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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Muslin squares - why so great?

118 replies

embarrassedtoask · 15/04/2007 22:22

I am a bit embarrassed to ask this in case I am missing something very obvious... but why does everyone go on about how great muslin squares are - what do you use them for?!

I can see they would be good at mopping up spillages, sick etc - is that all? Wouldn't a bib do?!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

PinkTulips · 16/04/2007 13:49

dd had reflux... we couldn't hold her for 5 minutes without a cloth draped over us and muslins are ideal as they're very light and could be chucked in the nappy wash at night

with ds i've hardly touched them at all as he rarely pukes, they get used for wiping up pee from the floor the odd time but not much else!

Nbg · 16/04/2007 13:49

I bought them as they seemed quite popular and by god I'm glad I did.

Ds ended up having severe Reflux so frequently ended up catching sick in it. Bibs would never have worked.

Nbg · 16/04/2007 13:49

lol Pinky

PinkTulips · 16/04/2007 13:50

oh and i stuff them in my bra on the side i'm not feeding from in the early days when i tend to spurt everywhere!

mears · 16/04/2007 13:50

I used them for all the times posted here already.

Also used them folded in night time nappy for extra absorbency when baby was older is Terry, muslin, washable liner. They are brill

Also for a baby that refuses to nap in the pram, you can lay it over their face cause it makes them shut their eyes without suffocating!

MuminBrum · 16/04/2007 13:51

DS is three and he still insists on having "a wiper" (muslin to you and me) if I have put what he considers to be too much moisturiser on his poor dry skin. Then he takes it to bed with him just in case I sneak in during the night to reapply!

Rosa5 · 16/04/2007 13:51

best hankies out especially when they hate having nose blown. Can play great peekaboo with them .
Great all round mopper uppers and wash so well .

TinyGang · 16/04/2007 13:52

I have about ten. I used them a bit when they were babies. Dd1 was quite a gloopy baby after a feed and spent the first year of her life looking like the Lone Ranger with a muslin square round her neck at all times.

Tbh I use them more now. Children are 5 and 8 and I use them as bibs, usually at breakfast time, when I want them to keep their uniforms clean for school.

MerryMarigold · 16/04/2007 13:53

A. They dry REALLY quickly

B. They are a useful comfort blanket/ sucky cloth and you can replace with a new one frequently (ie. several times a day).

C. They fold up very small

D. Which means you can take them with you and put them under baby when lying down on other people's sofas to stop dribble etc. or carpets if you are worried about dirt

E. They can be used as a bib if you forget one (fold in half as a triangle shape and tie at the back). They are great at catching dribble when used like this.

Lilymaid · 16/04/2007 13:55

Also wonderful for straining fruit jelly. I foolishly gave our beautifully soft Harringtons muslins to SIL. When the DSs were babies we used them on our shoulders for catching all the puke etc and the DSs would use them as comforters.

RedFraggle · 16/04/2007 14:01

Everything!

I had a very sicky baby so they were great for that obvious reason.
Also, over shoulder to protect me from dribble.
DD liked to chew on it when teething, draped over pram as a sun shield when I didn't have the parasol with me.
Draped over me as a modesty sheet when bf / keep sun out of dd face when bf outdoors...

Sure there is more...

LucyJones · 16/04/2007 14:04

We used to saddle dd and ds in them as newborns too

LucyJones · 16/04/2007 14:04

swaddle

Princesspowersparkle · 16/04/2007 14:15

Hee Lucyjones- I had an image of trying to saddle a baby!

Original poster

embarrassedtoask · 16/04/2007 18:07

Wow - now I know why they are so great! Thanks everyone.

Twirly - thanks so much for your offer of free muslins!! Now.... the reason I was embarrassed to ask.... I have tons of them already as dd is now 3 months old and have not been terribly sure what to do with them...! I bought some when pg as people seemed to rave about them in pregnancy mags etc!

I took some out with me today and actually they were great - dd held one in her hands for ages and dribbled into it - she seemed to like it! She's also started to puke a bit more now and dribble lots so I can actually see tey will be handy - at least I know I am doing the right thing with them now (which actually seems to be anything).

They are quite rough though when new - I washed some and then ironed them and they are still quite rough - should I not iron them? That would make them more waffly and perhaps softer? Also I tumble dried them - should I??!

OP posts:

luciemule · 16/04/2007 18:30

I would definitely iron them as it makes them softer and larger (they often shrivel up when washed) and if you hang them out on the line, any stains will come out but I guess the T dryer would make them even softer still.

BandofMothers · 17/04/2007 08:11

Whilst in the sicky phase, and mine were fairly sicky babies, I had one permenently over my shoulder esp when carrying the baby. Good for protecting clothes and catching sudden eruptions.
Draped over shoulder and boob when publicly bfing if you feel the need. Though dd2 hated it and always pulled it down.

Very good during the dribbly stage of teething, folded over and tied like a bib.
They dry very quickly too, which I found very useful.
I found them so great for everything that I bought my sister a pack when she was pg.
Yes a bib could be used but not for all those things

belgo · 17/04/2007 08:14

muslin squares are great due to their versitility. They are compact and light and can be used as a bib, changing mat and I've even used one as an emergency handscarf for my three year old dd.

Always useful to have one in your bag.

cat64 · 17/04/2007 08:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Botbot · 17/04/2007 08:49

My teething dd likes to stuff a corner of muslin in her mouth and pull it out slowly through her front teeth. She doesn't touch any of the teething rings etc she's got.

Ceebee74 · 17/04/2007 09:06

Apologies if someone has already said this but I haven't read all the thread:

Recently discovered that they are fantastic at snot-wiping - whereas tissues just wipe the snot elsewhere over the face without absorbing any of it, muslins get rid of the snot straight away.

Bugmum · 17/04/2007 13:20

The large ones are great for summer swaddling

katwith3kittens · 17/04/2007 14:57

OK, so you've convinced the muslin virgins out there to have a go ..... who makes the best ?

deaconblue · 17/04/2007 18:11

WE used to put them under his head area in the moses basket, changing mat, pram etc so that when he puked we only had to change a muslin. good for covering norks when bf. Good for putting over shoulder when burping baby. In fact, they are great.

Lysettes · 17/04/2007 19:32

ds is teething and wraps one round his thumb and sucks it through that!

also cuddly - he has one with him pretty much at all times, even in buggy and just snuggles with it

and drapes it over his face when sleeping

and it's also great for playing where's ds gone

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