For some expectant parents, baby blankets may be fairly low down on the list of priority buys.

My advice is to think it over -  an organic cotton baby blanket is a truly versatile buy – for both those early months and when the baby is older.

in the early days a baby blanket is very handy for wrapping your baby up in (”swaddling”).

Out and about – a baby blanket is the ideal size for folding around your baby in a pram or buggy to keep them warm and free from cold and draughts. A normal household blanket will be much too bulky.

Size matters – Make sure that you choose a large baby blanket of at least one metre square. A larger than normal baby blanket means that you can use it at night, as a buggy or pram cover, or even during the day as a play mat. That way you get lots of use out of your baby blanket before you even remember the times you used it as an extra wrap or baby comforter.
photo credit: modmami

A swaddling blanket is normally used to wrap up newborn babies after birth and in the first early weeks of life. Having been used for thousands of years and then largely forgotten, this technique of comforting a baby is now very much back in fashion.

In the early days a baby blanket is very handy for wrapping your baby
up in this manner which is known as ”swaddling”.

To swaddle a baby you simply wrap them firmly in a small blanket remembering to tuck in the sides.

Babies love being swaddled – it makes them feel
safe and secure – after all, they were used to being held tight for 9
months in their mummy’s tummies. Swaddling a baby can help to settle a baby who is fractious and grumpy.
photo credit: Sugar Pond  

Cuddly fleece blankets, made from polyester, are very popular baby blankets today. They are used most often inside prams and strollers during colder weather to keep baby snug and warm.

Fleece blankets are very fashionable and come in lots of colours and prints.

Fleece is also easy to wash and dries very quickly indeed which is good news if you live somewhere where it’s difficult to dry clothing and bedding outside during the winter.

It is however, recommended that you be careful if you use them indoors in the nursery as they can become too warm for indoor use, particularly in warmer weather.

photo credit: shimgray

Cotton baby blankets are very popular as many parents prefer natural fibres to be used for baby bedding items.

However, concerns have recently been expressed in the media regarding the use of chemicals in conventional cotton. This because cotton is a crop that is grown with the use of many chemicals and pesticides. Using these chemical and pesticides has caused illness and even death amongst cotton pickers and those that manufacture cotton.

For this reason some parents are now choosing to buy only organic cotton blankets for their little ones. Not only is there no danger of chemicals or pesticides coming into contact with their baby’s skin, the fibres in organic cotton blankets are longer which gives this type of baby nursery bedding a more luxurious feel.

photo credit: nurpax

Pram blankets are baby blankets which are sized smaller for use in prams or strollers. They are an important and necessary addition to the baby nursery bedding shopping list because they add warmth and comfort to a pram while your baby is on the move.

Some mothers like to tuck the pram blanket over and around the baby (so tucked in firmly at the sides) to keep draughts out. Others layer the pram blankets with sheets or even choose to swaddle the baby inside the blanket itself.

Pram blankets can be made from natural fibres such as cotton or wool, or man-made materials such as acrylic wool or fleece.
photo credit: skeddy in NYC