How to choose the right one
The main selection criterion is the season. For the cold season, a newborn will need a warm blanket. It is used mainly in a crib. You can also wrap your child up and take him outside, onto a balcony, into a loggia while he sleeps. This is better and faster than putting on and buttoning up the overalls. For warm spring and summer, it is better to choose light and thin models. Usually buy two blankets for the crib for each season, plus an additional small product for the stroller. It will cover the newborn from the wind.
Other selection criteria:
- safety of materials. If parents suffer from allergies, there is a high probability of a reaction in the newborn. Therefore, it is better to purchase hypoallergenic items;
- softness, lightness. It will be uncomfortable for a newborn to sleep under a heavy, scratchy or rough blanket;
- ease of care. It is better to give preference to machine washable products;
- breathability. The product must not create a greenhouse effect.
A common question is which blanket is best for a newborn based on its shape. In addition to square and rectangular models, you can now find interesting options with rounded corners, hoods, and ties. There are various decorations - ruffles, bows, appliqués, embroideries, tassels. All this is cute, but for use in a crib, classic blankets without decoration are best suited. It's easy to match them with a duvet cover. We remember that the newborn will soon grow up, he will pull ribbons and other elements into his mouth, and may tear them off.
Characteristics of fillers
Materials used as filling for children's blankets are the same as those used for adults. Which blanket is best for a child, which one to give preference to is decided by parents, having previously analyzed all the pros and cons of each.
Natural
Cotton filler , which is used in the budget range, is natural, but a bit heavy. Cotton wool absorbs moisture well and retains heat, which is an advantage of this material. Among the disadvantages are poor breathability, the ability to absorb and retain various odors. You can buy it as a backup option, but do not use it constantly.
Covering children under three years of age with a cotton blanket is not recommended. If the goal is to choose a wadded blanket for an older child, then it is better to give preference to quilted options.
Blankets made from camel, sheep, goat, merino or alpaca wool, which have high thermal conductivity and hygroscopicity, will perfectly warm him without making him sweat. This option is suitable for babies from the first years of life, when heat transfer control is so important.
Down filling provides excellent warmth during the cold season, but can cause an allergic runny nose or cough in a child. The warmest of the entire range offered are “down jackets”, which contain the down of waterfowl: loons, swan, goose. They retain heat well and have good breathability. The advantages also include softness and durability.
But, despite the numerous advantages, you should refrain from purchasing them for children prone to allergic reactions. The reason for this is not the fluff itself, but the bed mites that grow in it after prolonged use. In this case, it is better to buy a blanket made of synthetic fiber or bamboo. Also, down ones are not recommended for use by children under two years of age, thereby avoiding overheating.
Bamboo occupies a leading position among natural fillers . Due to the antibacterial substance it contains, the development of bacteria is practically excluded even after fifty washes. High thermal conductivity allows you to cover yourself with a bamboo blanket in any season. Choosing its size is not difficult: the length of the bed plus a small margin for the volume of the product.
An elite and one of the best fillers is silk . It does not accumulate dust, does not harbor mites, and fully meets the requirements of children prone to allergic reactions. Among the undeniable advantages are high wear resistance and hygroscopicity.
Its high price is fully compensated by its quality characteristics and long service life. But the material is quite difficult to care for and must either be ventilated or carefully washed with special products. In addition, such a product does not “like” people jumping or running on it, while the favorite place to play for most small children is the bed.
In summer
Some parents doubt whether a newborn needs a blanket at all during the warm season. You can cover the baby with a diaper, a sheet, or use a thin blanket. There is some truth in this. It’s just not always warm at night, plus air conditioners and fans are used in the rooms. The second point is that in spring and autumn it is hot to sleep under winter blankets, but cold under a diaper. Therefore, summer products are actively used in the demi-season.
In the warm season, it is advisable to use a blanket made of flannel or fleece for the baby.
Baykovoe
If you still don’t know which blanket is best to choose for the summer, feel free to give preference to the good old yarn.
What are the advantages of the material:
- natural and hypoallergenic material;
- absorbs moisture;
- allows air to pass through;
- tolerates repeated washings well;
- does not wear out for decades.
A significant drawback of flannelette blankets is their primitive design. Most often, manufacturers produce products in checkered, striped, and diamond patterns in dull and faded shades. The beds with them resemble hospital rooms. It’s better to immediately buy a nice duvet cover.
Calico
Our grandmothers' favorite material. It has still not lost its relevance. Blankets for newborns made from calico are suitable for the warm season, used in cribs, strollers, as bedding on the floor, and upholstered furniture.
What are the advantages of calico:
- hypoallergenic and safe;
- durability;
- ease of care;
- does not wrinkle;
- light weight;
- absorbs moisture well.
There is only one drawback - it is difficult to find on sale. Calico usually acts as a cover, with other fillers inside.
Fleece
Manufacturers actively use fleece for sewing clothes and bedding for children's cribs. But this particular material is not suitable for newborns, despite its hypoallergenicity.
