“How many swaddles do I need?”, “How many receiving blankets do I need?”, and ” How many muslin swaddles do I need?” — We’ve all asked ourselves these same questions with our first pregnancies.
So many questions and so many confused parents. But, thankfully, you’ve got me —and the internet— to answer all your many parenting questions. And, believe me, even after three kids, I’ve still got plenty of questions that need answers now and again.
So, how many swaddles do I need for one baby? And, what’s the difference between a receiving blanket, swaddle, and muslin? We’ll answer all the questions you have, plus more, right here in this post.
How Many Swaddles Do I Need?
The number of swaddle blankets you need depends on a few things; how often you wash clothes, how much your baby spits, and how often you like to change them.
Although, most parents will agree that 3 to 6 swaddles are enough for one baby. You might think more or less is the right amount for you.
With all the cute designs and colors, a lot of parents can’t help but buy way more than they need. There are also different varieties of swaddle blankets, like Velcro swaddles and ones that you can tie at the bottom.
However, there’s no need to get carried away. From my experience with all my three kids, I have a total of 15 swaddles that are all still in my possession. Though, I probably only purchased around 5 of them. The others were baby shower gifts from friends and family.
What Is a Swaddle?
Before you ask yourself “how many swaddles do I need?”, you’ve got to know exactly what a swaddle is. Lots of people confuse swaddles for muslins and receiving blankets, so it helps to make sure a swaddle is the right baby blanket you’re asking about.
A swaddle blanket is a small, thin, lightweight cloth that is used to wrap your baby up like a burrito. However, swaddles don’t just mean blankets.
Swaddles are made with several different designs that make it easy to wrap your baby up. Some are made with straps, Velcro, and even buttons. These designs make it easier to wrap your baby up and keep them wrapped — because every parent knows how hard it is to learn how to swaddle your newborn.
Why Swaddle?
Swaddling is an ancient practice that has been around for hundreds of years. This practice of wrapping your baby up helps them sleep longer and better so you can get some rest.
When your baby is wrapped up it prevents them from experiencing the startle (Moro) reflex. The Moro reflex is when your baby’s hands fall back out of position when they’re sound asleep.
This makes an infant think they’re falling because they’re so used to the barriers of their mother’s womb. This happens often within the first few months. This reflex startles them and they wake up crying and screaming.
With a swaddle, their arms are tucked inside the blanket so they don’t fall to the sides of them. Other reasons to swaddle your baby include:
- Swaddles help maintain a baby’s sleep-back position
- They make your baby feel as though you’re holding them tightly, which calms them
- Helps newborns fall asleep easier
- Soothes babies with colic
- Baby and parents sleep better
- Cute burrito baby photos!
Swaddles VS Receiving Blankets VS Muslin Blankets
So many blankets, so much confusion. But, really, there isn’t much of a difference between these blankets.
The only real difference is the difference between a swaddle and a swaddle blanket. A swaddle blanket can be just about any blanket that you can “swaddle” your baby with.
A swaddle, on the other hand, can be referred to as a blanket, and it can also be referred to as a swaddle with Velcro, zippers, buttons, or straps. These types of swaddles cannot be used as blankets. They’re more like sacks that you wrap your baby in.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, the difference between a swaddle, receiving blanket, and muslin go as far as using different fabrics. A swaddle blanket can be a muslin blanket or a receiving blanket.
A receiving blanket is thin cloth that doesn’t stretch. These are blankets the hospital will wrap your baby in when you receive him or her (hence the name).
A muslin is sometimes a little bigger than a receiving blanket and is more breathable. Now that you know what these three blankets are, you really shouldn’t worry about which type of blanket you wrap your baby up with. They’re all suitable for swaddling.
Types of Swaddles
As mentioned above, there are different types of swaddles. So, before you answer the question of how many swaddles do I need, it’s best to figure out which types of swaddles you need first.
Traditional Swaddles
Traditional swaddles are the ones that have been around for ages. These swaddles are just regular thin pieces of cloth to wrap your baby in. They are rectangular, light, and the perfect size to fit your newborn.
These swaddle blankets can be used as burp cloths, as well as just a regular blanket to cover your baby with.
This Upsimples silky bamboo Muslin Swaddle Blanket is an example of a traditional swaddle with cute baby designs. These swaddles are silky soft with 70% bamboo and 30% cotton.
However, if you’d just like to stick to a simple 100% cotton swaddle blanket, this Aden + Anais Swaddle Blanket is perfect. This way you won’t have to get all caught up in all the different fabrics and materials. It can truly be overwhelming.
The Aden + Anais Swaddle blankets come in thin, breathable pieces of cloth that are made of 100% pure cotton to keep your baby wrapped and cozy all year long. The blanket is large enough to wrap your baby, as well as be used for other purposes.
Swaddle Sacks
Swaddle sacks are creative designs for parents who can’t seem to figure out how to swaddle their baby yet. Swaddling sacks often come with features like zippers, wings, snaps, and Velcro to help you wrap your baby and keep them from unraveling themselves.
Swaddle sacks usually have adjustable hooks and closures that make it easy to secure your baby in. These hooks and closures help you wrap your baby according to his or her size.
These sacks are usually made with soft and breathable lightweight material so your infant doesn’t overheat. They also work well in the winter. You can easily place a blanket over them without worrying about them unraveling, or opening up.
