The Best Muslin Baby Blanket

Buying Guide

Parents of newborns will find themselves buying a lot of items that their baby will outgrow within a month or two. That’s just as true for a blanket as any other toy or outfit, but a soft muslin blanket will comfort your baby and encourage that all-important sleep time. Not only that, but buying the right muslin blanket will mean you have an heirloom to treasure well past those early years.

Experienced parents will know a muslin blanket when they feel it, but what exactly is muslin? To start with, it’s not a type of fabric in and of itself. Muslin is a simple style of weaving that originated in the Middle East and dates back to prehistoric times. It can be used to make everything from medical gauze to cheesecloth, but it has long been the blanket choice for swaddling sensitive newborn skin.

Muslin baby blankets are most often made from cotton, and they can be nearly as thick as quilts or as thin as a silk sheet depending on the weave. Either way, they’re going to be very light, which is part of the appeal. You might also find hybrid fabrics that are made partially from bamboo fiber. This material has hypoallergenic properties and is likely to be more expensive because of that. It’s also very soft, but take care that it’s not too soft — swaddling a baby can be difficult when the fabric is too slippery.

Swaddling is just one of the many uses for a muslin blanket, but it’s hardly the only one. As your baby grows, you might find that you need a few different blankets depending on what purpose they serve.

Receiving blankets are what most babies come home from the hospital in after those first few days, and accordingly they are quite small. They can range in size from 18 inches to 36 inches square, which is ideal for swaddling a newborn. After your baby grows a bit, they make great burp cloths or nursing covers due to their manageable size.

After the first month or so, you might want to trade up to a full-fledged swaddle blanket. These will be at least 40 inches square. They’re likely to see a lot of use both during sleep and active times, so buy with an eye toward durability.

Finally, there are crib blankets. These are a more traditional rectangular shape, around 60 inches long. They should be used after your baby is done with their first year and is ready to transition into their own sleeping space.

If you buy right, your baby won’t be the only one who gets attached to their blankie. Paying a little extra for durability means you’ll have a tangible memory of those early years long after baby outgrows the crib.

• The right blanket can help put a baby to sleep, but don’t let them sleep with one until they’re older. According to most pediatricians, babies should sleep without blankets or toys in the crib until they are at least a year old.
• Muslin blankets are super soft, and you’ll want to make sure they stay that way. Take the washing instructions on the blanket seriously, and make sure the washing machine is free of things like velcro or protruding zippers. In the dryer, stick with a tumble dry on low heat.