Significant disadvantages of fleece blankets:
- do not allow air to pass through well;
- do not absorb moisture;
- collect dust, lint sticks;
- quickly lose their appearance.
What are the advantages? Only cheapness and variety of colors. Bright and cute designs attract parents. Blankets are used in cribs, strollers, they cover changing tables, and wrap newborns sleeping on the street.
How to cover a baby so he doesn't get too hot
In a cold apartment you need to wrap your baby up warmer, but summer comes and adults exchange woolen coats for light dresses. The baby also needs to get out of the hot shelter. For a warm period, a blanket made from a flannelette is perfect for a child. The big plus of this product is that it can be washed frequently. Natural fabric with soft brushing does not irritate the baby’s skin, he can play and crawl on such a bedding, there will be no harm to his body.
When you go for a walk in the forest or park, take a flannelette blanket with you. It will not take up much space in your bag and will not burden you with excess weight. In the clearing, spread a blanket on the grass and lay the baby on it. Don’t worry that blades of grass and grains of sand will get tangled in the fabric - at home you can throw the blanket in the washing machine, then hang it to dry, and it will be as good as new.
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If the summer is cool, you will also need a wool blanket, but it should be different from the winter version. Choose a filler density of 200 g/m2; your baby won’t get too hot under this. From time to time, approach the child and touch his neck. If you feel sweat, you have wrapped your baby too warmly, remove the blanket and cover him with a duvet cover, sheet or light blanket.
The debate about which blanket is best for a baby is useless; the best option is to keep him neither hot nor cold.
Recently, bamboo blankets have appeared on sale. If bamboo was used in the manufacture, then the baby will be very comfortable under such a shelter: not hot in the summer, and not cold in the winter. The material does not cause allergies and is easy to care for. There is only one drawback: such products are expensive.
in winter
A common mistake parents make is to buy a thick, bulky, too warm blanket for their newborn. They are usually marked accordingly - five dots. Such options are more suitable for wrapping babies on the street. The indoor temperature rarely drops below 20 degrees. The baby will be hot under such a product; it is better to choose a heat level of 3-4 points. Let's find out which blanket is best to buy for a newborn's crib during the cold season.
In the cold season, it is advisable for a baby to use a blanket made of wool, synthetic filling or bamboo.
Woolen
It is natural wool that is associated with winter. A popular material for socks, shawls, hats. Some manufacturers use it for children's bedding.
What are the advantages of the six:
- light weight;
- durability;
- holds heat well;
- allows air to pass through;
- absorbs moisture.
Is the baby warm?
First of all, the blanket should provide good protection from the cold. Models with cotton filling are often not recommended for children. Such a product cannot be washed; it is difficult to find a dry cleaner that will undertake to put it in order. You can immediately reject this filler, and then bitterly regret your decision.
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In many cities in winter, problems with heating often arise: either the steam supplied to the radiators is too cold, or the pumping station will fail in severe frosts. It's cold for both adults and children. This is where a cotton blanket will help you out. It may be heavy and difficult to care for, but this model will save your baby from the cold. Buy your baby such bedding, and no mistakes of the management company will make him freeze.
If your apartment is constantly cold, buy a wool blanket. It is hygroscopic and absorbs sweat well, but when purchasing, you need to touch the product and determine its cruelty. The wool must be well processed so that it is not itchy and does not contain splinters, thorns and other foreign inclusions. If you are not buying a woven blanket, but a cover with stitched wool filling, pay attention to the label. The density of the stuffing determines how warm the baby will be under such a blanket. For apartments with poor heating system performance in winter, you need to stay at 420 g/m2.
Advice
When choosing a wool blanket, focus only on softness and warmth. All information about radiation protection, the healing effect and the effects of lanolin from the hair of various animals on the skin is a common advertising gimmick.
Wool is considered a light filler, but if you want your baby to be warm and not feel the weight of the blanket at all, choose a model made of holofiber or padding polyester. These materials can be washed and do not harbor harmful insects. If you are going on a trip, the product can be compactly packed, it will not take up much space, and its weight is almost imperceptible. Such things can be safely packed and sent to the mezzanine for the summer; moths won’t eat them.
It is important to choose the right blanket size
Now let's figure out how to choose the right size blanket for a newborn. A common mistake is to buy for growth. A product that is too large will bunch up in the crib, making it uncomfortable for the newborn to sleep. Very soon he will grow up, begin to roll over, and will need free space. Something too small is also not good. It will slide to one side, become confused, and the newborn’s arms or legs will freeze.
The blanket must match the size of the crib.
The best option is to purchase a standard size of 100 by 135 or 110 by 140. It is suitable for most cribs, not counting modern round, oval cradles and transformers. For them, bedding is selected that matches the size of the crib. Often it has a non-standard shape. It is better to buy it immediately along with the sides, canopies, or make it to order.
