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?!

how big?
[makes note again to go shopping M&S for muslins]

when they are washed they so soft and smell lovely arent they? are we muslin fetish?

Not sure really sometome I thinnk I should sew two together as that would really come in handy to sit on, as a bigger sun shade etc. Should get the sewing machine out I suppose

We have 'muzzies' too, ds 3.4 still takes one to bed to cuddle and now we are using them for the twins, great for sick, winding, on a changing mat, easy to wash and dry. Love them

My muslins are over 30yrs old now but still get used now and then for marmalade making and they are great to cover craft projects that need to be kept clean. But I have to say, today's muslins are rough compared to the ones I have, which don't have that waffley weave.

I also still have and use as undersheets, some pram and cot sheets which belonged to dh's niece who is now 36yo!!!!

My babies are no longer babies (sob) but the muslins still get used for:

sheets for dollies.

a giant napkin type arrangement if the children are sick (not all the sick always ends up in the bucket, iyswim).

putting a Karvol capsule on and then laying inside LOs pillow case if they have a cold or cough.

2 sewn together can be tucked over a pillow if the little darling is very snotty with a cold, thus saving your pillow cases from slime trails of snot.

In answer to poster who asked if you put muslins with sick/poo on them straight in the wash??? Well, I have extremely slack standards, bordering on the slovenly, but I would have to soak a dirty muslin first, in a special designated bucket, in very hot water and napisan, or biological powder. And then rinse. And then wash at at least 60 deg.

Otherwise you are just washing your washing in diluted poo/vomit. Gross.

Mine have been used for most of the reasons already listed, and also as an emergency ear-protector in the cold Scottish wind (see my pictures) which made DD1 look so incredibly cute that I want her to wear one every day

Have used them for most of the things previously mentioned. Like others, DS was/is a very sicky baby and even having a bib on permanently wouldn't have caught everything. But I've started using some cr*p terry nappies from Boyes instead of muslins as sick/burp cloths because I hate that I can't keep muslins nicely folded. I even began ironing them after a while so they'd fold nicely along the creases - how sad am I?

never used them!!

still grateful that my friend urged me to buy these before our puking DDDs arrived.

i also find them great/cheap to tie toys/pacifiers/teething aids, etc to, so that they don't get thrown overboard from stroller and land on dirty floors. planning to use them on our upcoming flight in the same way.

my nanny also occasionally used it wrapping it around babies' chest and under the armpits, holding two ends instead of a harness for the first steps.

I never used them until someone bought me some when I was pregnant with our 3rd. I wished to god I had discovered them earlier!!
They are really handy. They are big enough to mop up a multitude of mess, I always just used a bib before, and there is only so much a bib will cope with.

I love muslins and use them for almost all the uses already posted. I've also cut some up to use a wipes - wet and put in a waterproof container they are great when out and about if baby has sensitive skin!

Just read this entire thread and think I've used muzzies for practically everything except jam making (I go to Tesco like the lazy slob I am ) but best by far for me is using them as bed-time snugglies as they wash and dry so quickly. Got bought some (blue) for ds2 and (pink) for dd3 from Asda they seem really soft and hard-wearing. Have also started sewing the silky labels cut out from clothes onto a spare one as dd3 is obsessed with labels and I'm buggered if I'm spending 15 quid I don't have on a "Taggie", I'll also sew on a few cute bits of leftover fabric from other projects and hopefully she'll adore it.

They are the perfect size and shape for use as a car window shade. Just wind the window down a bit, tuck one edge of the mussie over the window and wind up again.

Far more useful to dd 3.5 than me. It is her blanket/swaddle for her babies, her baby sling, her wedding veil, her picnic blanket, her baby buggy raincover, her blanket when she pretends to be "poorly in hospital", her bandage, her tent ... Who needs toys when you have muslins!

Hi, yes I forgot about the car window shade option, we have a blind from mothercare, but when the sun is really hot it does not really stop the heat/sun getting into the car. They are great as a sort of sun shade and make it easier for sleeping in the back of the car.

Wasn't really sure what they were for when bought them, saw my friend with one and thought i should get some but very glad i did. they come in handy for reasons already mentioned. bub started drooling like mad now so never have one out of reach. She also loves to chew on a bit to relieve any teething pain. i never leave the house without one !

is this thread still going?
muslins are great, i slept outside this afternoon, and i put muslin on my face. it was lovely soft, smelt fresh and it took sun off my face. although my body was enjoying it. btw, i was fully dressed if some of you fondering