Every loving parent wants to provide their child with the best, so before you buy any item for your child, you need to know everything about it thoroughly. Which blanket to choose for a newborn? The question is quite serious, because such a thing should not only warm the baby, but also be safe and comfortable. This article will tell you about all the main nuances of choosing this bed textile.
Basic requirements when choosing
When buying a blanket for a newborn, consider the following basic requirements:
- Seasonality.
- Room temperature.
- Size.
- Lightness and softness.
- Hypoallergenic.
- Moisture exchange.
- Breathability.
Knitted blanket.
When purchasing things for your future baby, focus on the time of year. In winter, buy something warm, and for the summer season, buy something lighter. The temperature in the room where the baby will sleep can be quite high even in winter. Therefore, in such rooms, under a winter blanket, the baby will sleep hot. If the room is warm enough to prevent the baby from rotting, you can use a light summer option.
Blankets for newborns come in different sizes and we will dwell on this point in more detail at the end of the article. The main thing in choosing the right size is to match the size of the crib. If the child was born in the summer, then look for a larger option for the winter, since the child will have grown significantly by this time.
A blanket for a baby, regardless of the season, should be airy and promote a serene rest. In addition, it should be very soft and gentle to the touch. Hard and prickly can cause irritation on the baby’s delicate and sensitive skin.
Hypoallergenicity of any item for a newborn is a must. Buy products made from artificial materials or natural ones that do not cause allergies. It is important to understand that if after using the blanket your baby shows signs of an allergy, you must stop using it and urgently purchase another one.
The product must be made of breathable materials and provide active air exchange. In addition, it should not only absorb moisture perfectly, but also remain dry and not lose heat. With a properly selected product, the newborn will not sweat or freeze.
Try to buy not only beautiful things, but also high-quality ones. Avoid cheap market baby supplies that can be harmful to your baby's health. It is better to choose the necessary item in a company store.
Which blanket is best for a newborn's crib?
First of all, parents must take into account one important fact - the time of year when the child was born. Depending on this, the choice will be different blankets:
- If it is cold autumn or winter, then the following options are suitable for the child: cotton, down, wool or fur blankets.
- If it is a warm spring or summer, then it is better to buy a blanket made of thin fleece or flannel. A nice wool blanket will also come in handy.
At the same time, young parents should understand that when buying a blanket for the summer, they will also have to buy a second one for the winter, and vice versa. Therefore, do not delay your purchase; it is better to buy the necessary set of blankets right away.
Choice for the summer
In summer, do not wrap your baby in a warm blanket. Overheating is even more dangerous for a child than hypothermia. A baby blanket should be very light, almost weightless, made from pleasant soft fabrics, breathable and hygroscopic. Which blanket to buy for a newborn for the summer season?
Baykovoe
Flannelette blankets are made from natural material and therefore are often purchased for the summer. Their advantages include:
- hypoallergenic;
- lungs;
- soft;
- breathable;
- colorful;
- washes well;
- durable;
- inexpensive.
Calico
Calico is considered an ecological material that combines:
- ease;
- durability;
- almost does not wrinkle.
Fleece
A fleece blanket is a knitted fabric. An airy fleece blanket will create a comfortable temperature regime. The advantages of such a product include:
- ease;
- easy care;
- not subject to biological destruction.
- dry quickly.
When choosing a fleece item for a child, you need to know that fleece absorbs dust and therefore can cause allergies.
Woolen.
A simple way to swaddle a baby
How to wrap a baby in a blanket without a belt: It is not always convenient to tinker with ribbons and folds, and practical mothers prefer to use a proven method in which the blanket is wrapped in the same way as a diaper. This technology provides reliable fixation and is perfect for slightly older, mobile children who strive to get out of anything that limits their mobility. Thus, you can swaddle your baby in a blanket only if it is flexible and thin. Thick fabrics with insulation made from synthetic padding polyester, down or holofiber are not suitable. It is optimal to use a flannelette, wool or fleece blanket.
If a young mother has experience in swaddling, then she needs to follow a familiar algorithm:
- The blanket needs to be divided diagonally . If it has a rectangular shape, then the large edge should be located to the right of the mother. The baby's left hand must be pressed to the body and the right corner should be folded, creating a lapel along its upper edge. Then you need to tightly clasp your left shoulder and arm, then tuck the remaining edge under the back, then you need to smooth out the folds under the baby.
- It is necessary to form a lapel along the upper edge of the left corner and wrap it along the right shoulder . The baby's arms should be pressed to the body. The free end is tucked under the back. The legs are pressed so that they straighten. The bottom edge of the blanket must be unfolded and covered with it up to chest level. If the blanket is large and reaches the neck and face, you need to make another lapel.
- You need to tightly wrap the body with the right end of the loose cut . If the need arises, it must be brought through the back to the chest. You need to wrap the body with the left end of the free edge and tuck its corner under the fold. If you properly wrap your baby in a blanket, an additional layer of insulation will form around the baby's head.
Choice for winter
The main condition for choosing a winter option is warmth and good air circulation. It shouldn't be too hot or too cold under the winter blanket. Which blanket to choose for a newborn for the winter season? Common options for winter include wool, down, synthetic, bamboo and cotton wool.
