what works best? I go to babies r us, and all they have are swaddling blankets. I bought a video to learn to swaddle, and want to do this myself…. also any tips or tricks?
No, they are not the same.
Receiving blankets and baby blankets tend to be thicker and should not be used for swaddling. They don’t tuck well, it’s harder to use them, and the baby is more likely to overheat because the material tends to be thicker. They’re okay for wrapping a baby up, but not for swaddling.
Then there’s the commercial swaddling blankets. They’re a rip-off, using velcro and what not to hold the swaddle.
The best type of swaddling blanket is something at least 3 yards/36 inches square. You want it out of a thin cotton or muslim that has a little bit of a stretch but not too much and the edges finished. The bundling of the swaddle around the baby keeps them warm without the blanket needing to be thick, and you can always put them in a nightie under the swaddle as well. These, at Target, run $30 for a pack of 4, 42" square, so they’d work very well. But if you know someone who will finish the edges you can basically make your own just going to a fabric store and buying a 3yard square of fabric. When you use something like this, swaddling is a LOT easier because you have room to work with, and if they’re a longer baby you can still swaddle. 
This is the swaddle we used, from Happiest Baby on the Block, and I liked it a lot. But if you don’t have enough fabric, or if you don’t have the right type of fabric, it’s hard to get it real snug.
March 12th, 2010 at 8:47 am
Pretty much. Ask around. (And I’m SURE you can find cheaper Ones- elsewhere!).
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March 12th, 2010 at 8:58 am
You don’t need any special blanket to swaddle a baby. And those expensive ones with the hand holds are so easy for the baby to rip off. Just take any good blanket and wrap the baby up.
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March 12th, 2010 at 9:20 am
Yes it is the same. I just learned from the nurses at the hospital. It’s very easy to do.
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March 12th, 2010 at 10:06 am
They do have specific swaddling blankets, but you can swaddle with almost any blankets. I find it harder the thicker the blanket is. I’ll give you a little walk through haha. Place the blanket down in front of you so it looks like a diamond. Fold the top corner down just a little big (I usually let the fold part be about 8 inches). Put your baby on the blanket with his or her shoulders at the folded part. You can either leave their arm in or out, but my baby hates when her arms are in the blanket. You take the left side and pull it to the right nice and snug and tuck it under the baby. Then you take the bottom of the blanket and fold it upward. If it is too long I usually tuck it into the first fold so it doesn’t get too close to her face. Then you pull the right side over the left and tuck it under your baby. It’s pretty easy and very comforting.
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March 12th, 2010 at 10:39 am
No, they are not the same.
Receiving blankets and baby blankets tend to be thicker and should not be used for swaddling. They don’t tuck well, it’s harder to use them, and the baby is more likely to overheat because the material tends to be thicker. They’re okay for wrapping a baby up, but not for swaddling.
Then there’s the commercial swaddling blankets. They’re a rip-off, using velcro and what not to hold the swaddle.
The best type of swaddling blanket is something at least 3 yards/36 inches square. You want it out of a thin cotton or muslim that has a little bit of a stretch but not too much and the edges finished. The bundling of the swaddle around the baby keeps them warm without the blanket needing to be thick, and you can always put them in a nightie under the swaddle as well. These, at Target, run $30 for a pack of 4, 42" square, so they’d work very well. But if you know someone who will finish the edges you can basically make your own just going to a fabric store and buying a 3yard square of fabric. When you use something like this, swaddling is a LOT easier because you have room to work with, and if they’re a longer baby you can still swaddle.
This is the swaddle we used, from Happiest Baby on the Block, and I liked it a lot. But if you don’t have enough fabric, or if you don’t have the right type of fabric, it’s hard to get it real snug.
References :
http://www.target.com/Aden-Anais-Vroomaroo-Swaddle-Wraps/dp/B0026788D6/ref=sc_qi_detaillink
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSYPqGtFBYQ
March 12th, 2010 at 11:16 am
well I always had a hard time swaddling my son with just a receiving blanket, with the swaddle blankets you just wrap them and your done and the won’t break out of it like they can with a regular receiving blanket my son used on until he was 3 months
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