Preparing For A Newborn: How Many Blankets You Should Have

As your child’s birth draws near, you will have to start checking whether you are ready to welcome them into your home. From blankets to clothes, there will be a lot of things to prepare for the arrival of your baby.

Thankfully, newborns will not need a lot of blankets to keep them safe and happy. With many options available on the market, it is quite easy to find something that suits your taste and gives your baby what they need.

Different Types of Blankets

That said, you can still expect the different types of blankets to get a little bit confusing. Generally, you can expect the types of blankets to fall under any of these categories:

Receiving Blankets

Receiving blankets are normally what parents use from the birth of the baby. These are considered multi-purpose, serving needs such as swaddling, keeping baby warm, and cleanup of spit-ups.

Swaddling Blankets

Now, we have a blanket that is meant for one thing. Swaddling helps keep babies snug and much more at ease. For quick and easy swaddling, look for added features such as velcro strips at the points where you can connect them. 

Special Blankets

These are blankets that are usually not necessary but can provide the baby with some sort of entertainment. You can find special blankets that have toys or plushies attached to them or blankets meant specifically for photoshoots. 

Security Blankets

These blankets are made from especially soft material, which makes them perfect for soothing and comforting your baby. It is also typically your “go-to” blanket for having around during those adorable little cuddle sessions.

Nursing Covers

These blankets are perfect for those times when a mother needs to feed her baby whilst in public. These will normally have a strap or a velcro attachment which makes it easy for moms to attach with one hand so that she may carry the baby in the other. 

Changing Pads

Changing pads are exactly that– blankets meant to help parents minimize the mess associated with changing diapers. They are also soft to help make the baby more comfortable during the changing while on the go.

The Right Amount Of Blankets

Now, we get to the part where we think of how many blankets your baby might need. Given the different types, you’ll want to make sure that whichever ones you do get are enough to fill the baby’s needs. 

On average, a parent should have about 10 different types of baby blankets available when expecting a child. These are normally divided amongst the different types sort of equally, with changing pads taking the priority. 

Keep in mind that this number is not exact. If you feel that you will be able to take care of the baby with even more blankets, feel free to do so. The priority here is that the baby is comfortable and has their needs met. 

An Important Note on Blankets

With all that said, it should be noted that newborn babies are not supposed to sleep in their cribs with blankets. This is because of the risk of suffocation that a child might have when they roll over or if the blanket proves too thick.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that you have more than a few options available to you, which means you have a choice at any price point. If budgets are tight, you can opt for multi-purpose blankets, or vice-versa if you can afford it. As long as you can do what’s right for the baby, you’re on the right track.

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