Friday, November 1, 2013

Caring For Your Angel With A Baby Blanket

One of the things that you always hear people checking on with newborn babies is whether the baby is warm enough. The best way to keep them warm is with a baby blanket. There are a number of different baby blankets available. So how do you know which one to use when?Typically, the first baby blanket that you will be using with your little one is a receiving baby blanket. This type of blanket is used to swaddle the baby. Not only is swaddling used to keep the baby warm, but it is also done to help the baby feel a little restricted. This restricted feeling reminds them of being in the womb, which is extremely comforting and can stop a lot of crying. One thing many parents have learned is if the baby is crying and they don't seem to be hungry or need their diaper changed, they probably need to be swaddled.Baby receiving blankets are very thin, soft blankets. They swaddle the best when they are cut in the shape of a square, but they don't need to be very big. Many hospitals will give you a receiving blanket to use at home. This will give you an idea of what size you will be needing, if you decide to buy more. If you are unfamiliar with how to swaddle a newborn, be sure to have one of the baby's nurses at the hospital show you before you leave.The other baby blankets that you will want to be familiar with are baby afghans, baby quilts, and fleece baby blankets. Baby afghans are typically handmade from yarn. They are nice to use when you want to cover up the baby, but don't want the baby getting overheated. Since newborns don't have working sweat glands until they are two weeks old, it is best to use an afghan if you want to put an extra baby blanket over them.Baby quilts are going to be a lot thicker than afghan baby blankets and so will be warmer. This is preferred for the winter time, especially when taking baby out in the cold. These too are usually handmade, but you can buy these at stores also. Basically the baby blanket consists of two pieces of material sewn together and sometimes stuffed with some cotton for added comfort. They come with all different types of designs on them and are great for displaying on the wall or on a bed once the baby is older.Finally, the fleece baby blankets are known for their soft, comfy feeling. They are also warm blankets like the quilts. Fleece baby blankets are easy to make and you can find them with all different designs on them. Some fabric stores sell the fleece material with cartoon characters on them. These baby blankets are great, because they can be used for much of the childhood years. And since they are fairly inexpensive, you don't have to worry about overusing them.