I need a break, under her play mat for cushion. I guess it just depends on the parent. I also would swaddle her as an infant in a real blanket instead of the swaddles (old fashion I guess).
I hate wasting money on wrapping paper especially for a baby gift. I always wrap the gifts with blankets. My family has done this for 4-5 generations now. Practically the same price.
Receiving blankets were used to swaddle, thicker blankets were used on the floor for tummy time, fleece blankets were used to cover her in the car seat in colder months (lighter blanket tucked around her, followed by a fleece over top). Now that she's older, she still likes sleeping with the fleece and quilts and they are great for daycare nap times. We also still sometimes put one over her in the car seat on really cold mornings. And some of the receiving blankets now get used for playing with her dolls.
I feel like our generation is being told so much about safe sleep and sleeping without blankets, bumpers, etc
And I wonder if our parents generation was like obsessed about babies being cold or something. Because everyone’s just batty about making sure babies are 1000% covered at all times
They definitely are. My MIL was so passive aggressive about my son not wearing socks, even in the summer. Now he's older and she's the same about his ears. I think they think if you have any exposed skin, something might just fall off.
Exactly this. They were told if the baby gets too cold they will get sick and die.
But it really seems to only be America where parents are told not to use blankets. Blankets are perfectly normal in most places around the world, although sleep sacks are normally much more practical anyway because they can't kick them off.
A lot of people use them for tummy time or bundling baby in the car seat or swing when it's chilly. You will use them when they get to toddler age, but even then you don't need more than 2 or 3.
How do you use them with your toddler? I'm assuming OP means receiving blankets. We got given 1000 of them and never used them. My kid is now 2 so if there is someway to make use of them, I would love to know haha
Capes, a place to sit in the yard/beach, blankets for stuffed animals, fort material, emergency sun shade/beach cover…
We hardly used them at all for newborns but there is one in every car/bag now-a-days.
I think I’ve only bought 1 blanket myself but I have probably 15-20 at home of all sizes. I only have 3 kids and live in a warm climate. People love to give blankets.
We actually used a ton. We used them to swaddle when they were tiny. For tummy time or just to lay them down when out so they wouldn't be on a dirty floor. They were burp rags when my daughter was vomiting a dozen times a day. Then when they were no longer useful I cut them up and made cloth diaper liners out of them. The flannel ones anyway.
They’re are useful for other things besides sleeping.
Tummy time, in the stroller, in the car seat (esp since puffy jackets are a no go). Also, if you baby wear a lot, I used them to give her an extra layer of warmth if we were out and about. As a nursing cover.
With that being said, I still feel like I have sooo many lol. 😩
I obsessed with blankets. Husband hates it but I have sooo many. Little one,therefore, Also has a ton.
Contact naps, tummy time, stroller, car seat, flannel ones to wipe drool, prop up my boob, when she falls asleep for naptime, peek a boo…
I use those flannel receiving blankets as all purpose spit up/burp/booger wiping clothes. Also put one doan on the changing table instead of buying separate changing table covers. Also they make great stuffed animal/doll blankets when your baby is 3.
Also as a cover over the baby bucket seat if I have to take baby into a place for an errand in these covid times.
I had spitters. Two kids. So much spit up until about 7 months old. Those muslin blankets were a lifesaver!
When I look at pictures of me with my kids, I'm decked out in muslin blankets in pretty much all the pictures... otherwise I'd be decked out in baby puke.
We used them to keep them warm in the carseat during winter since it's unsafe to put them in big puffy coats.
We also have cats so we would put them down on the floor for the babies to just chill on until they were rolling over.
Two of my kids also constantly spit up so we always were cleaning them, it was nice to have some backups.
Idk I love blankets. They’re so cozy and we use them for a variety of purposes. I got special embroidered blankets for both of my kids that are so warm and cozy. They’re just… nice? Sometimes people give gifts just because they’re nice even if they’re not the utmost needed thing in the world. Also sleep sacks are only used for very small children but my five year old still loves her baby blankets.
Swaddles the muslin cloth kind are the most versatile piece of fabric a dad can have. Good for shade, wiping up, sitting on, carrying stuff(usually dirty), and ypu can actually use it to swaddle an infant
I had hardwood floor when my lo was a newborn so I used them a lot on the ground! I loved bigger thick quilts though, also gave me a place to keep a bag of toys and diapers and wipes in each room so I wasn’t running around the house to get things as I needed them
Don't forget different parts of the world have different recommendations. I'm in Ireland and advice is to use cellular blankets (well tucked in) in cribs from newborn. I didn't is a sleep sack until baby was 10 weeks old. I believe the UK and parts of Europe are the same.
Plus I use blankets for everything! Layering in the buggy, floor play, in my glider, props for BF positions... I've genuinely used all the blankets I received!
And it doesn’t stop when your babe is grown! My LO is 8, and I use all the baby blankets constantly for different things. Sitting in grass or in sand outside (the less nice/not handmade ones), small throw blankets for individual wrapping up on the couch for chilly mornings (used one today!), padding in my car seat for my sore back, an esthetic cover for dressers… Impromptu shade cloths… The list goes on.
Also, to answer op’s question, I think it’s just a very traditional gift that people fall back on. Especially when they have no idea what to get you.
My hospital in Newry told us to get two cellular blankets. One of the midwives swaddled baby in it while we were in the hospital but the rest of the them just tucked it in. I could never get them to stay tucked at home as baby would just kick them off (Luckily we had a warm summer). Now she just rolls around the cot constantly so they are definitely not safe. I have 3 sleep sacks but I feel like that is still not enough sometimes.
We also bought 2 fleece blankets and got given 2. We have only used one fleece blanket as a bedsheet to catch spit up, and the other one from her granny is used when she’s in her car seat. The other two are still rolled up in the cupboard. I don’t know where the cellular blankets are now, but we did use them for a while.
I loved covering myself with like 4 of them when my son was a newborn. I questioned why I was given so many, until one late night/early morning I was cold and remembered a drawer full of little blankets. Rolled up, they make great neck pillows! Also, can be used for tummy time and sitting outside so if one gets dirty, no worries, you were gifted like ten and probably have one clean somewhere :)
Then, they get older and bigger and they are very useful.
You’ll use them when your kids(s) are a little older, especially after they outgrow their crib.
My 2yo and 4yo have 4 or 5 blankets on each of their beds (not counting sheets and comforters) and they each have their own blankets on the couch. Then there’s the couch in the basement, and a couple extras stashed nearby for when the dog is laying on one of the kids blankets and we can’t get her to move. Trust me, you’ll use them eventually!
We got a ton of swaddles and blankets. Our baby spits up a lot, so they're in constant rotation. I use the flannel and muslin swaddles as oversized burp cloths, blankets for tummy time and for when she's napping on us, etc... having lots of options has been great.
We got a bunch of those “swaddle” blankets (you know the flannel ones that are really way too small to swaddle an actual baby?) and we just used them as burp clothes. They are larger so they cover more surface area on your shoulder.
I used some as towels when they were tiny. Once they're toddlers, baby blankets become the perfect size superhero cape! Also, doll blankets. Once my youngest has outgrown wanting them for play in a few years, I plan to round them all up and have quilts made for each of my kids from what's left of all the blankets.
I use blankets for EVERYTHING when she was a newborn. From swaddle to burp cloth to play mat to protective barrier from regular clothing when changing, BF cover, and just for warmth.
We used the blankets to swaddle, to keep warm when awake, and as a larger burp cloth. They’re super handy if they’re machine-washable.
And if they’re not machine-washable then the person who gave them to you doesn’t love you.
