What is a receiving blanket, and how is it different from a swaddle? This is a common question among new mothers. I will answer all your questions about a receiving blanket vs swaddle.
Becoming a new mom is so exciting, and if you’re anything like me, you can’t wait to start putting together your baby registry. If you’ve been doing all the research and comparisons of all the different products, you have probably come across a receiving blanket vs swaddle and all the different types of baby blankets.
You might ask yourself, “Is there even a difference?” And I am here to tell you there absolutely is! You might also ask yourself, “Well, do I need both a receiving blanket and a swaddle?”
Keep on reading because we will go over precisely what the differences are between a receiving blanket vs swaddle, which is better, and how they can be used. Then you can determine which would be best for your newborn baby.
After learning about a receiving blanket vs swaddle, you will be a baby wrapping pro! Which is actually a convenient and necessary skill to have in the first 3-4 months.
This Post Has Everything You Need To Know About A Receiving Blanket vs Swaddle
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What Is A Receiving Blanket?
Before becoming pregnant, I had never heard of this term, although it is a big part of your newborn’s first days. A receiving blanket is the first blanket your baby will be wrapped in right after birth.
You’re probably very familiar with the ones from the hospital that are white with blue and red stripes down the middle or with colorful baby footprints. Often you see newborns wrapped in these on social media or in pictures.
Receiving blankets got their name from the literal fact that the parents will first receive their newborn baby wrapped in this blanket.
These blankets are typically made of soft flannel cotton and come in a square or rectangular shape. The standard size of a receiving blanket is 30×30 inches and 28×34 inches.
A receiving blanket’s purpose is to comfort your new baby right after birth by mimicking the warmth and tightness of a mother’s womb to give them a sense of security.
Swaddling With A Receiving Blanket
While there are many uses for a receiving blanket, the first use of it will be to swaddle your sweet tiny newborn.
While in the hospital, you will see your nurses wrapping your baby up after birth and after the routine checkups. Don’t hesitate to ask the nurses to show you how to swaddle your baby properly. If you want to get any sleep at all during the first nights and weeks, wrapping your baby will make a difference. Babies have a startle reflex when they sleep, so wrapping your newborn keeps them bundled nice and tight.
Step By Step Guide To Swaddle:
- Lay the blanket flat on a surface.
- Slightly fold in one corner.
- Lay your baby head first on the folded corner with its neck lying on the folded line.
- Make sure your baby’s arms are at their side.
- Take the left corner of the blanket, lay it over your baby’s torso, and tightly tuck it under your baby’s right arm into the right side under their back.
- Fold up the bottom corner, placing the corner on the baby’s stomach.
- Take the last corner on the right side and lay it over your baby’s torso, tucking it into the left side under their back.
Essentially it’s like wrapping your baby up like a burrito. Making them into the cutest little baby burrito.
Other Uses For Receiving Blankets
There are so many uses for a receiving blanket. Because of the variety of purposes, it is a great reason to always have one in your diaper bag and some at home.
Receiving blankets are fantastic to use for:
- Tummy Time: lay the blanket flat on the ground for your baby to lay on their back or tummy, or roll up the receiving blanket to prop up your baby under the armpits while on their belly.
- Car Seat Cover: on those sunny days or if your baby falls asleep in the car seat, you can drape the blanket over the seat to keep the light out.
- Nursing Cover: if you are out and about and forgot a nursing cover, a receiving blanket is a great backup.
- Changing Table Cover: you can use a receiving blanket to drape over your changing table to keep it clean. Easily take it off to throw in the washing machine.
- Public Restroom Changing Table Cover: drape the blanket over the plastic changing table in any restroom for more sanitary diaper changes.
- A Simple Blanket: In the colder months, you can use it as a blanket in any situation.
7. Head Rest: Since newborns aren’t able to hold their head up on their own you can roll up the blanket and use it to prop up their head in strollers, swings and other baby seats.
8. Burp Cloth: If you don’t have a burp cloth around, you can use a receiving blanket. Their thickness and fabric are great for cleaning messes.
How Many Receiving Blankets Will You Need?
Receiving blankets are fantastic to have around since they have so many uses. Receiving blankets usually come in packs of 4-7 blankets.
