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November 03, 2021 7 min read
What's in this article
Hospitals and birthing centers will check, clean, and wrap newborn babies in a soft breathable receiving blanket before they present the tiny newborn to a happy mother.
This helps to maintain the baby’s body temperature and also serves to mimic a sense of being secure, much like being in a mom’s womb.
A receiving blanket is a well-thought-out blanket used to wrap a newborn in before being presented to an exhausted but happy mother.
“Well thought out” because of the size, weight, and fabric choice which facilitates a baby’s transition from womb to world.
Of all the different baby blanket types and sizes, the receiving blanket is the smallest yet it tends to be a multi-functional blanket as well. The standard receiving blanket measures 28” X 34” (70 cm X 86 cm). Alternatively, a standard square receiving blanket is 30” square (76 cm square).
There are smaller receiving blankets for premature babies that measure 18” X 20” (45 cm X 50 cm) and there is a slightly larger square preemie blanket that measures 24” square (60 cm square).
Receiving blankets in comparison is smaller than standard-sized baby blankets which typically measure 34” X 46” (86 cm X 116 cm). There are also square baby blankets and the sizes vary so selecting the right size for your baby is not a difficult decision but rather a personal one.
Because babies grow so fast in their first year, they will quickly outgrow their receiving blankets and other specialized blankets like swaddling blankets; however, the standard size baby blanket is designed to be adequate for the first year or two at least.
As you can see from the standard sizes, there is no “one size fits all”; however, regardless of the size, receiving blankets are always a mom’s go-to item that is used to tend to baby’s needs, like using it as an oversized burp cloth or as a means to create shade while your little is in a stroller, or perhaps even using it to layout over a public infant changing area before changing your baby’s diaper.
Receiving blankets are mostly made from soft, lightweight, and durable fabrics and should be an ideal match for a baby’s still sensitive skin. The fabric must be able to assist in regulating your baby’s temperature as they are still unable to do this themselves. Listed below are the more popular fabric choices for baby receiving blankets:
From the above list, you can see why natural fabrics like cotton and wool are the best fabrics for your little one. Softness is great but breathability or temperature control should be your top priority when selecting and purchasing receiving blankets.
Soft fabrics with poor breathability have their place but should only really be used by people with the ability to regulate their temperature. They are questionable as blankets because of sleep interruptions from getting too hot under the covers.
New-borns cannot kick off their receiving blanket, nor can they tell you when they are getting too hot and beginning to overheat. Light, breathable, and soft receiving blankets are essential for newborns who have not yet found their voice or mastered their motor skills.
All receiving blankets can be used to swaddle a baby but not all swaddle blankets can be used as receiving blankets because of some of their unique features.
A receiving blanket is typically rectangular or square whereas swaddle blankets come in different shapes and designs. Some have wings, Velcro, snaps, or zippers for easy use. Another theme is stretchable fabric like bamboo rayon because the general belief is that babies should be wrapped tightly when swaddled.
Parents are taught to wrap their little ones tightly for effective swaddling but too tight can be problematic both in the short and long run. Tight in swaddling terms means secure but still offering enough space to breathe and move a little.
The immediate danger is putting too much pressure on your baby’s chest that can restrict breathing. In the long run, hip dysplasia can occur if babies are swaddled too tightly around their legs for long periods over consecutive days, weeks, and months.
The size of receiving and swaddle blankets differ as well with receiving blankets being the smaller of the two. It is not the size of your baby that determines what size blanket is correct but rather their age in weeks and months, and their weight.
There is no set amount but to be on the safe side you can look at a minimum of at least five receiving blankets to start with. Include at least three swaddle blankets and you will have enough to deal with on the toughest of days. Double the amount may spoil you for choice but it also means you’ll be well prepared.
As mentioned earlier in this article a receiving blanket can be used as a burp cloth, to provide shade while outdoor or used to create a safe changing space at home or in public spaces.
They can also be used for picnics or play areas on the floor where your baby can have some tummy time and practice their motor skills by pulling on the blanket to bring things closer.
A receiving blank is in effect a swaddle blanket and babies are swaddled from birth until they begin rolling or resist being swaddled. The receiving blanket is big enough to wrap comfortably around a baby without wrapping over itself again. This is primarily to avoid overheating and over restricting small movements.
While newborns sleep there is very little movement and the blanket provides that sense of security without really restricting any small movements.
It resembles the time in mom’s womb that always had place enough for movement.
You will notice in this article that preemie receiving blankets are smaller than the standard size receiving blank.
This is to avoid the blanket from wrapping over itself when a very small or premature baby is swaddled.
Baby receiving blankets are an essential part of a baby’s early life but because they are multi-functional, they will remain handy way past the difficult toddler years.
When deciding on receiving blankets you can’t go wrong with cotton as it’s the most popular fabric for receiving blanks as well as baby outfits and other bedding essentials like fitted sheets. Breathability trumps all else and as far as thermoregulation is concerned cotton is right up there with wool and other natural fabrics.
Choosing designs, colors or patterns is a personal matter and the wide range of baby blankets available on the market will surely create some new and fascinating creative ideas in your mind. Breathe in – breathe out – decide.
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