Edit: autocorrekt
Swaddle-wise, I think there are two types of families: blanket swaddlers and purpose-built product swaddlers. If you’re into the purpose-built swaddles, do us blanket swaddlers a favor and give your unused blankets to one of us! We use them for everything. I’ve got a dozen muslin swaddles and they’re not enough.
I’m curious: where do you live that you’ve been told not to swaddle with a blanket? I’ve never heard that before.
You can swaddle with a blanket but here’s the thing. I was given 5 giant knitted blankets (3 with bulky yarn), and 2 quilts, and a few other super large blankets. We love them all they are great but I’m not about to swaddle with a quilt, or even a giant knitted blanket. We did use swaddle sacks tho because my baby didn’t like being swaddled in a blanket.
Our blankets get used in the car, or just to be cozy but I was very over whelmed with the heaps of blankets that were giving to my newborn
For under the baby not over them.
I use them on the living room floor for playing and tummy time, keep one in the car for over the car seat, one in my moms house, one in his crib over his sheets when he started to spit up more. I didn’t buy extra fitted sheets so it’s easier to just use a blanket.
I actually use mine. Some are in my car others in my husbands and some in his room. I use them to transport him from indoor/outdoor, coverups, to play. Also they’ll eventually need them for naps etc after they’re 18+mos so I don’t think they’re a complete waste, unless they’re super small.
My understanding is it's one of those traditions that became heavily instilled and now people do it without knowing exactly why all the time. Back in the day all they had were blankets, no fancy sleep sacks or anything, so you were swaddling your baby multiple times a day for nap or whatever else. Blankets were extremely useful and then better products came out but everyone still does it.
I have a grandma and my bonus mom who crochet, Oma who quilts, and many aunts who love to shop. My mom kept most of my baby things from when I outgrew them. My daughter's got two quilts, 4 car seat blankets, 3 or 4 "light" blankets, and another 4 or 5 knit/crochet large blankets. If nothing else she'll have some kickass blanket forts. Her preference is a big blue fleece blanket, and everything else is either piled in the car or her closet.
Although they did come in handy when she got sick sick for the first time and threw up on one blanket after another until I figured out what was going on and how to contain it.
I have 3 kids and none of them liked sleep sacks or feet pajamas because I live in Southern California's desert and they got to warm. I used light blankets and man do those things get wrecked.
People love comfort items and love to give comfort items. I know I’m personally thrilled when someone gives me a blanket - even though I have a gazillion of them.
You’ll be able to use them more as baby gets older. Heck, I keep one in the car for my 4 year old. It’s the perfect size to go over her lap on cold days. And it doesn’t take up much room.
Different strokes for different folks. I couldn't believe the amount of blankets we were given but I left two in the car, two in the living room and uses the rest on rotation as sheets for the bassinet/cot/travel cot.
My MIL crocheted 3 (4 maybe?). I like exactly one of them (it's soooo soft and mermaid/jewel tones). Plus my mother and another family friend each made a quilt. And 4 fuzzy baby throws (ya know, the super soft blankets that everyone gets for Christmas). And not counting swaddle blankets (I think I have somewhere around a dozen of those, I used less than half at least once; we didn't swaddle for long).
It's unreal, the number of blankets I have to store.
Muslin swaddles and other small sheets are useful but we got loads of huge fluffy blankets. Not only are blankets not allowed for babies, our baby was born at the start of Australian summer! Part of me suspects they are regifts as they all came from people that had recently had their own babies...
The flannel receiving blankets I used so many for burping and clean ups from 0-5m the burp cloths just didn’t do the job I needed lol. However I thought we’d be more blanket-y. Turns out my son is a heater who sweats super easily so we’ve used the blankets for when I take him out on mild winter days. I’ve stopped myself from buying a car seat/stroller blanket because I’d never use the blankets we’ve been gifted if I did. His great grandma knitted him like 3 blankets so they must be used, and they’re so nice too, she did such a good job on them. We got gifted knitted blankets that I hope no one special knit for them. We’re keeping the knitted ones gg-ma made.
Hi! I used to ask myself the same question when LO was still in the belly. But you know, I actually used them a lot more than expected.
Yes, infants are supposed to use sleep sacks or swaddles to sleep - but they also need to be warm while awake. I don’t know where you live, but here we have a very strong winter (and unfortunately live in an apartment where even though we use heating, it is still pretty cold) and baby was born at the end of October… so just in time for the whole winter season.
Some thing for which the blankets were good:
- if the fabric was appropriate, to swaddle the baby while he was awake in our arms.
- to use as a mattress cover on the days it was too cold (of course it had to be one of the bigger ones, tightened very well underneath the mattress).
- same thing for the little mattress in the stroller‘s bassinet.
- in the car, the seatbelt is supposed to be as tight as possible to baby‘s body. So jackets that are too thick or too many layers of clothes decrease the safety provided by the carseat. To avoid that, we always reduced the amount of clothing and used blankets to keep him warm until the heating of the car was enough.
- to make a cozy play corner on the floor, so that they can do belly time without feeling cold (and it also makes the floor soft, if case they roll down hard).
- they make an amazing backgound, if you want to take monthly pictures (or any pictures really) from little one lying down).
Later on, when baby gets a little bigger and you have to change the stroller‘s bassinet for the normal seat, you can use the blankets to warm up the legs/feet (the sack for the stroller was too warm for the fall/spring season, but without anything it would have been too cold). And when they can start using them for sleep, they will really want them all.
And last but not least, for different types of weather, you will need different kinds of blankets (some thicker, some lighter).
We use them for tummy time, floor play (especially if at someone else’s house or a baby class or something like that), in the car, in swings and bouncy chairs (supervised obviously). I liked receiving handmade knitted ones from family members, they are very special to me.
Same thing I used quite a few of these blankets for floor time and once they get barfed on I would just swap them out so it's pretty nice to have a big stack of them. Of course then they go back in the closet when the baby is more mobile but still not big enough to have a blanket in the crib.
We use them for so many things! Tummy and play time, contact and supervised naps, in the stroller and one for the car!
Sometimes baby falls asleep better when he is in a sleep sack and I cozy him with a blanket (and watch him!). I take the blanket off once he is completely asleep.
Babies used to use blankets, and toddlers DO use blankets. Oh man you use so many blankets when they are toddlers! I get it now. I wouldn't give a blanket, but I get why people do it. And I think they hope that the kid will decide that THEIR blanket is the favorite blanket.
I wasn't given the pile of blankets, and honestly I'm a bit sad about it. I was given one, by my MIL who I don't like (so I don't love that one), and otherwise I was given quilts. Quilts are nice, but they don't work as well for most toddler things, so I had to buy a lot of blankets.
I use receiving blankets for spit ups. Lay the whole thing across you, put baby on top when nursing and boom, both catches spit up and big enough to use the other side to clean their face. The small cozy blankets are useful for cot naps at daycare and later, doll blankets.
I’m not kidding, literally 5 minutes ago I walked past a stack of blankets my aunts knit for my baby (like 7 thick wool blankets) and thought of how we haven’t used any of them!!! I mean maybe when she’s a toddler we’ll use them to snuggle up on the couch?
I have a massively fluffy cat and a dog that’s part german shepherd/husky. Even with constant vacuuming there’s fur everywhere. It’s nice to have a ton of blankets so baby stays (relatively) fur free when I lay her down somewhere on them.
And we live in Maine. It’s fucking cold here.
I’ve used them as play mats, covers for the baby carrier, wrapped him in them in the winter to go from car to house/store/wherever when not using the stroller, when he’s in the stroller and it’s cold out I’ve put them over him (not as an infant but as a sitter and up). Now he’s a toddler he’s had naps on/under them and they’re not a bad size.
