Swaddling your baby is one of the first things you will have to learn as a mother. You will need to swaddle your baby a lot for the first months of their life. So you should know how to do it rather fast.
One of the most common questions mothers have is related to the number of blankets they should use. So, how many swaddle blankets are enough to keep your baby safely tucked in?
How Many Swaddle Blankets Do You Need? To give you a straight answer to this question, you will need a minimum of three swaddle blankets and maximum as many as you want. There is an entire set of reasons behind this number. So, keep reading to decide how many of these blankets you should invest in.
How many baby blankets do you need?
You will most likely keep your baby swaddled a let in the first two months. Babies also go through many dirty diapers a day. Not to mention that they might regurgitate some of the milk they drink. All these baby-like activities will get your blankets dirty one after another.
If you have three blankets, you know that you are always ready to change your baby into a new one, once they get their current blanket dirty.
My Recommendation: upsimples Baby Swaddle Blanket
One of these three blankets will stay on your baby, another one you might use as a backup blanket and the third one can be a lifesaver if your two other blankets get dirty faster than you can wash them (this is a common risk).
More than these three blankets you can use as many as you are comfortable too. The market offers a wide range of swaddle blankets for newborns that you might be tempted to invest in.
And if you afford to do that, the sky is the limit. Either way, you will go through several types of swaddle blankets before you find the one that you can rely on!
Also Check: Receiving Blanket vs Swaddling Blanket
How Big Should a Swaddle Blanket be?
Another common question is how big should these blankets actually be to accommodate your baby in a comfortable way. You should know right from the start that nothing is more frustrating than a swaddle blanket that is too short.
If you can work around a bigger one, a shorter blanket puts limits on swaddling your baby that can be extremely irritating. If the blanket is too small, you will not be able to swaddle your baby as tight as you want and they naturally, will get out of it.
The best size for such a blanket should be 120 cm with 120 cm. In inches that would be a 47 inch with 47 inch blanket. The swaddle blankets are square so all the length will be the same as the width.
With this size, you should have no problem swaddling a newborn. Your baby will not be able to get out of the blanket and you will be happy to know that they are satisfied with it as well.
Babies don’t want a blanket they can escape from. They want to be tucked in tight in a cozy blanket so they can go to sleep fast.
Such a size should allow you to wrap in a comfortable way both newborns and babies up to six months old or older. But we will also talk in this guide about the baby age when swaddling is recommended by experts.
Are Swaddle Blankets Safe?
Swaddle blankets just like any other blankets are safe for your baby. However, in order to keep the risks away and enjoy the benefits, you should learn how to swaddle your newborn. If you don’t swaddle them right you might expose them to certain hazards.
For instance, if you use blankets that are too warm your baby might overheat. If the blanket is too thin your baby might get cold over night. The temperature of the room is very important when choosing the best blanket.
Another important aspect is rolling. You want to swaddle your baby good enough so they are not able to roll. If they roll on their belly they will not be able to breathe. This could turn out in a tragedy that you want to avoid at all costs.
But if you follow the guidelines of swaddling and these important aspects, you should stay away from such risks. Under proper conditions, your baby will be safe and very comfy every time you swaddle them.
Which swaddle blanket is the best? ( use amazon.com)
If you are looking for a swaddle blanket to be the best for your needs, the Upsimples Baby Swaddle Blanket might be just perfect for your little one! You will love the fact that this product comes at a budget-friendly price and it has a lot of qualities to appreciate.
First of all, these swaddle blankets are made of 70% bamboo and 30% cotton. This means that they are highly breathable so your baby will not sweat in them.
They are also very soft and gentle with the soft skin of your baby. The size of these blankets is thew ideal 47 inches with 47-inch size. Your baby will not be able to get out of these blankets so you will not have to worry about that.
When you order this product you receive a set of four blankets. The patterns are unisex so you can use them for both boys and girls. You can easily wash them in the washing machine so you don’t have to be concerned about damaging them.
They will seem even softer and smoother after every time you wash them. You can choose between two different designs as you purchase these blankets. It might be difficult because they are very cute and attractive.
You can use these blankets for more than just swaddling too. They are perfect for tummy time and playtime as well. Just make sure you supervise your baby if you let them play on the blanket to stay on the safe side!
When should we stop swaddling your baby?
Swaddling your baby is a temporary practice that you will not entertain for long. This is because if your child is to old for swaddling, they will not benefit from it as much.
You will find out that the common age limit to which you should stop swaddling your baby is four months. However, this is not set in stone as each baby is different.
First of all, swaddling your baby will help them get used to the world outside the womb faster and easier. This is the main purpose of swaddling. It will also prevent fussiness and irritable moments that all babies experience in the first months of life.
Swaddling your baby will also reduce the number of times they wake up at night. So, you can encourage them to sleep through the night by tucking them in well into a swaddling blanket.
On the other hand, there are signs that will help you know when you don’t have to swaddle your baby anymore. Firstly, you will notice that they can take their arms out of the blanket no matter how well you swaddle them.
This is because they developed their motor skills enough to not need to be wrapped up anymore.
Also, if they start rolling over, you should stop swaddling them for their safety. This is a clear sign that swaddling is not a good idea anymore. And also their reaction to swaddling is very important.
As months go by, babies will object more to being wrapped in the blanket. They will get frustrated, scream, cry and move a lot in order to prevent you from swaddling them.
This happens because they don’t find the same comfort in being swaddled as they did before. And you shouldn’t push a practice if it is past due because you will only bring more frustration for both you and your baby.
Usually, all these signs that should tell you to stop swaddling your baby appear between three and six months. The four months is the average age for babies who are not comfortable when you swaddle them.
Conclusion
As you can see, swaddling your baby has plenty of advantages. You will need cozy and safe blankets to enjoy them though. The blanked we talked about in this guide is one of your best options.
Consequently, consider having a minimum of three blankets handy just in case you need to change them. Your baby will grow out of this swaddling phase before you know it. So, it is worth it to give them all the comfort you can while they need it!
Don’t experiment when you are swaddling your baby! Apply what nurses teach you in the hospital right after you give birth. They are the best to follow when it comes to learning the most efficient swaddling technique for your little angel!
