Muslin squares - why so great?

[embarrassedtoask]

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?!

this is a great thread

i use them for all the baby/toddler functions but more rectly have realised they are great for straining homemade yoghurt to make it greek style! Yummy!

Kat, I had some from Boots and some from Mothercare and they both felt the same when I first got them, but nine months down the line, I can report that the Mothercare ones are lovely and soft, whereas the Boots ones are a bit stiff and crunchy. The Boots ones had naff slogans embroidered on them too: "I'm 100% Huggable" etc.

So, how many do all you mummies recommend to have in the house?
X

we have about 20 of them, and even though they were all bought from the same place some are soft and some are stiff!

We have about 6.

We have about 20 or more. Get as many as you can afford then you can use them for the zillions of things everyone has suggested here. I would also recommend buying somethibng ohter than white so that when you meet up with other mums you will know which muslins are yours. Told a friend this and her mum lovingly hand embroidered baby's initial on every single muslin. Adoring granny

DS is 3 now and hates hand dryers in toilets when we are out. I bung one of his old muslins in my bag and use it as a towel.

I bought loads on my friend's recommendation and hardly ever used them, but ds was neither sicky nor drooly. Other mothers with more messy babies probably got better use out of them.

with dd i had them and barely used them, did hold them under her chin when burping to begin with but she wasnt sicky so they soon went back in the drawer.

with ds i had to buy more as he is a very sicky baby, and a bib would not do for burping, however have since found that terry squares are better as they have better absorbancy (and can pad out my cloth nappies if i need them to)

Had 24 for ds1; 30 with ds2. (So well-worn had to buy new set.)
Put them in cot to catch sick / dribbles and save on clean sheets. Also constant sick/dribble catcher. Use as a safety net when changing nappies (no mats, but every so often nappy is quite leaky and poo'll be up ds2's back or down his legs). Use for mopping up spilt drinks and food (down ds1's front and on floors etc.).
Today have also used to clean windows and glass in pictures and dry shelves I wet-dusted where clothes live (were minging since not done for 6 months plus and are open to the "elements" - yuk). Also used to keep sun off ds2 whilst out in the pram (not got round to sorting out a parasol) and to thread through dummy to try and help ds2 keep hold of it.

They are great for all the reasons mentioned before. I got a dozen from Asda. They're around £4 for a pack of 6. Cheaper than Boots etc

Deux that is a good idea about drying hands - dd hates dryers and usually cant reach them.

Embarrassedtoask - i read your name as embarrassed Toast - teehee

Hi,

I'm new to this site, but I am already 32 weeks, and baby due now early june. I had 12 muslin squares for my son, and found them invaluable. I used them to go over my sholder to keep me clean (!) wipe up dribble, wipe his nose, clean up spills. Great when breast feeding for soaking up excess milk. Good when changing a nappy and it all goes everywhere. They make great make-shift bibs, over his head when he's asleep in the sun to keep him in shade. I stopped using them for a while as he is now 19 months, but he finds that cuddling one at night helps him to settle, especially if I wear it for a while to make it smell like me. Now the next baby is on the way, they will be comming out of retirement. We got ours from Mothercare, and they have been fab, I boil wash mine and they still look as good as new!

Too good for babies... I find them so comforting I'm tempted to take one to bed myself...

i worship muslin squares lol
love them, got loads even dd is turned 2. she sleeps with one, and its kind of comforter. i find it good, as it better than loosing loved teddy, isnt it. i like mothercare ones they are softer than others.
remember seen thread last year the whole list of the advantage of muslin square
btw, dd was never sicky baby. we just found the many ways of using them

First-time posting a message but just had to agree that muslin squares are great. I found M&S ones to be lovely and soft. Saying that, a friend did get me a pack of Mothercare terry squares while pg with DD (now 10 months) which are a fab alternative as they are softer and more absorbant for some uses although not so good for the snotty noses!

kateIOM, i will go m&s tomorrow and buy some(lol how sad do i sound), always bougth from mothercare, but had even ones from Asda and Tesco.
LoL

Here's a controversial and envionmentally unfriendly opinion..

Young babies of muslin squares fans always smell of puke.. as opposed to the sweet smelling babes of babywipe fans...

[runs]

Agree about the smell Shiny, that's why I always had about 6 with me at all times, then just pop the dirty one into a nappy sack ready for the wash when we got home!
But, no child has skin issues with muslin cloths. I have yet to find a baby wipe that doesn't irritate dd's skin to some extent... especially on her face.

thas is more politically incorrect
[chases her around]

another vote here for the M and S ones, althugh does anyone know where you can get big muslins from?

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