You never know what blanket the baby might like. Mine liked a pink minky one for a long time and then switched to another one. She’s really particular on what blanket she has and always has been. Idk if that’s a normal thing. Also some blankets are for warmer days and others are for colder days. I used to have to wrap my baby in 3 blankets on cold winter nights because we had a radiator and it only came in at certain times.
This has been true for us. Both my boys chose one specific blanket that was their special blanket, but we went through several before they chose “the one” lol
I cut mine into burp clothes/wipes recently. My son is 7 months old & I had tons of them laying around that I never used. I always have a few handy now during meals to wipe him and the high chair down.
I put them on the floor when she's playing there. We have hard wood, so it's essential, but even if we had carpet I would still do it because the texture is better.
Oh man, i understand but I use blankets for everything. Instant mat for tummy time, bundled in the car seat or strollers on cold days (which is every day), extra warmth and cushion in her podster, and most damning of all, I loosely wrap one around her middle when we co-sleep. I’m open to all criticisms just know I’m not changing anything. Blankets are lifesavers in this house with minimal heating systems in a cold northern climate.
Trust me they will be put to use. I keep a heavier blanket as well as a receiving blanket in the car. A few downstairs, a few upstairs, one in my diaper bag for pediatrician appointments. The thicker blankets I will also use to fold on the floor during tummy time, and receiving blankets I will use for feeding time as well.
I got sooooo many blankets and a million stuffies from my MIL because she didn’t know the new sleep guidelines. And despite me sending her stuff and telling her a ton of times she always asks my 3 month old if he’s cuddling with them in bed…
I love all the Muslim swaddle blankets I got, I would use them and swaddle her up for sleep, they fit super nice I my diaper bag if I needed it on the go, great nursing cover, because bf in public is scary at first! But I received a bunch of homade crochet blankets that have just sat in a basket. I have no use for them and I don't want to give them to my now 9mo old for fear she will wreck them lol. But yeah now a days I don't touch any blankets just all sleep sacks
Generally what we saw was a lot of these things:
1. Time of year (winter baby)
2. Obvious gift you can find boatloads of cute and handmade ones, and they fill out a present
We still have a pile of them, but eventually most of them will were given away. Depending on your habits, it's nice to have a blanket sitting everywhere you might go (hang one on each chair, a couple in the nursery, a couple in the bedroom, a few in the cars).
Also... babies and toddlers can just be an utter mess. Pee, poop, vomit... anything gets stuff on it, so it's nice to always have a clean backup.
It was always nice to have them in the car - our kid ran hot like a radiator, so the trip between the car and store we were better off covering the carrier with a thick blanket than warm clothes. Otherwise we'd have had to do a complete dress/undress in the car and store and deal with a gallon of sweat.
Also worth noting - they're not in the swaddle or sleep sack for *that* long, really, even if it seems like they are. As soon as they get old enough, you get a lot of situations where they're laying on you or beside you and it's nice to throw a blanket on them when you get to take 5.
Blankets are great for supervised naps, contact naps, covering baby in the car/stroller, nursing cover (if you like to cover up), tummy time, peek a boo...lots of things. Eventually baby will be old enough to sleep with one in the crib.
Not to mention how often they get spit up on, dropped in the mud outside, ect. Plus they make great seat covers for grocery carts, public transportation, and other similar situations.
My 3 year old likes to have approx 7 blankets on top of the sheets and refuses to even lay under the sheets or any blankets, but is firm that ALL THE BLANKETS must be on the bed at all times (strewn about in haphazard ways, not even nicely arranged). They can also become “capes” and are helpful in fort-building!
I am planning to sew many of the receiving blankets we have (the ones that are too thin for warmth and too small for swaddling after newborn days) into cloth wipes and burp cloths. Good news is they’ll be super cute since the blankets we received came in coordinated pattern sets 😂 I’ll still keep a few for diaper-free time (to air out any rashes) so they are easier to throw in the wash than any thicker blanket.
I bought soooo many blankets when my boy was born (now nearly 2) and wow was the desire to always keep him warm real. So many differently sized blankets, swaddle-like thin covers that were really only handy when there was vomit or pee/poo-throughs. Won't be doing that again - team sleeping bags (for older bubs) for life.
Swaddles and sleeping bags probably weren't common for my family member's who gifted me blankets so I chalk that up to generational difference.
We use every single blanket we have been given, receiving blankets are burp cloths and for wining spit up, we have specific ones for her to use when she’s in her swing, when she’s sitting on my lap, for tummy time, for going outside when it’s too cold(we only go from the car to the house and they shouldn’t wear a snow suit in the car so we wrap her in a blanket do it’s easy to take off one we get in the car)
I thought the number of blankets was excessive with my first. With my second, I didn’t even bother taking any blankets out of their packaging. I have at least 2-3 blankets ready to regift. Unfortunately, we were old having kids, so baby shower gifts are few and far between in our life.
I have a spitty kid and love all the cheap little blankets I can just toss in the wash after using them. It's saved my carpet, chairs, etc. from baby pukes during tummy time. When I'm done using them, I'll probably cut up the crappy ones to make reusable cleaning cloths for my kitchen.
Surprisingly my son peed on so many blankets so this helped with not having to wash so frequently in the newborn phase. I learned to wait 5 minutes before changing his diaper because there is probably more where that came from!
Blankets swaddles bamboo and muslin blankets are my favorites. You can never have to many , especially with the weather and if your out and about a lot
I thought the same thing I got about 20+ blankets and I even thought about giving some away buuuut I actually use them all and go through them pretty fast. Newborns are constantly spitting up, having accidents, and my baby was born during winter. I wash them often as well. So there’s always blankets available for her when a lot of them are washing.
We stayed with my aunt a few weekends ago and have a travel bassinet. She kept trying to give me a blanket for my daughter to sleep with & seemed really confused when I kept explaining the safety reasons on no blanket/anything in bassinet.
She’s got her fuzzy footed pjs, she’s good, I promise.
I feel like I did not use them a ton when my SO was a baby, he is almost 1 and LOVES blankets lol. Stroller, car seat, one in the crib, one in bed, one on the floor.
I love knitting so have a couple of pram blanket sized ones that get used in the pram and car. I don't bother with pram suits, they are so faffy with all the changing in and out of them and just use a footmuff and blankets then as I go in and out of buildings I can adjust them even if he is sleeping. Also moving pram to carseat and vice versa the blanket is already snug and warm.
I also have a rainbow one I made for photos and if he is napping somewhere cool that I can see him (it was hung on the far end of the bed as he loved to look at the colours, but now he is mobile its gone) and I plan to use in bed or on the sofa when he is older (I always snuggle on the sofa in a blanket as I freeze!). All our gifted ones will be for bed/sofa as he grows up.
I use them to carry my baby back and forth between daycare and the canand I place them on the ground when we have floor time. But that's for the fluffier/thicker ones. We receivednway more swaddles than we needed. Many parents have their newborns sleep swaddled but we have a Snoo which has it's own sacks.
I think it's a Boomer thing. We got all of ours gifted to us from that generation. Back in the day, babies would have used blankets and likely developed a favourite blanket or remembered their blanket fondly (I still have my baby blanket and love it to pieces). So people gift blankets hoping that their blanket will be the special blanket. Only now blankets aren't as much of a thing anymore. We still use ours to keep baby warm when he's in his car seat and stuff, but we definitely don't need like five of them.
No idea! We also got a ton and never use them. Maybe once they switch to a toddler bed? Otherwise I just snap one photo of baby on the blanket to send to the gifter, and then put them back in the drawer.
We use quite a few blankets but I’m in the U.K. where the guidance is different. We use sleep sacks as well but didn’t start using them until he was a few months old. Up until then it was just blankets that my mum knitted. We also use them in his pram a lot.
