When a blankie isn't enough... a little bit more...

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What's the deal with swaddling?

Swaddling blanket

Swaddling a brand new baby in a soft baby blanket is one of the dreams of a new mother. For such a simple desire, you may be amazed at the choices. You can purchase blankets in a variety of materials, like flannel, satin, or fleece, blankets decorated for a precious baby boy, baby girl, or that are gender neutral, blankets decorated with dancing bears, giraffes, or toy cars, the list goes on. If this is your first child, you may feel a little incredulous that you would need such a selection of baby blankets. However, chances are you will need more baby blankets than you anticipate, and they all have a purpose.

Infants like to feel secure, and swaddling your baby in a receiving blanket is one of the easiest ways to make them feel comfortable and safe. The receiving blanket is normally flannel, it is not too large and is incredibly soft. The nurses at the hospital will be happy to show you the proper way to swaddle a baby. You can also invest in a "miracle blanket" that helps keep your baby swaddled tightly and supposedly helps them to sleep and helps with colic. Just make sure to have plenty of baby blankets, as they will be used frequently. Over the first few months, baby blankets are likely to end up wet, dirty, or spit up on several times a day. It's a nice luxury to be able to pitch the dirty ones in the laundry and grab a fresh blanket as needed.

As your child gets older, you may find that you like to have a special blanket that you use for important occasions. Since your baby will spend so much time swaddled, it is nice to have a few special blankets for visits to Grandma, shopping, or playing in the park. However, it's still a good idea to only buy blankets that are machine washable right down to the trim.

Many babies become so accustomed to their baby blankets that they develop their own favorites. If your child starts to depend on a security blanket, you may want to purchase a few blankets exactly like the security blanket. This way you can have a spare, one in the laundry, and one available when it is needed.

Burp that baby...

Burp cloth

Getting a baby to burp can be awfully tricky. With several different methods and positions that pediatricians and baby books recommend, parents need to decide which technique suits their baby. Most parents prefer the traditional way of patting the baby gently on the back, which causes the baby to burp. But very often, the burp is also accompanied by saliva and food. Bibs keep the babies clothes clean, but what protects the parents' clothes? Burp cloths are one way to avoid babies drooling over your clothes.

Burp cloths can be used in many ways. While making the baby burp, the parent can place a burp cloth over his/her shoulder to absorb anything that may be thrown up. The cloth reduces the chance of your clothes getting spattered. Burp cloths are designed to be absorbent and can clean up everything from saliva and drool to all kinds of spills. Usually made from pure cotton, the cloth provides comfort for your baby's skin. Burp cloths can also be hand-crafted or personalized with the baby's name or initials, a phrase, or anything you want. These special burp cloths make perfect gifts for baby showers.