I would recommend at least purchasing the pack of 4 to have in stock. If you plan to use the blankets for other various uses, you can opt for the bigger bundles.
It is great to have multiple so you can keep one in your diaper bag and a couple at home to swap them out and wash. That way, you always have some available to use.
Packing one in your hospital bag is another good idea for cute photos unless you are okay with using the hospital’s generic ones.
Do I Really Need Receiving Blankets?
If you are still wondering if a receiving blanket is a must-have for your baby registry, then the answer is yes.
Not only are they great to have around for “just in case” scenarios, but because they are smaller than a regular swaddle, they are perfect for the first few weeks while your baby is still a tiny newborn. I used a receiving blanket to swaddle my baby for every nap and bedtime in the first month.
Once your baby grows, you can keep the receiving blankets for their other uses and start wrapping your baby in an actual swaddle.
What Is a Swaddle Blanket
Swaddle blankets do have the shared feature of being used to wrap your baby In for sleep. Although the main difference is swaddle blankets are much bigger and made from more breathable and lighter materials.
A swaddling blanket is commonly 42×42 inches and square in shape. They are made from a super soft material such as muslin and have much more stretch, which helps swaddle your baby tightly.
The breathable fabric is preferred for little ones since they cannot regulate their body temperature until they are around 11 weeks old.
Swaddle blankets are also great to keep around once your baby has grown out of swaddling. My toddler daughter still uses these as a regular type of blanket in the warmer months. We live in California, so the summertime is extra hot. Using a swaddle blanket is perfect since they are breathable, lightweight, and super soft.
These days there are other swaddle options that make bundling your baby extra easy. I have listed the best types of swaddles below.
Should I Have Receiving Blankets & Swaddles?
Having both a receiving blanket and swaddles are essential. Since receiving blankets are small, they are perfect for wrapping your baby in the early months when your newborn is tiny.
Swaddle blankets are perfect for when your baby gets a little bit bigger. The stretch to them Is beneficial for keeping your little one bundled up tight. As your baby grows, they start to wiggle while they sleep and tend to get their arms out, so a tighter wrap helps.
They can be used in so many other ways after they have grown out of swaddling, so It’s worth it to have both.
Best Receiving Blankets And Swaddles
Just like everything else with babies, each baby is different and has different preferences. The same goes for parents. Some parents find out they prefer a zip-up over wrapping their baby.
I found it helpful to purchase the receiving blankets and swaddle blankets first, then move on to trying the different types of swaddles.
Favorite Receiving Blankets
These 30×30 flannel receiving blankets worked well for my daughter in her first month. They are perfectly soft for a newborn. I always had one in my baby’s diaper bag for just-in-case reasons throughout her first year.
Simple Joys By Carters Receiving Blankets
I also found the same ones they use in the hospital if you prefer to use the same ones they do.
Elaine Karen Hospital Receiving Blankets
Favorite Swaddles
As I mentioned, there are so many swaddles these days. I tried so many with my daughter to see which one she preferred as she grew and got stronger. Some didn’t work for us, but I listed them anyway because other mothers I know swear by them for their babies.
The two that worked best for us were the Happiest Baby Sleepea and a traditional muslin swaddle blanket. Both were easy for me to use and were the most comforting to my daughter. I love the feature of the sleepea that lets you open the arm holes when your baby is ready to start transitioning to a wearable blanket. That was a big plus for me.
Aden + Anais Muslin Swaddle Blankets
Happiest Baby Sleepea Swaddle Sack
Aden + Anais Easy Wrap Swaddle
Final Thoughts
As a new mother, I know there can be so much information overload when preparing your baby registry. After reading about the receiving blanket vs swaddles, I hope you were able to determine which you would like to receive as a baby shower gift.
Since both types of blankets are entirely different materials and sizes and have other extended uses, they are both very beneficial in many ways and worth having on hand.
The most important factor is finding which one your baby is most comfortable in so they will take good naps and sleep through the night.
This Post Has Everything You Need To Know About A Receiving Blanket vs Swaddle
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[…] I like to switch between a light blanket, such as a soft muslin blanket (which also doubles as a swaddle blanket) during the warm weather or a warm fuzzy blanket during cold […]