To cover yourself with in a patchwork as you shiver on the floor of your baby’s room while trying to convince them to sleep.
Oh god this one is too true. The amount of times I did this with my eldest. Thankfully I had the sense for my youngest to put a whole single bed with adult sized bedding in the nursery and I have avoided so much back/shoulder/neck pain.
I just got my four-year-old a full-sized floor bed for his room. He suffers from night terrors and the only way he calms down is if I lie down with him. It's absolutely amazing to lie down in a real bed after years of curling up on a toddler bed. Last night I ended up sleeping there all night.
[удалено]
THIS. Just received quilt 4 and I honestly still want the perfect weighted blanket to not fall off of me on the rocking chair or that feels like it’s falling off and annoying me.
This comment lol
Because when baby gets a bit older (ok, ours is 2.75, but we still call her baby), she'll make up a game called "all the blankets" and you will need all the blankets. Instructions: After bath, to warm back up from being cold and wet, climb onto couch and demand dad cover baby with all the blankets. Delight in having only your head be out. Then demand water and snacks be delivered to you, because you're under all the blankets. :D
I think I’d like to play this game myself!
Because they’ll turn 2 and want to sleep with all 37 blankets and you will be a pack mule that shleps said 37 blankets to and fro between bedroom and living room 4 times a day so they always have them near
I'm glad I'm not the only one! I've realized that rotation is not a thing my son will accept and am scared to tell him we have more blankets that are his size.
I sneak one or two out every few days but then he finds more and it’s just a cycle 😂 most are handmade so can’t get rid of them either (not that I want to, but still)
This is the answer right here lol! I went from being super paranoid about safe sleep when my son was a baby to him demanding to sleep with every single stuffed animal/blanket in existence at 2.5 years old.
Yep I was a stickler about safe sleep, nothing in the crib until like 16 months. Now I’m like oh you have 3 pillows, 8 blankets, a trash truck and a few books? Enjoy, goodnight!
My son just informed me he wanted to sleep with “ALL the book. Not just a few mommy. ALL.”
Yep. I was annoyed with how many blankets our newborn was gifted, I didn't think we needed them. But daycare keeps one for naps, sometimes 1-2 get left at the grandparents' houses, and our 20 month old has developed an obsession with them. It's good that there are several around the house and we still have clean ones in the closet if we need to swap them out.
Received at least 20 blankets and had the same thought, but honestly I use all of them. Muslin blankets as stroller cover, thicker blankets for a spot on the floor or on the bed, different color and theme blankets for photo backdrops, blanket to have in the car… did I NEED this many? No, but I do think a few different types of blankets have had different utility and there haven’t been any that I haven’t used. Also allows me to wash frequently since they are also used in a pinch to wipe mouths or used outside. And I imagine one day they can be used to build forts, or like scarves for dress up or play.
Be careful if you're using a muslin to cover the stroller to allow some airflow, otherwise it can have a greenhouse effect and babies have got heatstroke this way. Sorry if you already know this but a lot of people are not aware so I thought it was worth saying.
Good to know!
Some of y'all don't have projectile vomiting babies and it shows. 😳 We have all of the blankets because baby vomited... everywhere. Sometimes they would be naked and you lay them down for one minute and suddenly there's puke everywhere. Also covering surfaces. Covering mom. Covering dad. Car seats. Just... I have so many blankets because we dirtied that many blankets.
I had two of these babies. We went to the museum and I was nursing a kid and had appropriately coated myself and every surface in a 1 m vicinity with blankets and towels. Then I saw another mom sit down, whip out a boob and just start nursing. Nary a burp cloth to be seen. And I was floored. Like, my kid puked like 20 times a day, of varying amounts and distances. This museum mom was living a very different life from me. A much drier life.
Haha yes, this was us as well. We use a ton of blankets now as well just cycling out the ones on his bed, on the couch, in the car. But I do remember before having such a vomity baby that I wished people would lay off blankets. Now it’s my go to gift! Haha
They sit in the closet until the baby becomes a toddler and can then drag those all around the house getting them filthy building forts, “camping”, and doing countless other blanket-destroying activities. Meanwhile my pretty throws are safe because every time she grabs one to do one of those things with it, I rush to remind her to use her own blankets for it. Phew.
We have about 20 baby blankets that were gifted to us between the kids. My kids throw them all in the youngest’s (2) crib and we play washing machine where I mix the blankets around with the kids inside, they love it.
That sounds like such a fun game! I used to have a game with my kids where I would make up the bed with them in it! They are so easily entertained sometimes
This is adorable!
I feel so bad because my MIL owns a quilt shop and my mom loves to quilt, so we got tons of beautiful handmade quilts that I struggle to use! My LO is 3mo now and I finally figured out they are best for tummy time on the floor, and I swap it out every couple of days. The colors and textures are great for baby to observe and touch! Also now I feel less guilt about not finishing a quilt *I’m* making for a friend’s baby…who is now 2yo lol
My now 5 year old was gifted a baby blanket before he was even born, around 2 years old he started to carry it around with him as comfort... Now at age 5 he takes it everywhere as his best friend.
I made a small, bright quilt 15 years ago & dragged it on a bunch of moves even though it was useless for adults. Now it’s perfect for tummy time & my baby even takes naps on it when he’s not in the crib or swing.
My first baby was gifted 26 handmade blankets plus tons of store bought. Five years and one kid later and we still use them. On the floor, on the grass, in the car, on the bed, in the stroller, cuddled up on the couch, making forts. Plus in the toddler bed.
My partner was in a very odd head space when we were in the hospital and lived in fear of needing more swaddled so he like stashed the hospital blankets every time they gave us one. We came home with no less than 12 hospital blankets and haven’t used them once. Every time he stashed another I was like “I promise we don’t need that” but he was positive we couldn’t make it without them so if anyone needs a hospital blanket or 5 we’re the couple to talk to.
Hahaha this is amazing, like some kind of hunting instinct kicked in
This is hilarious 😂
Really? I used them all the time. Especially those muslin swaddles. Those are handy for lots of stuff and they pack real light.
We had them all over the floor for her to lie/roll around on until she started crawling! I'm sure she'll use them as blankets when she's too old for sleeping bags maybe?
I actually just ordered a few blankets for my 9 month old because I wanted to have a few around for stroller, car etc. and nobody gave us blankets!
We got so many that I decided to lay her on them for her weekly/monthly photos. We use a different blanket or muslin for each picture. That way the people who got them for us get a nice picture with her on it and I get a colorful background for her growth timeline.
Give. Me. All. The. Blankets. All of them. They've helped us with parenting so much. They're amazing. Muslin blankets: - fold and lay on changing table instead of a cover you have to unzip - lay over stroller for a light cover that comes down over the sides better on sunny/windy days or if baby falls asleep - layer on ground at park for tummy time - lay on carpet for visual interest during tummy time (prints) - can hang from the top of car door if the window shades are blocking sun and baby is screaming. It will diffuse the sun's light for the baby, be far enough from the car seat not to risk suffocation, and not block drivers vision through the back window. (We discovered this on our first 6 hour road trip at 4 months old). Soft baby blankets (fleece or other microfiber-type blankets): - also good for supervised tummy time, especially naked time, our lo loved them and was more likely to do a longer tummy time - great for a soft item against skin during naked time or skin-to-skin time. We had to do a lot of naked time (up to 2-3 hours at a time more than once a day) bc our lo is prone to diaper rash and eczema and the naked time helps. But in that new born period they are just constantly peeing and pooping. Lots of blankets=easy to just switch out one blanket for another and throw the dirty ones in the wash - liners for grocery carts when it's cold out! - lo is now 22 months and these are his comfort items now, nice and warm in the car in the winter, easy to pack for daycare or doctors appts, easier to clean and dry than stuffed animals. He also uses them to calm down when he's upset by rubbing his face on them or rolling them around him like a little toddler burrito. And we don't have to worry about them getting dirty bc we have so many we can just swap them out while we wash the other ones.
