The beautiful moment when you held the baby for the first time in your arms is forever etched in your memories. You may even recall the tiny blanket that was wrapped around your newborn when he or she was brought to you. This first piece of clothing that usually touches the delicate skin of the baby is called a receiving blanket.
A receiving blanket is a staple item in the maternity ward. Its unique name comes from the fact that a newborn is wrapped in a receiving blanket before being “received” by the mother. Read on to know more about receiving blankets, the various uses of receiving blanket, how to pick the right one, and ways to make your very own receiving blanket.
What Is A Receiving Blanket?
A receiving blanket is a soft, thin baby blanket generally 30 x 30-inch in size. It is usually made of cotton, fleece, muslin, or flannel. Generally, it is available in a multipack of three or four and can be machine washed. In addition to protecting your baby against the cold, the receiving blanket can serve many different purposes, as well.
How To Select The Right Receiving Blanket?
Receiving blankets are made of a variety of materials, such as cotton, muslin, fleece, flannel, and wool. Also, they feature several color options with adorable patterns. Preferably buy receiving blankets made of soft, light, and absorbent cotton. Receiving blankets made of cotton fabric is less likely to irritate the baby’s delicate skin and will keep them comfortably warm.
Swaddle blanket is another type of blanket available in the market. Many times, the terms “receiving blanket” and “swaddle blanket” are used interchangeably, although these blankets are different from one another.
Difference Between A Swaddle Blanket And Receiving Blankets
- Size: A swaddle blanket is generally bigger with the size of about 47 x 47 inches, while a receiving blanket is smaller, generally 30 x 30 inches in size.
- Purpose: Swaddling blanket is specifically designed for swaddling babies. The process of swaddling calms wriggly babies and prevents them from scratching themselves. While a receiving blanket can also be used for swaddling (mostly infants due to small size), it is versatile and has multiple benefits.
- Shape: A swaddle blanket has winged sides, usually with a Velcro, and is stretchable to securely wrap the baby, while the receiving blanket is generally rectangular or square with little or no stretch.
While both blankets can be used for swaddling, receiving blankets can be used for many other purposes, as well.
How To Swaddle With A Receiving Blanket?
Here are the steps to follow to swaddle a baby with a receiving blanket.
Step 1: On a flat surface, fold the top end of the receiving blanket to convert it into a diamond shape. Place the baby, face-up in the middle, such that the head remains above the blanket.
Step 2: Place the baby’s right arm close to their body. Pull the left edge of the blanket across the body and tuck it in beneath the baby’s left arm.
Step 3: Lift the lower end of the blanket upwards and place it over the left shoulder of the baby. Leave the baby’s legs in their natural position and do not straighten them to fit them tightly into the blanket.
Step 4: Pull the right end of the blanket towards the baby’s right shoulder and wrap it around the neck.
Step 5: Tuck the loose ends and keep the swaddle snug but not tight. Check if you can insert two to three fingers between the baby’s neck and chest and the blanket.
Various Uses Of A Receiving Blanket For Babies
Apart from being your baby’s first clothing, the receiving blanket has many additional uses (1) (2).
- Provide warmth or play area for the baby: The receiving blanket is the perfect baby companion during cold winter nights. Wrapping the baby snuggly in the receiving blanket provides warmth and comfort to the baby. The lightweight nature of the material minimizes the risk of overheating.
- Burp cloth and playmat: Infants may spit up some stomach contents while burping. You may usually use a burp cloth to wipe the baby’s mouth in such cases. However, if burp cloth is unavailable, you could use a receiving blanket, too. Also, if you are outdoors and have forgotten your baby’s playmat, you could use a receiving blanket. The soft texture of the blanket can protect the baby’s skin from rough surfaces.
- Substitute changing mat: When changing baby’s diapers outdoors, the hard and cold surface of a changing table in the public restroom may cause discomfort to the baby. If you do not have a changing mat with you, a receiving blanket could make for a perfect replacement. It provides a soft surface, acts as a cushion, and protects the baby from germs present on the changing table.
- Stroller shade and car seat blanket: A receiving blanket could work as a stroller shade when strolling outdoors under the hot sun. However, make sure to keep checking on your baby to avoid overheating. The blanket could also act as a temporary rain cover in case of unexpected rainfall. Also, you can use it as a car seat blanket when traveling with your little one on a long journey.
- Sleep prop: A receiving blanket can be an amazing sleep prop for your baby. The softness and warmth of the blanket will lull your baby to sleep in no time.
