what's the point of muslins?

[Brugmansia]

Dc1 is due next week and muslins are one of those items we've bought as they seemed to be part of the normal kit to get for a newborn. As we were sorting the baby stuff out last night DP asked me what they're actually for and I realised I don't really know either.

So what is their main purpose? Or is it just general bits and bobs of mopping up?

Babies posset - alot - good for wiping up the posset.

Yeah bits and bobs of mopping up. And using as impromptu sun shade, or a light blanket, or even a hat at a push.

I wondered the same before I had babies, and then my sister - who never bought any and regretted it - told me they were invaluable.

Primarily for putting over your shoulder when burping baby - they puke a lot (especially if you have refluxers like me!). Mine get used for mopping up puke, protecting sheets etc. As the babies get older, they make good comforters (easily replaced). My two year old likes to use them as blankets for her toys!

Protecting your shoulder from baby sick and snot when you're winding/carrying them around.
I never used the ones I had that much.

They are amazing, and can be used for just about anything you can think

Of baby comforter/puke/blanket/ related :)

covering your clothes when burping a baby, general cleaning of faces and hands, putting over a cold changing mat to take the chill off, covering a pram to keep the direct sunlight off a babies face, these are a few things I have seen Mums and Dads use the muslins for, and also what I plan to use them for.

Also good as bibs when baby gets to that stage. Just tie two corners together round baby's neck loosely. Covers them up well and they wash and dry easily. They're just handy

I would have been lost without muslins, very sicky DD. she ended up getting attached to one and used it when she sucked her thumb. I've still got what's left of it, it's totally threadbare now!

If you have a sicky baby you can put one under their head at night too, so you don't have to keep changin the sheet.

I read the title as 'What's the point of Muslims?'!

Muslins are used for anything & everything. My parents still have some from when we were little that are now used to polish shoes! They're definitely one of the things we used the most - it's laughable now to think there was a time when we doubted that we'd need any many! I used them a lot to tuck into my clothing while bf-ing to avoid any dribbling!

Everything mentioned ^^

Also, DS was born in the middle of a heatwave and we used them as swaddle blankets, he used to sleep in his nappy and maybe a vest but as a newborn he was ickle enough to be wrapped in 1 or 2 muslins in a swaddle style. Kept him really cool at night but also warm if the temp dropped a bit (i am talking real heatwave here - June 2009)

I also didnt have a clue what they were for and we ended up having about 30 i think as they were invaluable

If you have a sicky baby you can put one under their head at night too, so you don't have to keep changin the sheet.

yep we did that too ^

jojobump i read it as that too

Once you have a baby the main change to your life is moisture.... Posset, sick, mill, wee, poo & dribble
Muslins are mainly for this (mopping, catching, wiping, emergency nappy/bib etc) but also for emergency sunshade, cool cover, comfort blanket, cleaning cloth, soft surface to lay baby on to change nappy, to chew on when teething, large ones can be used to swaddle, drying, breastfeeding modesty cover etc etc etc
Until I had DS I didn't know I needed them in my life now I wonder how I ever managed without

I very carefully checked I hadn't put that title by accident or predictive text typo before posting jojobump

That's what I thought (and told DP whilst trying to sound knowledgeable)

Depends on the baby! I sold all my unused muslins after DS1... Then needed them desperately for DS2 who was prone to sudden and vigorous vomiting for the first few months. He had a surprisingly wide spray function as well.

We used to wear one each for half an hour after feeds as sort of bib/apron/sickcatchers. Much easier to wash than every item he was wearing + every item I was wearing, three or four times a day...

I bought muslin by the metre and hemmed it though, they are madly expensive to buy for what they are!

Muslin clothes are great! My top uses:

Put one over your shoulder to catch spit up when burping your baby

Use instead of a bib as you can get it right under the babies chin

Put under the babies head in the cot and the pram to catch spit up and hopefully save changing sheets

Use as a sunshade on a car seat or pram

Hang over the car seat or pram when the baby is tired, less stimulation and hopefully baby will fall asleep!

Everything mentioned above :)

Our DD1, who is 4yo next month, still uses hers as a comfort blanket. It's so sweet!

Sainsburys and Toys R Us (Babies R Us) do good quality, less expensive muslins, btw.

Amazing for cleaning the granite in the kitchen too when the baby has grown up.

Huge ones are perfect for swaddling :)

I have put oats in an old one and hung it under the tap for a nice soothing bath for eczema-y DD2. And I made a bouquet garni with one once but I;m not sure it was ideal.

perfect for everything and everything.

i read it wrong too. eyes popped out of my head!

What everyone else says,

DS is 14 and I am still using some of his as tea towels! (I haven't been using them solidly for all that time, just found some stuffed in a drawer a couple of years ago)

Dd2 is 3 and still uses one every night as a comforter. She's not fussy either so she gets a clean one and they're easily replaced. Asda do good cheap ones.