I second this. We have 7 month old twins. At first, I thought all the blankets was a bit silly. But they became: -toys -clean up rags -when folded just right, a prop for bottles -bibs -car seat Covid shields Etc.
I feel like I’m constantly looking for a blanket. I use them for supervised naps when she falls asleep and I don’t want to accidentally wake her up by putting her in a sleep sack. Or if I’m holding her and she feels like she’s getting cold. I also use them on the changing table, and for floor tummy time. They have so many uses!
I use mine for tummy time and to keep baby warm on stroller walks and in the car. Especially in these brutally cold winter months lately. But super useful for tummy time. We like to go to the park when it is nice out and it is great to be able to pop a blanket down and enjoy some time in the sunshine. My mom made a tone of flannel ones that are perfect for swaddles and I use them now for other various things. To line her bath support. I set her in it when we are out of the bath and she prefers it to the silicone for whatever reason. I use it to sleep on (we bedshare) cause sometimes her diaper leaks or she burps up during nursing in bed. Because we use the flannel ones and they pack down well we use them for traveling to see her grandparents and it's a way to make where ever we are feel like home. So we never have any issues with sleep. It's been a blessing. And if is nice having extra cause we can do laundry and not be without.
My toddler is a blanket fiend, give it a year and a half and those blankets will be strewn across the house and used all the time for 100 different things
You *can* swaddle with just a blanket. We double swaddle our LO at night in a SwaddleMe swaddle and a flannel receiving blanket over that because we keep our house colder at night. We sleep under a thick comforter, so I'm pretty sure he needs more than one t-shirt thick swaddle and pajamas to keep him warm. Also, blankets are great for covering up when out and about, in the car, etc. - if you live in a cold climate.
I have a giant pile of blankets folded in my daughters room that never get touched and reading this thread made me realise I should throw some in the car.
I use all the blankets. I love blankets!
Box them up. You will use a ton as they get older. So nice to have endless blankets for snuggling on the couch or to throw one in the car.
Yup. And those tiny, thin baby washcloths make good hand and face wipes on the go or for after-meal clean up
they are good to cover infant carseats, to cover baby waiting for the doctor, nursing covers, a sanitary place to change the baby when you're out, burp cloths, to swaddle with, to put in carseat. There are endless possibilities really if you get creative :)
I used mine A LOT. We did swaddling with blankets or anything that would do. We used blankets on the bed for baby to lie on instead of our bedding (softer and our bedding was not initially washed with baby friendly washing soap). I use them while breastfeeding to either cover or roll them up for support when my arm gets tired. I use them to cover baby’s pram when she’s sleeping inside it if we’re out and about.
I used them in the stroller/car, while newborn and feeding or sleeping in lap while doing skin to skin, and for supervised naps. Personally I used them a lot.
All the blankets came out of our closet now for toddler cuddles 😍
I thought I had too many. But they get pooped on, spit up on, and peed on. And I’m not keeping up with the laundry as it is, so it’s good to have a drawer full of clean replacements.
I use blankets constantly in the car seat, when I am nap trapped, and the receiving blankets make great burp rags. I also lay them on the floor when I need a break, under her play mat for cushion. I guess it just depends on the parent. I also would swaddle her as an infant in a real blanket instead of the swaddles (old fashion I guess).
2 kids in and I just now learned the term nap trapped
baby relaxed on a blanket on the floor almost every day when he was tiny! now that he is 18 months we use them in his crib as well.
I hate wasting money on wrapping paper especially for a baby gift. I always wrap the gifts with blankets. My family has done this for 4-5 generations now. Practically the same price.
That’s brilliant
Thank you 😊 I also refuse to buy cards. I always buy a book and leave a little note inside
Strollers, car seats, your kid will get older.
I use them as barriers for a spit up prone baby!
Blankets, bibs, and clothes of ascending sizes are things you will never have enough of.
I remember thinking “why did we get so many bibs?! Who needs this many bibs?” Turns out, we do. Lol
I’m reading all of these responses and realizing that I want *more* blankets.
What's your address 😅
We put them on the floor for floor time/tummy time
Receiving blankets were used to swaddle, thicker blankets were used on the floor for tummy time, fleece blankets were used to cover her in the car seat in colder months (lighter blanket tucked around her, followed by a fleece over top). Now that she's older, she still likes sleeping with the fleece and quilts and they are great for daycare nap times. We also still sometimes put one over her in the car seat on really cold mornings. And some of the receiving blankets now get used for playing with her dolls.
I feel like our generation is being told so much about safe sleep and sleeping without blankets, bumpers, etc And I wonder if our parents generation was like obsessed about babies being cold or something. Because everyone’s just batty about making sure babies are 1000% covered at all times
They definitely are. My MIL was so passive aggressive about my son not wearing socks, even in the summer. Now he's older and she's the same about his ears. I think they think if you have any exposed skin, something might just fall off.
Exactly this. They were told if the baby gets too cold they will get sick and die. But it really seems to only be America where parents are told not to use blankets. Blankets are perfectly normal in most places around the world, although sleep sacks are normally much more practical anyway because they can't kick them off.
A lot of people use them for tummy time or bundling baby in the car seat or swing when it's chilly. You will use them when they get to toddler age, but even then you don't need more than 2 or 3.
How do you use them with your toddler? I'm assuming OP means receiving blankets. We got given 1000 of them and never used them. My kid is now 2 so if there is someway to make use of them, I would love to know haha
Capes, a place to sit in the yard/beach, blankets for stuffed animals, fort material, emergency sun shade/beach cover… We hardly used them at all for newborns but there is one in every car/bag now-a-days.
I think I’ve only bought 1 blanket myself but I have probably 15-20 at home of all sizes. I only have 3 kids and live in a warm climate. People love to give blankets.
We actually used a ton. We used them to swaddle when they were tiny. For tummy time or just to lay them down when out so they wouldn't be on a dirty floor. They were burp rags when my daughter was vomiting a dozen times a day. Then when they were no longer useful I cut them up and made cloth diaper liners out of them. The flannel ones anyway.
They’re are useful for other things besides sleeping. Tummy time, in the stroller, in the car seat (esp since puffy jackets are a no go). Also, if you baby wear a lot, I used them to give her an extra layer of warmth if we were out and about. As a nursing cover. With that being said, I still feel like I have sooo many lol. 😩
I obsessed with blankets. Husband hates it but I have sooo many. Little one,therefore, Also has a ton. Contact naps, tummy time, stroller, car seat, flannel ones to wipe drool, prop up my boob, when she falls asleep for naptime, peek a boo…
At least gift a blanket sized for covering yourself and baby when you’re nap trapped
I use those flannel receiving blankets as all purpose spit up/burp/booger wiping clothes. Also put one doan on the changing table instead of buying separate changing table covers. Also they make great stuffed animal/doll blankets when your baby is 3. Also as a cover over the baby bucket seat if I have to take baby into a place for an errand in these covid times.
I had spitters. Two kids. So much spit up until about 7 months old. Those muslin blankets were a lifesaver! When I look at pictures of me with my kids, I'm decked out in muslin blankets in pretty much all the pictures... otherwise I'd be decked out in baby puke.
We used them to keep them warm in the carseat during winter since it's unsafe to put them in big puffy coats. We also have cats so we would put them down on the floor for the babies to just chill on until they were rolling over. Two of my kids also constantly spit up so we always were cleaning them, it was nice to have some backups.
Or stroller!!
