Muslins - can you just use a towel?!

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So im a bit baffled. Im expecting my first and muslins are a bit of a mystery. I understand what they're for; wiping baby after feeds, throwing over your back when your burping etc. My question is do you actually need a muslin specifically? Wont a small towel do the trick?

Used them all the time with dc1. Was very excited recently to receive a whole bunch of them in a large style for dc2

I've got 3 kids and never used muslins with any of them.

Don't get too many. I never really used them as my babies weren't particularly sicky.

Oh, I'd forgotten all about muslins!

Yes, you'll need loads.

I also remember using them as a shade cloth / sun visor when out walking with the pram. They can be positioned exactly 'so', moved and tucked in, just exactly where the sun is coming in.

Muslims are fab. I didn’t use them frequently when my son was a baby as he was not a very sicky baby at all but he is 2 in January and we put them in his cot with him as a comforter and from about 10 months old they have been a lifeline. He takes one to nursery every day and sleeps with one on a night so they’re on constant rotation- much better than just getting used to one type of toy comforter or blanket.
We bought the Winnie the Pooh Aden & anais ones with matching swaddles (he loved being swaddled- such a godsend!) and burpee bibs which were invaluable for when bottle feeding

• oops obviously I meant muslins (autocorrect fail)

I have a five month old baby and before I had him thought oh do I really need those? And the answer is definitely yes!! Also very good for wiping the constant dribble from my baby's chin!

I didn't use many Muslims, they were handy/compact for the changing bag, but at home I bought a pack of 12 fluffy terry towelling nappies and used them a lot.

I misread the original post as Muslims, and thought a) that’s very rude and b) a hijab would be much more comfortable!
I’m still laughing at the thought of TheOtherLovely’s son taking a Muslim to nursery and having a rotation of Muslims for his cot!

Of course you don't need them. I've had three kids and never owned a single one and nor have I ever seen anyone else use them.
My kids wore bibs when they were being fed and burped and that was enough. In the rare event of them being properly sick I would just use an old cloth (something like an old tshirt) to mop up.

So really, they're just another one of those baby items that you may - or may not - get a lot of use out of.

I was on the thermometer thread where people were saying it was a great gift idea, totally indispensable, yada, yada. I used ours less than a handful of times.

So you never know - you might have no need for them. Most people do, though. Perhaps buyy a three pack, and see how you go.

Towels are bigger and bulkier and less flexible around babies small parts. When wiping tiny fingers and toes a muslin can be much easier to use.

Also because they’re thin and small they take up less room in the laundry hamper and washing machine!

Because if you’re anything like most you’ll easily get through a few a day!

I had 20/30 I was a nanny before I had dd among other experience with babies and so was already well aware how useful they are.

Used them well past baby/early toddler stage they’re so useful for so many things.

Never used any . Just wait till you know whether you will need some or not. Same applies for most baby stuff really. We only had a cot, changing table and car seat sorted before the birth . Afterwards bought things as and when . With online shopping and shops open most of the time it s not a problem really

Since I had DS, I've found that I get really sweaty so I end up always having a muslin on me to wipe my face. Motherhood is so glamorous...

We had around 15 muslins if that helps op. Was plenty for us. So handy and agree with previous posters on all the pros.

We had main stash in nursery but also some in our room, living room and changing bag.

They are more absorbant than towels. I didn't need any with my first, my second was only mildly puky but I was grateful to have a few, and they are useful for tucking under a bra stap to cover my breast if I'm not somewhere I don't fancy just flopping one out when ds fancies some milk. To date I have managed not to inadvertently call. It a Muslim.

I use a clean one when ironing - I dampen it for pressing clothes.
They have multiple purposes.
www.thelittleartcollection.co.uk/blogs/blog/what-are-muslin-squares-for-20-weird-and-wonderful-ways-to-use-muslins

We had a puker so had 1 in most rooms when he was small, had 12-15 needed to wash half (or more!) each day to rotate them but they dry so quickly.

Now he is a toddler we use them for nose wiping. More eco friendly than tissues and bigger than hankies so last longer. Get washed every day when he has a cold. Also still use them for wiping chin after drinks, saving our bed when he had a d&v bug - they are so cheap it's definitely worth getting some.

Muslins take up a lot less space in the washing machine and dry very quickly. You won’t believe the amount of washing a baby creates. The last thing you need is a load of towels to clean every day.

Also, you’ll need to take them out with you. How many towels do you want to be lugging around?

They are even useful when your child gets older - we once used one to make cheese for a school project!

I remember being pregnant with DD1 and a woman in a supermarket coming up to me to tell me that no matter how many muslins I was planning on buying, I would need many many more. DD1 decided she always wanted not to cuddle to sleep for three years as well.

They weigh nothing
They're suitable for literally every thinkable task
They're softer on the baby's skin
They take less washing
They dry in minutes

You can use a towel, perhaps try that first. You can always buy muslins later if you need them.

We used loads for DC1. Absolutely loads. Never had enough to hand as she was very sicky.
Didn’t use them at all with DC2, and used them for a couple of weeks with DC3 and then he stopped being sick as much. So you might need them and you might not! If you do need them, however, towels wouldn’t really be an adequate substitution. You wouldn’t be able to chuck a few towels into your changing bag when you go out, for example.

I still find use for the muslins I had when my grown up DC were babies.

Two of my babies adopted them as comforters. I think DS(22) still has his somewhere.