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Original poster

Do I need to buy some cellular blankets? And if so, what are they for?

29 replies

LoveInAColdClimate · 25/01/2012 09:23

I already have four muslin swaddle cloths and a soft cotton blanket (which doesn't have holes). We also have two of those baby sleeping bag things. Do I need cellular blankets as well? If so, are they just for wrapping the baby up in the pram, or do they have some esoteric purpose I am missing? How many do I need, if I need them at all?

Thank you.

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tabulahrasa · 25/01/2012 09:27

They're warm without being heavy...but no you don't need them

Original poster
LoveInAColdClimate · 25/01/2012 09:31

So are they perhaps one to buy post-birth if I seem to be lacking warm but light blankets, rather than something I absolutely must have in the house pre-birth? Thank you.

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Original poster
LoveInAColdClimate · 25/01/2012 09:33

Could I just use one of those fleecy synthetic blankets instead, thinking about it? We have lots of those although they might be a bit big. Or is this an absolute no for some reason I have not considered?

I suddenly feel disconcertingly ignorant about babies...

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Sluttybuttons · 25/01/2012 09:34

I used them with dd1 and they were fantastic. However when i got some for the twins they likes poking their finger through and the threads cam lose and i had to cut it off from round DTD neck. Was very scary. Not sure if anybody else had this problem with them. I used fleece blankets after that

Ponyphysio · 25/01/2012 09:39

Glad you posted this actually - I started worrying about this last night too! Also, do babies have to have a flat sheet as well as a fitted one? ie a sheet then a blanket over them? And do their arms not get cold if they are in a sleeping bag, or do they have a blanket over the bag??

tabulahrasa · 25/01/2012 09:41

I suppose they're sort of what you had before fleece was around, lol

Fleece ones tend to be bigger, so harder to wrap up in - but if you've got something for that, it doesn't matter...oh also, fleece isn't absorbent so any sick or anything will just sort of sit there getting rubbed round the baby's face

but, if you've got swaddling cloths, bags and fleece blankets - I'd not buy any more just now

Sluttybuttons · 25/01/2012 09:45

What i had in the cot when the twins were tiny was 1 fitted sheet and then i swaddled them and that was it. When they stopped being swaddled i used sleeping bags (their arms are fine as long as they have long sleeved baby grow) you dont need a blanket with them either. Then they had the cellular which i soon got rid of. In spring/summer sometimes they just had a vest other times pjs. Autumn they had babygrow then a cozy sleepsuit and now they are back in sleeping bags when they dont take them off

tabulahrasa · 25/01/2012 09:46

'Also, do babies have to have a flat sheet as well as a fitted one? ie a sheet then a blanket over them?'

not unless you need the extra layer so they're a bit warmer - you have to wash their blankets regularly enough that you're not using a sheet in the same way you would for an adult - I mean, you can if you want, but it'll not save you washing the blankets, lol

'And do their arms not get cold if they are in a sleeping bag, or do they have a blanket over the bag??'

Their arms will have sleeves on, surely? So no, not if they have clothes on really and of course if you think it's still a bit cold you can put a blanket on top

Ponyphysio · 25/01/2012 09:55

Sorry...I'm so dumb - its just that I don't like sleeping with my arms out of the duvet, so I wasn't sure how babies felt about it (even with sleeves). And I am the woman who has about a million rugs for her horse, coats for the dog etc - I just like wrapping creatures up :)

tabulahrasa · 25/01/2012 09:57

It's not dumb at all, there are a million random things that occur to you about babies, lol

Stokey · 25/01/2012 10:03

I think your baby has to weigh a certain amount before you can start using sleeping bags, around 10 lbs, whihc may be fine but may take a while if you have a small baby.

I swore by swaddling in cellular blankets in first few weeks - am convinced my baby slept better when her arms were trapped - she would resist for a bit then give up and fall asleep. Cellular blankets are recommended over normal ones so that if they do manage to pull them over their heads, they can still breathe.