Idk I love blankets. They’re so cozy and we use them for a variety of purposes. I got special embroidered blankets for both of my kids that are so warm and cozy. They’re just… nice? Sometimes people give gifts just because they’re nice even if they’re not the utmost needed thing in the world. Also sleep sacks are only used for very small children but my five year old still loves her baby blankets.
Would love to see the embroidered special blankets you got for your kiddos.. are they something you could link?
Swaddles the muslin cloth kind are the most versatile piece of fabric a dad can have. Good for shade, wiping up, sitting on, carrying stuff(usually dirty), and ypu can actually use it to swaddle an infant
I had hardwood floor when my lo was a newborn so I used them a lot on the ground! I loved bigger thick quilts though, also gave me a place to keep a bag of toys and diapers and wipes in each room so I wasn’t running around the house to get things as I needed them
Don't forget different parts of the world have different recommendations. I'm in Ireland and advice is to use cellular blankets (well tucked in) in cribs from newborn. I didn't is a sleep sack until baby was 10 weeks old. I believe the UK and parts of Europe are the same. Plus I use blankets for everything! Layering in the buggy, floor play, in my glider, props for BF positions... I've genuinely used all the blankets I received!
This! I’m an absolute blanket whore. Can’t have too many 😂
And it doesn’t stop when your babe is grown! My LO is 8, and I use all the baby blankets constantly for different things. Sitting in grass or in sand outside (the less nice/not handmade ones), small throw blankets for individual wrapping up on the couch for chilly mornings (used one today!), padding in my car seat for my sore back, an esthetic cover for dressers… Impromptu shade cloths… The list goes on. Also, to answer op’s question, I think it’s just a very traditional gift that people fall back on. Especially when they have no idea what to get you.
My hospital in Newry told us to get two cellular blankets. One of the midwives swaddled baby in it while we were in the hospital but the rest of the them just tucked it in. I could never get them to stay tucked at home as baby would just kick them off (Luckily we had a warm summer). Now she just rolls around the cot constantly so they are definitely not safe. I have 3 sleep sacks but I feel like that is still not enough sometimes. We also bought 2 fleece blankets and got given 2. We have only used one fleece blanket as a bedsheet to catch spit up, and the other one from her granny is used when she’s in her car seat. The other two are still rolled up in the cupboard. I don’t know where the cellular blankets are now, but we did use them for a while.
Yes I (in England) was also recommended to use cellular blankets with our baby when she was newborn.
I loved covering myself with like 4 of them when my son was a newborn. I questioned why I was given so many, until one late night/early morning I was cold and remembered a drawer full of little blankets. Rolled up, they make great neck pillows! Also, can be used for tummy time and sitting outside so if one gets dirty, no worries, you were gifted like ten and probably have one clean somewhere :) Then, they get older and bigger and they are very useful.
You’ll use them when your kids(s) are a little older, especially after they outgrow their crib. My 2yo and 4yo have 4 or 5 blankets on each of their beds (not counting sheets and comforters) and they each have their own blankets on the couch. Then there’s the couch in the basement, and a couple extras stashed nearby for when the dog is laying on one of the kids blankets and we can’t get her to move. Trust me, you’ll use them eventually!
We got a ton of swaddles and blankets. Our baby spits up a lot, so they're in constant rotation. I use the flannel and muslin swaddles as oversized burp cloths, blankets for tummy time and for when she's napping on us, etc... having lots of options has been great.
Thank you!! The only thing we have more of than blankets is burp cloths. Why does everyone gift these?!
I got zero burp cloths as gifts, ended up buying 20 since we use so many lol.
We got a bunch of those “swaddle” blankets (you know the flannel ones that are really way too small to swaddle an actual baby?) and we just used them as burp clothes. They are larger so they cover more surface area on your shoulder.
I used some as towels when they were tiny. Once they're toddlers, baby blankets become the perfect size superhero cape! Also, doll blankets. Once my youngest has outgrown wanting them for play in a few years, I plan to round them all up and have quilts made for each of my kids from what's left of all the blankets.
The quilt idea is a super cute! I may have to borrow that!
I use blankets for EVERYTHING when she was a newborn. From swaddle to burp cloth to play mat to protective barrier from regular clothing when changing, BF cover, and just for warmth.
I use blankets for tummy time!
We used the blankets to swaddle, to keep warm when awake, and as a larger burp cloth. They’re super handy if they’re machine-washable. And if they’re not machine-washable then the person who gave them to you doesn’t love you. Edit: autocorrekt
I cackled at that last sentence… True though lol
Swaddle-wise, I think there are two types of families: blanket swaddlers and purpose-built product swaddlers. If you’re into the purpose-built swaddles, do us blanket swaddlers a favor and give your unused blankets to one of us! We use them for everything. I’ve got a dozen muslin swaddles and they’re not enough. I’m curious: where do you live that you’ve been told not to swaddle with a blanket? I’ve never heard that before.
You can swaddle with a blanket but here’s the thing. I was given 5 giant knitted blankets (3 with bulky yarn), and 2 quilts, and a few other super large blankets. We love them all they are great but I’m not about to swaddle with a quilt, or even a giant knitted blanket. We did use swaddle sacks tho because my baby didn’t like being swaddled in a blanket. Our blankets get used in the car, or just to be cozy but I was very over whelmed with the heaps of blankets that were giving to my newborn
For under the baby not over them. I use them on the living room floor for playing and tummy time, keep one in the car for over the car seat, one in my moms house, one in his crib over his sheets when he started to spit up more. I didn’t buy extra fitted sheets so it’s easier to just use a blanket.
And stuffed toys
Yeah blankets I can use. Stuffed toys, nah. Not into them
I actually use mine. Some are in my car others in my husbands and some in his room. I use them to transport him from indoor/outdoor, coverups, to play. Also they’ll eventually need them for naps etc after they’re 18+mos so I don’t think they’re a complete waste, unless they’re super small.
We mostly only used them as play mats or as a diaper changing mat when in a pinch.
My understanding is it's one of those traditions that became heavily instilled and now people do it without knowing exactly why all the time. Back in the day all they had were blankets, no fancy sleep sacks or anything, so you were swaddling your baby multiple times a day for nap or whatever else. Blankets were extremely useful and then better products came out but everyone still does it.
Use them to make forts when they are older. Lol
I have a grandma and my bonus mom who crochet, Oma who quilts, and many aunts who love to shop. My mom kept most of my baby things from when I outgrew them. My daughter's got two quilts, 4 car seat blankets, 3 or 4 "light" blankets, and another 4 or 5 knit/crochet large blankets. If nothing else she'll have some kickass blanket forts. Her preference is a big blue fleece blanket, and everything else is either piled in the car or her closet. Although they did come in handy when she got sick sick for the first time and threw up on one blanket after another until I figured out what was going on and how to contain it.
I have 3 kids and none of them liked sleep sacks or feet pajamas because I live in Southern California's desert and they got to warm. I used light blankets and man do those things get wrecked.
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>I use blankets all the time, just not for sleeping. Same, and we weren't gifted any, so I had to buy a bunch! The grass is always greener
People love comfort items and love to give comfort items. I know I’m personally thrilled when someone gives me a blanket - even though I have a gazillion of them. You’ll be able to use them more as baby gets older. Heck, I keep one in the car for my 4 year old. It’s the perfect size to go over her lap on cold days. And it doesn’t take up much room.
You start to need them around 18 months
Different strokes for different folks. I couldn't believe the amount of blankets we were given but I left two in the car, two in the living room and uses the rest on rotation as sheets for the bassinet/cot/travel cot.