Woolen
Wool blankets for small children are made from camel and sheep wool. These can be blankets or quilts. Quilted ones are preferable, since the wool in them is evenly distributed, does not bunch up and does not cake after washing. Its advantages also include:
- ease;
- heat;
- durability;
- hygroscopicity;
- breathability.
The disadvantage is allergenicity. If your baby develops an allergy or skin irritation after contact with a woolen product, you should immediately stop using it. Woolen items can harbor moths.
Down
Bird down (swan, goose, loon) is used to fill duvets. It has good quality characteristics:
- ease;
- breathability;
- They keep you warm.
Downy.
It is recommended to use a duvet at room temperatures from +16 to +18 degrees Celsius. If used in a warmer room, the baby may overheat.
Varieties
Baby blankets come in open and closed types, of different weights and compositions. A blanket for a newborn in summer should be light.
Warm models are produced for the cold season. For the winter period, it is better to choose a product made of fur, down, wool or padding polyester. Knitted, cotton, fleece or flannelette models are suitable for autumn.
In hot weather, it is better to use light blankets with good hygroscopicity - made of fleece, bamboo, jacquard, flannel, cotton.
Wool models
Made from camel, sheep, merino and goat wool. The top of the blanket is covered with thick natural fabric.
There are knitted products that are more suitable for walking outside. They look original.
The only drawback is that they can cause allergies. Children with individual intolerance to woolen items are not recommended to buy such blankets.
Quilts
They are in great demand because they are made from cotton wool. They warm well. Environmentally friendly products. Excellent moisture absorption. They are easy to care for. The disadvantages include: relatively heavy weight, the blanket can change shape after washing and takes a long time to dry. They often cover children during a walk, and also lay them on sleds in winter.
Synthetic products
Various artificial fibers can be used as filler: ecofiber, holofiber, synthetic winterizer, silicone, Thinsulate. They provide comfort and are pleasant to the touch. They are characterized by low cost and good quality. Keeps you warm. The products can be washed frequently and dry quickly. The main disadvantage is considered to be poor hygroscopicity.
Made from fleece
The products are characterized by light weight, comfort, and do not cause overheating of the body. The downside is the ability to accumulate dust, which can cause an allergic reaction. The blanket is easy to wash. Dries quickly.
From calico
Products are light in weight and soft to the touch. They retain their original appearance for a long time. Contains natural fibers. Most often used in summer in cool weather to warm the baby.
Made from fluff
Made from swan or goose down. The cover is sewn from dense natural fabric and quilted.
The models are light in weight and have good hygroscopicity. They let air through and keep you warm.
Expert opinion
Soloviev Pavel Viktorovich
Designer with many years of experience and experience.
In cool weather, the child is covered during a walk. Disadvantages: delicate care is required, during washing the filling gets lost, the item becomes deformed and takes a long time to dry.
Made from bamboo
Summer and demi-season models are made from bamboo. The products do not cause allergic reactions and do not lose their original appearance for a long time. The only negative is the high price.
Basic sizes for newborns
How to choose the right size blanket for a newborn? It is selected according to the size of the crib with a small margin. A blanket that is too large in a small crib will disturb the baby. It's hot to sleep under and there's a high risk of overheating.
If the baby is active, then he may find himself covered with his head. In this case, it is advisable to purchase side clamps for the crib. Conversely, a small, narrow and short blanket can constantly slide down, revealing the baby. The choice of the required size depends on the height and age of the baby. The sizes are:
- 80x90 cm.
- 95×100 cm.
- 90x120 cm.
- 100x140 cm.
- 105x115 cm.
- 120×120 cm.
- 110×140 cm.
The standard sizes are 110x140 cm and 100x135 cm, and for cradles - 80x90 cm.
Popular manufacturers
When choosing a blanket for your baby, give preference to manufacturers focused on producing only high-quality items. Among the main ones we can note:
- “Fleece Factory”, Russia – winter options for bedding made from camel, alpaca, and sheep wool.
- “Mona Lisa”, Russia – bright fleece blankets with images of cartoon characters.
- Naturek, Russia - high-quality children's bedding lines filled with silk, wool, down, bamboo, and eucalyptus fibers.
- “Ermolino”, Russia – blankets made from natural raw materials.
- TAS, Turkey - products for small children, made of synthetic filler, in beautiful bright colors.
- MEYCO, Germany – high-quality durable cotton blankets.
- “Kajka”, Poland – a collection of cotton children’s blankets with padding polyester filling.
- Magic Wool is a collection of blankets and rugs made from sheep and camel wool.
- MuzaNoche has released a line of BabySilk textile items, which uses natural silk.
- Primavelle - produces high-quality children's textiles using all the materials described in this article.
- “Happy Linen”, Ukraine – uses natural materials with linen filling in the manufacture of blankets.
How to care
Before using the blanket for the first time, it is recommended to unroll it and ventilate it to remove foreign odors. It will straighten out and become more magnificent. Each type of product has special care rules.
For example, cashmere options are washed by hand, woolen ones are not wrung out, dry cleaning is preferable for down items, and airing is preferable for silk items. To ensure that the product lasts longer, you must follow the care instructions indicated on the labels. To make your blankets less dirty, use duvet covers.
It is easier to care for a synthetic item than a natural item. Natural products are more difficult to wash and dry.
Which blanket is best for a newborn is up to you to choose, the main thing is that it is safe and brings coziness and comfort to the baby.