Consider looking at the SwaddleMe Original Swaddle sack. These are made of 100% soft cotton with Velcro straps. They’re adjustable and super easy to wrap around your little one.
These soft and warm swaddle sacks are also perfect for infants up to nine months. Even with the Velcro straps, these swaddle sacks can be machine washed. I absolutely love this swaddle and recommend it to others for its womb-like shape that soothes your infant and keeps him asleep.
Another great swaddle sack is the Love To Dream Swaddle UP. This design allows your baby to move their arms and keep them up close to their heads. It fastens with a simple zipper that sits along the front of it. This swaddle is especially for newborns and isn’t necessary to be used further beyond the newborn phase.
Why Do I Need So Many Swaddles?
Before we talk about different reasons where swaddles may come in handy, think about the minimum amount you’d need for your infant. I’ve asked this question to many different parents, and their answers are always close or between 3 to 6 swaddles.
You’ve got to always have one to put on your baby, one to wash, and one to have on the side.
Though, if you’d like, you’re able to have as many swaddles as you want. I get it, they’re adorable. It’s hard to just have a few of them with all the different prints and designs that make your baby look anywhere between a burrito and teddy bear.
However, think about all the different swaddles you’ll need for every situation and scenario.
Different Swaddles for Different Occasions
The swaddle sack is perfect for night time so you won’t have to worry about your newborn untangling it. The sack design keeps your baby secure and cozy so you won’t have to keep readjusting it every time your little one wakes up. They’re also great for going out.
On the other hand, traditional swaddles are great for feeding and naps throughout the day. This way you can easily change diapers and clean them up. So, when you think about it, you’d need about three of each of these styles. This would give you a total of six swaddles.
Laundry
If you’ve dealt with a newborn then you know how much laundry builds up in a small amount of time. And, most of the laundry is usually baby blankets. I would advise you not to let it pile up, especially because most of that stuff is spit up and poo. Talk about stinky laundry!
But, I also know how hectic it can be with a newborn, so getting laundry done often isn’t as easy as it should be. For this reason, you’ll need lots of swaddles.
Spitting Up and Blow Outs
Did you know research suggests that almost half of all healthy babies spit up in their first three months due to infant gastroesophageal reflux? Some babies spit up more than others, and that spit up is usually all over their blankets.
So, depending on how much your baby spits up, you’ll need to stock up on swaddles accordingly.
What’s even worse are the blowouts. Baby poo is watery because all they consume is milk. So, be prepared.
The Answer Depends on You
The answer to the question, “how many swaddles do I need?” depends on how much you need for your individual baby.
It actually doesn’t hurt to have extra. Buy a few before your baby is born, and if you need more, then buy more… If you plan on having more kids, they can be used again and again.
How to Swaddle a Baby
Swaddling isn’t as easy as it seems, and it takes a bit of practice. To help you, we’ve laid down some simple steps to help you better understand how it’s done.
- Fold the swaddle blanket into a diamond shape and place your baby on her back. Be sure your baby is in the center of the folds.
- Place your baby’s right arm along their chest.
- Pull the right side of the blanket across the baby’s arm and chest.
- Tuck the remaining part of the blanket under your baby. Make sure the left arm is completely free.
- At your baby’s feet, fold the bottom side up over your baby’s body, ensuring it’s a tight swaddle. Tuck the pointed part inside the blanket.
- Wrap the remaining part of the blanket all over your baby’s chest and arms and tuck the fabric under the baby to make sure they are completely secure.
Swaddle Safety Tips
Once you figure out how to swaddle your baby, you’ll need to understand that there are safety tips that need to be taken into account.
Wash Before Wrapping
Even though a swaddle is new, it’s always best to wash it to get rid of any germs or smells that may linger on it. This blanket will be wrapped around your newborn so it’s always best to be sure it’s clean before using it.
Simply washing it in the washing machine, or handwashing it, should do the trick. You never know who it was handled by, so better safe than sorry.
Don’t Over-Swaddle
Never wrap your baby in two swaddles or keep them in heavy clothes. This can cause overheating, especially since the swaddle is hugging them tightly.
Wrapping them in two swaddles is also a bad idea that can restrict a baby’s movements. If it’s cold out, simply place a warm blanket over them.
Don’t Put Baby’s Hands on Sides
Swaddling a baby with their arms on their sides might limit their mobility and cause future joint problems. Doctors strongly advise against doing this, as so many parents are used to swaddling their infants this way.
Instead, lay your newborn’s arms along their chest and then wrap them up. Be sure to do this with swaddle sacks as well.
No More Swaddles When Baby Starts to Roll Over
Swaddling is a practice used mostly for newborns, however, some people like to continue swaddling their babies up until they start moving more. Swaddling an older baby limits their mobility, so it’s always best to allow them to sleep with their arms out once they get older.
A good rule is to stop swaddling when you see that your baby is trying to roll himself over. If your little one still loves to sleep swaddled up, keep their arms out while still wrapping up their little bodies. This often keeps a baby feeling secure so they sleep better.
Takeaway
So, there you have it. We hope we helped you answer the question of “how many swaddles do I need?” so that you’re able to accurately decide on which amount works best for you.
However, if you haven’t made your mind up yet, it’s best to start off with 3 to 6 swaddles for your little one. You can also get away with having 10 swaddles made up of different styles so you don’t have to worry about washing clothes so often.
I highly suggest purchasing both styles so that you’re able to use them for any occasion. But, at the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide how many swaddles you need for your precious little baby.
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