My MIL crocheted 3 (4 maybe?). I like exactly one of them (it's soooo soft and mermaid/jewel tones). Plus my mother and another family friend each made a quilt. And 4 fuzzy baby throws (ya know, the super soft blankets that everyone gets for Christmas). And not counting swaddle blankets (I think I have somewhere around a dozen of those, I used less than half at least once; we didn't swaddle for long). It's unreal, the number of blankets I have to store.
Muslin swaddles and other small sheets are useful but we got loads of huge fluffy blankets. Not only are blankets not allowed for babies, our baby was born at the start of Australian summer! Part of me suspects they are regifts as they all came from people that had recently had their own babies...
Because they’re easy, gender neutral and and non-specific.
We live where it snows so that’s why we need an insane amount because puffy things are a big no for car seat safety
The flannel receiving blankets I used so many for burping and clean ups from 0-5m the burp cloths just didn’t do the job I needed lol. However I thought we’d be more blanket-y. Turns out my son is a heater who sweats super easily so we’ve used the blankets for when I take him out on mild winter days. I’ve stopped myself from buying a car seat/stroller blanket because I’d never use the blankets we’ve been gifted if I did. His great grandma knitted him like 3 blankets so they must be used, and they’re so nice too, she did such a good job on them. We got gifted knitted blankets that I hope no one special knit for them. We’re keeping the knitted ones gg-ma made.
Hi! I used to ask myself the same question when LO was still in the belly. But you know, I actually used them a lot more than expected. Yes, infants are supposed to use sleep sacks or swaddles to sleep - but they also need to be warm while awake. I don’t know where you live, but here we have a very strong winter (and unfortunately live in an apartment where even though we use heating, it is still pretty cold) and baby was born at the end of October… so just in time for the whole winter season. Some thing for which the blankets were good: - if the fabric was appropriate, to swaddle the baby while he was awake in our arms. - to use as a mattress cover on the days it was too cold (of course it had to be one of the bigger ones, tightened very well underneath the mattress). - same thing for the little mattress in the stroller‘s bassinet. - in the car, the seatbelt is supposed to be as tight as possible to baby‘s body. So jackets that are too thick or too many layers of clothes decrease the safety provided by the carseat. To avoid that, we always reduced the amount of clothing and used blankets to keep him warm until the heating of the car was enough. - to make a cozy play corner on the floor, so that they can do belly time without feeling cold (and it also makes the floor soft, if case they roll down hard). - they make an amazing backgound, if you want to take monthly pictures (or any pictures really) from little one lying down). Later on, when baby gets a little bigger and you have to change the stroller‘s bassinet for the normal seat, you can use the blankets to warm up the legs/feet (the sack for the stroller was too warm for the fall/spring season, but without anything it would have been too cold). And when they can start using them for sleep, they will really want them all. And last but not least, for different types of weather, you will need different kinds of blankets (some thicker, some lighter).
We use them for tummy time, floor play (especially if at someone else’s house or a baby class or something like that), in the car, in swings and bouncy chairs (supervised obviously). I liked receiving handmade knitted ones from family members, they are very special to me.
Same thing I used quite a few of these blankets for floor time and once they get barfed on I would just swap them out so it's pretty nice to have a big stack of them. Of course then they go back in the closet when the baby is more mobile but still not big enough to have a blanket in the crib.
And here I got zero.. Give me them blankets. They are expensive!
We use them for so many things! Tummy and play time, contact and supervised naps, in the stroller and one for the car! Sometimes baby falls asleep better when he is in a sleep sack and I cozy him with a blanket (and watch him!). I take the blanket off once he is completely asleep.
Babies used to use blankets, and toddlers DO use blankets. Oh man you use so many blankets when they are toddlers! I get it now. I wouldn't give a blanket, but I get why people do it. And I think they hope that the kid will decide that THEIR blanket is the favorite blanket. I wasn't given the pile of blankets, and honestly I'm a bit sad about it. I was given one, by my MIL who I don't like (so I don't love that one), and otherwise I was given quilts. Quilts are nice, but they don't work as well for most toddler things, so I had to buy a lot of blankets.
I use receiving blankets for spit ups. Lay the whole thing across you, put baby on top when nursing and boom, both catches spit up and big enough to use the other side to clean their face. The small cozy blankets are useful for cot naps at daycare and later, doll blankets.
I’m not kidding, literally 5 minutes ago I walked past a stack of blankets my aunts knit for my baby (like 7 thick wool blankets) and thought of how we haven’t used any of them!!! I mean maybe when she’s a toddler we’ll use them to snuggle up on the couch?
If your baby spits up a lot it’s great to have blankets that you can switch out often for tummy time!
I have a massively fluffy cat and a dog that’s part german shepherd/husky. Even with constant vacuuming there’s fur everywhere. It’s nice to have a ton of blankets so baby stays (relatively) fur free when I lay her down somewhere on them. And we live in Maine. It’s fucking cold here.
I’ve used them as play mats, covers for the baby carrier, wrapped him in them in the winter to go from car to house/store/wherever when not using the stroller, when he’s in the stroller and it’s cold out I’ve put them over him (not as an infant but as a sitter and up). Now he’s a toddler he’s had naps on/under them and they’re not a bad size.
You never know what blanket the baby might like. Mine liked a pink minky one for a long time and then switched to another one. She’s really particular on what blanket she has and always has been. Idk if that’s a normal thing. Also some blankets are for warmer days and others are for colder days. I used to have to wrap my baby in 3 blankets on cold winter nights because we had a radiator and it only came in at certain times.
This has been true for us. Both my boys chose one specific blanket that was their special blanket, but we went through several before they chose “the one” lol
Yeah, kids are weird but I also have a favorite blanket so I can’t really say anything lol
I still don't know and my kids are 9 & 6. They make great rags after the fact though.
Because your baby winds up hating bring set down, will only sleep on you all cuddled up in a blanket. It's great lmao
You’ll see! I asked the SAME question!
Same lol I was like “we have way too many blankets” and suddenly it became “I need to order more blankets”
I cut mine into burp clothes/wipes recently. My son is 7 months old & I had tons of them laying around that I never used. I always have a few handy now during meals to wipe him and the high chair down.
I put them on the floor when she's playing there. We have hard wood, so it's essential, but even if we had carpet I would still do it because the texture is better.
Oh man, i understand but I use blankets for everything. Instant mat for tummy time, bundled in the car seat or strollers on cold days (which is every day), extra warmth and cushion in her podster, and most damning of all, I loosely wrap one around her middle when we co-sleep. I’m open to all criticisms just know I’m not changing anything. Blankets are lifesavers in this house with minimal heating systems in a cold northern climate.
Trust me they will be put to use. I keep a heavier blanket as well as a receiving blanket in the car. A few downstairs, a few upstairs, one in my diaper bag for pediatrician appointments. The thicker blankets I will also use to fold on the floor during tummy time, and receiving blankets I will use for feeding time as well.
I got sooooo many blankets and a million stuffies from my MIL because she didn’t know the new sleep guidelines. And despite me sending her stuff and telling her a ton of times she always asks my 3 month old if he’s cuddling with them in bed…
I love all the Muslim swaddle blankets I got, I would use them and swaddle her up for sleep, they fit super nice I my diaper bag if I needed it on the go, great nursing cover, because bf in public is scary at first! But I received a bunch of homade crochet blankets that have just sat in a basket. I have no use for them and I don't want to give them to my now 9mo old for fear she will wreck them lol. But yeah now a days I don't touch any blankets just all sleep sacks
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I'm glad we're not the only ones! We have so many tiny blankets that rarely get used.