- Apron: Babies love playing with colors and crayons, which may stain their clothes. You could use a receiving blanket as an apron to protect the baby’s clothing. Since receiving blankets are washable, you can wash and reuse them again.
- Cleaning cloth: Babies are innately curious and tend to make a mess while they explore. Receiving blankets can be used to clear up these messes. After your little one grows up, these receiving blankets can be used as a regular cleaning cloth, too, due to its absorbent material.
- Swaddle your baby: Swaddling a baby makes them feel warm, safe, and secure. It has a calming effect and helps babies sleep. While separate swaddling blankets are available, if you do not have one, receiving blankets are the best substitutes.
- Large bib: Babies are notoriously fussy and messy eaters. Nevertheless, letting the babies explore and feed themselves is imperative for developing their self-feeding skills. In such cases, if you do not have a bib available, you could use a receiving blanket as a replacement bib. A receiving blanket could cover a larger surface area than a bib and thus manage the mess better.
- Play peekaboo: Peekaboo is an amazing bonding game for mom and the baby. Infants love the surprise element and laugh a lot while playing. The receiving blanket is light and not too big, so the little hands of the baby can easily hold it for playing peekaboo.
Safety Tips When Using Receiving Blankets For Babies
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, using loose blankets inside the baby’s crib may increase the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) (3). Therefore, it is imperative to use a receiving blanket correctly.
Below are some essential tips for the safe usage of receiving blankets.
- Do not leave loose receiving blankets inside the crib since it may increase the risk of suffocation.
- Keep the swaddling loose so that the baby can move their hips. Also, check if the wrap is loose at the neck and chest.
- Do not straighten the baby’s legs to wrap them tightly when swaddling with a receiving blanket. Tightly wrapping a baby’s straightened legs may increase the risk of hip dislocation.
- Never wrap blankets around the baby’s head, face, and neck.
- According to pediatricians, always place a swaddled baby on their back to sleep since it is the safest sleep position for a baby.
- Stop using a receiving blanket for swaddling once the baby begins to roll. Rolling may cause the blanket to slide over the baby’s face. Babies may begin rolling from the age of four months (4).
- If you are using the receiving blanket as a stroller shade or as a car seat cover, keep checking on the baby to ensure that he or she does not overheat or suffocate.
How To Make A DIY Receiving Blanket?
While a variety of receiving blankets are available in the market, making one yourself for the baby is a special feeling. Stitching one does not need a lot of supplies and is pretty simple. If you are capable of stitching a straight line, this can be a new project you can take up.
Materials required:
- One yard (36 inches) of flannel or cotton fabric
- Sewing machine or needle
- A thread of the required color
- Straight pins
- Pair of scissors
Method:
- Before starting, wash and dry the fabric to avoid shrinkage later.
- Cut the selvages (margins) of the fabric.
- Roll the four edges one by one and make a rolled hemstitch on all of them using a sewing machine.
- In case you do not have a sewing machine, double fold about 1/4th of the edge, then secure it using straight pins and hand sew along the perimeter.
Ideas For Repurposing Receiving Blankets
Babies outgrow their receiving blankets, which render them of little use later. Also, since receiving blankets are a baby’s first clothing, many parents would wish to retain it. In either case, you can reuse a receiving blanket.
The following are some wonderful ideas for repurposing receiving blankets.
- Quilt: All your baby’s receiving blankets can be stitched together to make a beautiful quilt big enough to fit your child’s bed.
- Furniture covers: Receiving blankets can serve as an excellent makeshift furniture cover. It will protect your furniture from accidental spills and spews when your baby is older and much active.
- Picnic mat: Receiving blanket is made of soft fabric and can withstand heavy washing in the machine. It makes for an ideal picnic mat when going on a picnic with your older children. You may also stitch a vinyl tablecloth to the back of a receiving blanket to make it thicker and sturdier.
- Pillows: Multiple receiving blankets can be sewed and stuffed to create pillows of various shapes and sizes. These can be matched to the quilt to create a beautiful matching bedcover and pillow set.
- Baby doll blankets: You can use an old receiving blanket to tuck in and cover your child’s dolls. You could also use the blanket to create different clothes and accessories for dolls and other toys.
- Room decoration: Create wall hangings and decorative items made up of old receiving blankets and place them in your child’s room or living room. Retaining receiving blankets as pieces of decoration can make for fine memorabilia.
The relatively inexpensive and multipurpose receiving blankets are your baby’s closest companion during the first 12 months. They continue to be useful in different ways for many more years after that. Therefore, don’t forget to include a receiving blanket in your to-buy list and use it to create wonderful memories with your little one.
