In every culture around the world, a mother will wrap her baby in some sort of blanket or cloth to keep it warm and to give it a feeling of security. Newborns especially like to be “swaddled” so that they feel safe and protected; they have, after all, just emerged from a rather enclosed space so feel rather vulnerable with all that air around them! In some countries, babies are so tightly bound you could almost stand them upright like little soldiers - the Russians do this and the French used to; my mother didn’t know if my sister (born in Paris) had any legs as she was whisked away and wrapped up tightly after being born.

You may wish to compromise a little but whatever you choose, here are a few points to bear in mind.

What to look for

• A baby blanket really should be machine washable unless you have a) a lot of spare time, b) staff c) friends who buy you really expensive, luxurious dry-cleanable gifts.


• The fabric will “breathe” if it’s natural; cotton, silk, linen or wool. Having said that, there are some wonderfully soft fleece fabrics on the market which don’t overheat your baby.


• The fabric needs to be soft without too much texture. Little, soft heads quickly get imprinted with a raised pattern.


• The fabric shouldn’t be too closely woven or heavy; this will avoid any suffocation risks.


• If your baby grows to find one particular baby blanket or wrap indispensable, it may be worth buying a second one. You will find a many a traumatised adult who lost their special blanket when very young….

Baby blankets as baby bedding
Baby bedding; sheets, blankets, baby sleeping bags…how do you choose? There is SO much information about this subject and each generation has done something different regarding which position the baby sleeps in, how far up the cot, how many layers etc etc.You, the parent, are the best person to decide on what is best for your baby and this decision will be dependent on many factors; how warm is your home? How wriggly is your baby? Does your baby have any skin conditions? In what position does your baby like to sleep? Does your baby wake up on his own and like to play in his cot? Many parents now choose baby sleeping bag as the baby remains covered all night and has that “wrapped up” feeling which is so comforting; these are available in a variety of styles and thicknesses making them suitable for both high summer and year round use.

You will undoubtedly still need a blanket or two for those extra chilly nights, or for wrapping up in the car or pushchair.

A perfect gift
Baby blankets do make a lovely gift for any new baby – not just the first born – and can last so much longer than clothing. You can buy a neutral colour before the baby is born or, if you want to choose something more obviously feminine or masculine, it won’t matter if the gift arrives a week or so after the baby’s arrival. A special baby blanket is often something which the new parent won’t buy for themselves but which is much appreciated when given as a present.