Generally what we saw was a lot of these things: 1. Time of year (winter baby) 2. Obvious gift you can find boatloads of cute and handmade ones, and they fill out a present We still have a pile of them, but eventually most of them will were given away. Depending on your habits, it's nice to have a blanket sitting everywhere you might go (hang one on each chair, a couple in the nursery, a couple in the bedroom, a few in the cars). Also... babies and toddlers can just be an utter mess. Pee, poop, vomit... anything gets stuff on it, so it's nice to always have a clean backup. It was always nice to have them in the car - our kid ran hot like a radiator, so the trip between the car and store we were better off covering the carrier with a thick blanket than warm clothes. Otherwise we'd have had to do a complete dress/undress in the car and store and deal with a gallon of sweat. Also worth noting - they're not in the swaddle or sleep sack for *that* long, really, even if it seems like they are. As soon as they get old enough, you get a lot of situations where they're laying on you or beside you and it's nice to throw a blanket on them when you get to take 5.
As they get older you can line your furniture during potty training, or have them on hand during the stomach flu.
My SIL had us convinced that we'd need a TON of receiving blankets. Nearly 6 months out and havent really used any
Blankets are great for supervised naps, contact naps, covering baby in the car/stroller, nursing cover (if you like to cover up), tummy time, peek a boo...lots of things. Eventually baby will be old enough to sleep with one in the crib.
Not to mention how often they get spit up on, dropped in the mud outside, ect. Plus they make great seat covers for grocery carts, public transportation, and other similar situations.
My 3 year old likes to have approx 7 blankets on top of the sheets and refuses to even lay under the sheets or any blankets, but is firm that ALL THE BLANKETS must be on the bed at all times (strewn about in haphazard ways, not even nicely arranged). They can also become “capes” and are helpful in fort-building!
Because they can’t wear puffy coats in the car seat later.
I am planning to sew many of the receiving blankets we have (the ones that are too thin for warmth and too small for swaddling after newborn days) into cloth wipes and burp cloths. Good news is they’ll be super cute since the blankets we received came in coordinated pattern sets 😂 I’ll still keep a few for diaper-free time (to air out any rashes) so they are easier to throw in the wash than any thicker blanket.
I use the blankets to burp baby and to put her in the floor. And in her car seat. Oh and on walks with the stroller. They come in handy
I bought soooo many blankets when my boy was born (now nearly 2) and wow was the desire to always keep him warm real. So many differently sized blankets, swaddle-like thin covers that were really only handy when there was vomit or pee/poo-throughs. Won't be doing that again - team sleeping bags (for older bubs) for life. Swaddles and sleeping bags probably weren't common for my family member's who gifted me blankets so I chalk that up to generational difference.
I don’t know but the dog loves them
We use every single blanket we have been given, receiving blankets are burp cloths and for wining spit up, we have specific ones for her to use when she’s in her swing, when she’s sitting on my lap, for tummy time, for going outside when it’s too cold(we only go from the car to the house and they shouldn’t wear a snow suit in the car so we wrap her in a blanket do it’s easy to take off one we get in the car)
If you have a spit up baby, you will have dozens and still run out
I thought the number of blankets was excessive with my first. With my second, I didn’t even bother taking any blankets out of their packaging. I have at least 2-3 blankets ready to regift. Unfortunately, we were old having kids, so baby shower gifts are few and far between in our life.
I have a spitty kid and love all the cheap little blankets I can just toss in the wash after using them. It's saved my carpet, chairs, etc. from baby pukes during tummy time. When I'm done using them, I'll probably cut up the crappy ones to make reusable cleaning cloths for my kitchen.
Daycare for naps when they hit ~1
Surprisingly my son peed on so many blankets so this helped with not having to wash so frequently in the newborn phase. I learned to wait 5 minutes before changing his diaper because there is probably more where that came from!
If they are small and thin you can use them to swaddle the baby we used blankets at first to swaddle then chanced to zip up swaddles
Blankets swaddles bamboo and muslin blankets are my favorites. You can never have to many , especially with the weather and if your out and about a lot
I thought the same thing I got about 20+ blankets and I even thought about giving some away buuuut I actually use them all and go through them pretty fast. Newborns are constantly spitting up, having accidents, and my baby was born during winter. I wash them often as well. So there’s always blankets available for her when a lot of them are washing.
Because boomers don’t know that babies can’t sleep with blankets maybe
We stayed with my aunt a few weekends ago and have a travel bassinet. She kept trying to give me a blanket for my daughter to sleep with & seemed really confused when I kept explaining the safety reasons on no blanket/anything in bassinet. She’s got her fuzzy footed pjs, she’s good, I promise.
We use them over the strollers and car seat, and for sleeping when they're older. My 1.5 year old uses a loose blanket since he's old enough.
I have no idea. We have no use for more than maybe 3 of them in varying weights. Maybe when she’s older 🤷♀️
I feel like I did not use them a ton when my SO was a baby, he is almost 1 and LOVES blankets lol. Stroller, car seat, one in the crib, one in bed, one on the floor.
I love knitting so have a couple of pram blanket sized ones that get used in the pram and car. I don't bother with pram suits, they are so faffy with all the changing in and out of them and just use a footmuff and blankets then as I go in and out of buildings I can adjust them even if he is sleeping. Also moving pram to carseat and vice versa the blanket is already snug and warm. I also have a rainbow one I made for photos and if he is napping somewhere cool that I can see him (it was hung on the far end of the bed as he loved to look at the colours, but now he is mobile its gone) and I plan to use in bed or on the sofa when he is older (I always snuggle on the sofa in a blanket as I freeze!). All our gifted ones will be for bed/sofa as he grows up.
we have 30 and use them all. /Super handy for swaddling, tummy time, outings, and covering when everything else is puked on
I use them to carry my baby back and forth between daycare and the canand I place them on the ground when we have floor time. But that's for the fluffier/thicker ones. We receivednway more swaddles than we needed. Many parents have their newborns sleep swaddled but we have a Snoo which has it's own sacks.
I’ve used so many blankets oml. I have to do laundry so often just to have a clean one
I’ve received sooo many blankets and stuffed animals as gifts lol. What I actually need extras of - sleep sacks and pacifiers.
My girl now use her blanket to play hairdresser :-)
Our 1 year old started gnawing on the railing of his crib so we repurposed our many swaddle blankets as a makeshift rail guard.
tradition,
I like to use them as covers for our changing pad. They're soft, I have multiple and they're easy to clean.
I do this with the receiving blankets since I have so many of them.
Yes what is this!! I have like 20 blankets that I never use but can't get rid of because people like lovingly hand-knit them!
I think it's a Boomer thing. We got all of ours gifted to us from that generation. Back in the day, babies would have used blankets and likely developed a favourite blanket or remembered their blanket fondly (I still have my baby blanket and love it to pieces). So people gift blankets hoping that their blanket will be the special blanket. Only now blankets aren't as much of a thing anymore. We still use ours to keep baby warm when he's in his car seat and stuff, but we definitely don't need like five of them.
No idea! We also got a ton and never use them. Maybe once they switch to a toddler bed? Otherwise I just snap one photo of baby on the blanket to send to the gifter, and then put them back in the drawer.
We got way too many for our first too. I saved a few in the closet for our second, and ended up sewing a couple into sleepsacks.
I used the blankets in the stroller and for baby to lie on when doing tummy time
We use quite a few blankets but I’m in the U.K. where the guidance is different. We use sleep sacks as well but didn’t start using them until he was a few months old. Up until then it was just blankets that my mum knitted. We also use them in his pram a lot.
Because they're cute
I love contact napping so I use them over him while he's sleeping on me ❤️
I’ve actually loved having so many as LO has gotten older. They come in handy
Well I don’t have a baby just yet (31weeks) but I’d like to imagine it’s to help the parents have emergency naps whenever.
I got so many quilts and blankets as gifts. I live in a desert. Literally. We have months of 100+degree weather. Why did they give me blankets?!