The3Bears · 25/01/2012 10:18

I had a few cellular blankets for ds and they were great mainly used them in the house where it was warm anyway, would be good for a summer baby so im going to purchase more.

CailinDana · 25/01/2012 10:35

I liked cellular blankets because DS had a habit of pulling blankets up over his head, and I didn't have to worry about him suffocating as the holes allowed him to breathe. As soon as he was big enough I got him gro bags, so I didn't actually use any blankets after that.

tabulahrasa · 25/01/2012 10:48

clearly I'm overly blasé then, lol, the way I saw it was - all blankets have holes, they're just smaller ones in other blankets

Original poster
LoveInAColdClimate · 25/01/2012 11:04

Thanks, everyone. Maybe I'll buy one just in case!

OP posts:
CailinDana · 25/01/2012 11:06

If it's your first baby Love, you're supposed to go overboard and buy every possible thing going. That's why first babies are laden with shit and second babies are lucky to get a clean babygro!

KatAndKit · 25/01/2012 11:17

Can somebody add to this thread an explanation of what a "receiving blanket" actually is and do I need to get these in addition to the "normal" cellular blankets I have already got?

tabulahrasa · 25/01/2012 11:23

no clue, is it not just a posh blanket you can give as a present?

MustControlFistOfDeath · 25/01/2012 11:24

We have managed to get DS to 14mo without a receiving blanket what the hell is a receiving blanket??

Original poster
LoveInAColdClimate · 25/01/2012 11:26

Grin at Cailin. Despite my avowal not to buy too much the nursery looks increasingly like a branch of Mothercare.

KitAndKat - I and my whole NCT group have wondered the same thing! The NCT tutor was able to explain that we did not need to take it to hospital to wrap the baby in immediately after delivery (which seemed the most logical interpretation of "receiving") but could not shed further light on it. I think it may be the same as a pram blanket but perhaps someone more knowledgable can enlighten us...

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Original poster
LoveInAColdClimate · 25/01/2012 11:27

X posts. Apparently the receiving blanket mystery goes on!

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buonasera · 25/01/2012 11:35

24 weeks and also doing this stuff...
I bought cellular blankets, fitted sheets for the mattress and flat sheets for on top. That way I figure come summer I've got the option to just put them under the flat sheets if it's boiling, and can add the blanket if it gets cold.

I looked at the sleeping bags but the combination of what tog rating to get for what age defeated me, specially as mine are twins and there's a fair old range of sizes they could be. Might get them for next winter once I know how big they're likely to be by then!

tilder · 25/01/2012 11:49

For a new born (if they sleep without wriggling) I use a fitted sheet underneath, a flat sheet on top tucked well in and a cellular blanket on top of that, also tucked well in (deperate attempt to prevent wriggling, getting cold and waking). I love grobags but mine have never been big enough for the first couple of months - they just disappear inside even the smallest. Plus with our first, was so paranoid about him overheating that using separate sheet/blanket meant I could add/takeaway layers through the night (never did this with the second).

I have fleecy blankets as well which I tend to use in the buggy - was told they can suffocate a baby (hence the holey blankets) but tbo I find them too hot inside the house. And we live in a draughty old place.

Would say though - combination of leaking nappies, posseting, vomiting etc means that having just washed the sheets etc for DC3 I found I have 8 (yes really) fitted sheets, 4 flat sheets and 4 cellular blankets. With DC2 was constantly washing at least 2 changes of bedding a night, so am presuming haven't got an excess!

NotnOtter · 25/01/2012 11:57

A must have here - use one to swaddle one over the swaddle in winter - one for pram etc ... Cotton easy to wash... I have about 6

Ponyphysio · 25/01/2012 14:01

LOL bout the receiving blanket......in my naivety I thought it was some kind of catching receptacle that the midwife dangled below you - a bit like the Fire Brigade catching people jumping from a burning building :)