Probably a dumb question but... what is the point of baby blankets?

[cherrylime]

Starting to gather together a shopping list and it seems like baby blankets are listed everywhere on 'newborn essentials.'

But I'm confused because you're not supposed to have blankets in baby's sleeping area for first year? What's the point then, assuming you have separate swaddles and foot muffs for pram?

Help a confused FTM!

Yeah this confused me too! I think it’s cos in days gone by they used to swaddle babies in blankets to sleep under and also use them in the pram

We used a grobag from early days and also swaddled using oversized muslins so really didn’t need many blankets, but they are useful to use in the pram as a footmuff isn’t cosy enough for the baby really

I used a blanket - why do you think you shouldn’t use them?
Obviously not duvets.
I think we used a blanket until about 2 or 3 months. Then he fit into his sleeping bag.

Never heard they can't be used, aren't they wrapped in a blanket in the hospital? And that what you're given for your stay in there. I usd grobags once safe but loved blankets for tucking them up and layering for hot and cold in the pram.

We have one knitted blanket that got used a lot last year when cooler. Use in car over baby in car seat, if they fall asleep in bouncer chair or on us or sofa, to add under footmuff as tucks in better up around shoulders when cold.

You don’t need loads though. 1-2 will do. Ours it from little green sheep and lovely and soft. We did get another 5+ as gifts but either scratchy or just didn’t need so donated

Not everyone wants to use the sleeping suits/sacks. If baby falls asleep in the day
On your lap or pram you want to cover them
Up not wake them by getting into sleep suit.

Babies shouldn’t wear thick suits in winter either as make straps car seats not fit well so blanket over top keeps them warm.

Very handy in spring autumn where it’s boiling one minute then freezing the next. Very handy for putting on floor so baby can lay down and roll around. Emergency changing mats, vomit cleaners, sun shields etc

You can use blankets
You can't use duvets
We used blankets for ours. It was months before she was big enough for a grobag/sleeping bag

I only use footmuffs in winter so a blanket comes in very useful in spring/autumn in the pram. You are not supposed to dress babies in coats in their car seats, so blankets are useful to pop over them between house and car. They can also be used as a mat when you are out and about and need to put the baby down. If they fall asleep in their bouncy chair and it's a bit chilly you can pop one over them. Lots of uses!

You can use a blanket to put a baby on, swaddle them, layer them for adjustable warmth in a pram, make an impromptu sun shade... I'm not sure why you aren't meant to have them when a baby is sleeping. Is that really the advice nowadays?

The Lullaby Trust says "Firmly tucked in sheets and blankets (not above shoulder height) or a baby sleep bag are safe for a baby to sleep in."

Yes, for carseat too, ideal. Aw, would love to go back!

I've just checked the advice given by the lullaby trust regarding safe sleeping and they say that, whilst soft bedding like quilts should be avoided, well tucked in sheets and blankets are safe to use.

Cross Post with reallybadidea

Thanks everyone, I'd read the below on 'What To Expect' and got confused. Though you all make good points, blankets probably good to have during the day even if we don't use at night!

"Is it safe for babies to sleep with blankets? In short, no, because blankets can be a hazard in the crib. About 3,600 babies in this country die unexpectedly every year while sleeping, and the reasons are often related to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), suffocation, entrapment or strangulation, with blankets increasing the risk of all four.

Because a baby can suffocate under a blanket, the safest sleep environment is a bare crib that’s completely free of comforters, bumpers, pillows, fleece, sheepskin and stuffed toys. In fact, the only thing your baby needs at night is a fitted sheet that’s tucked in tightly on all sides."

Ooh how cold with just a fitted sheet!

I've never used a baby sleeping bag with 2 dc. Always blankets tucked into the cot or carseat. They're nice to wrap them in while sitting around keep them warm and snuggly.

It's duvets you're not supposed to use for the first year, not blankets.

You use them for everything - in the cot/moses basket, in the pram, over the baby in the car seat, on the ground in the summer if you put them down at the park / in the garden. If you need to do a nappy change somewhere other than a changing table (like on the back seat of the car / in the pram)

Those small square ones are ideal for putting baby down on when you're at someone else's house, in the garden, out for a picnic etc.

You put the baby's feet to the end of the cot, tuck the blankets into the end, a bit like an apple pie bed, then tuck them in. Put their little arms over the top edge. So they can't wriggle down under the covers.

Super useful for all the things mentioned already, it’s handy to have at least 2
as they get puked on, leaked on etc and the one that goes in the car / pram sometimes gets dirty.

Cross post OP. There's no way DD would have been warm enough with no blankets, not a chance. And we had double glazing and central heating, so not like the house was particularly cold.

Also OP, what to expect is an American site, so if you're in the UK some of their advice may not be applicable / match UK recommendations.

A baby blanket is also a great comforter for a slightly older toddler/child who is feeling a bit sad or under the weather and needs a little snuggle. My grown up dd still has her “ Elly blanket” from when she was a baby. It is so thin and worn there is almost nothing to it, she doesn’t actually use it any more, but it is still in use for her cat.

I used them to swaddle my little ones (really helps when they keep waking themselves up by wriggling!), to help cover up if breastfeeding when people were over, to hand over the pram / car seat if it was warm weather, etc!

Because a baby can suffocate under a blanket, the safest sleep environment is a bare crib that’s completely free of comforters, bumpers, pillows, fleece, sheepskin and stuffed toys. In fact, the only thing your baby needs at night is a fitted sheet that’s tucked in tightly on all sides.

The most important thing you can do to protect from SIDS is lie them on there backs until they are six months old - and even that goes out of the window when they figure out how to turn on their stomachs.
Unless you live somewhere very warm you need to cover your baby up with something at night, they’ll be cold. And they will let you know about it! As a pp said new borns aren’t Houdinis, if you arrange a blanket safely they won’t wriggle out.

I always used blankets, in the cot/pram/buggy.