What do you actually use muslins for?

[racet]

I keep hearing people rave about how much you need to have muslin cloths but what they don't say is what do you actually use them for, apart from wiping babies face? Do I need them if I plan on FF? Do I just put them over baby while feeding them to avoid spills on them or are bibs better? I won't need them for swaddling as I've got separate items for that. FTM!

Also meant to ask are they used in place of bibs or do I need both?

Spit up, snot, tears, dribble, very thin blanket, bib, something to lay baby on

I was confused about this prior to having our DD and didn't buy any but did get bought some as gifts and also received a load of hand me downs. In the end we used them loads for the first sixth months or so:

• As a cloth to catch bits of posset/vomit etc when burping.
• Wiping snotty noses/dirty faces.
• To provide some additional cover over me when breastfeeding when I felt like I wanted it.
• As a thin blanket during hot weather.
• As an extra layer of protection for the pram carrycot/us/ her cribs from poosplosions .

Everything! Over shoulder for dribble/puke. In a bag for wiping up stuff. On hand by the changing mat to wipe up unexpected wee.
Useful for covering up a bit in the sun or when breastfeeding. They wash well and dry quickly.

I use my old ones for wiping dry wipe boards, picnic mat for teddy tea party....
My life involves a lot of wiping.

Blankets when it's hot
On top of a sheet to catch spit up
On top of you to catch spit up
On top of a spit up on muslin to catch more spit up
Underneath baby on changing mat while having some nappy free time
Make shift nappy
Playing peek-a-boo

I had EXACTLY the same question. I still don't know the answer (38w FTM). I've been given some, so we shall see. I was told they were good for "everything" but I've managed to get to the age of 30 without needing them before...

Puke. Some babies are sick a lot (most are in the first few weeks). Mine had reflux and regularly went through 10+ muslins a day. You might get lucky and get a non-pukey baby, in which case you'll have less need of them.

Oh trust me, most useful item in the baby kit.
Especially if you have a baby that throws up a lot.
You can use them as blankets for teddies/dollies when you don't need them anymore

They have several uses but for me it was mostly to wipe up around my reflux child. The first four months I think I went through between 10-20 a day. Genuinely owned over 100 of the damn things and must have done a muslin only wash cycle several times a week.

Brings back all the great memories... 🥴

We used them as nappies until DCs fit into their cloth nappies.

And as above for ALL the bodily fluids. And wiping up whilst weaning. And as emergency back up tea towels when I’m behind with the washing. And sunshades. And emergency ‘forgot my mask’ face coverings. And emergency ‘forgot spare clothes’ skirts/dresses. And emergency sunhats. Anything you might use a wet wipe for is much better done with a damp muslin too.

Ooh and when you’re heavily pregnant in hot weather and miserable, a slightly damp muslin draped over yourself at bedtime is a dream.

I think it also depends on the baby. Barely used them for baby number one.
Baby number 2 - went through about 20 a day. He was a bit pukey.

My DD never really spat up, but I still used them to mop up dribble, as a light blanket, as a little crumb catcher for her to sit on when she first started wearing and all the food would end up on the floor.
She’s now just turned 2 and I don’t really use them for her anymore, but they are great for dusting.

Now my children are no longer babies I use them as a table cloth when painting (the big ones) and to wipe up spills etc.

DS used to dribble milk alot so I used to put muslins under his head if I put him down anywhere.

He's 22 months now and I use it instead of a towel for him as they're light and we have so many that we can change them often.

I also chopped some up to use as reusable wet wipes for meal times. Its much easier to get smeared weetabix off his face using a wet muslin than with a regular wet wipe.

I have no children at home but still wouldn't be without them . Fab for windows mirrors and glassware. The best thing for cleaning my specs with too .

I found them a total waste of money.
DS1 was sick once when he was 4m old and hasn’t really been sick since.

I used them in the end as ‘sheets’ for his carry cot when out in the pram. He didn’t have a cold or runny nose until he was 8m old and by then were just using tissue..

I found it was something that you just buy because like loads of other baby gear that is what you do. There’s a reason that there are stacks of baby items for sale on Facebook market place and eBay, it’s because they barely need anything and we’re convinced we need it all 😂

We mainly use them to protect clothes/shoulders from baby spitup.

Quite a sweeping statement but you will never have used/understand one before you have a baby, and then won't be without one when you have!

Bums, burping and bogeys. Especially for drying bottoms after cleaning, before putting on nappy cream.

You need one on your shoulder if you’re holding baby to rest on it - vomit , dribble etc ( protection for your silk shirt ) :)

DC1 - in constant use to mop up the regurgitated milk (he liked to feed until he was full to the brim), and for the dribble.

DC2 - never used. Never brought up his milk. Didn’t really dribble.

A decade on and I’d quite like to still cover DC1 and his place at the table in muslins to catch all his mess.

If you have a boy, little muslin squares are great for putting over the willy to stop him peeing on you as you grab the nappy.

I never used them with my 3. Used bibs, wipes, towels kitchen roll depending on the situation.

It s a soft, environmentally friendly alternative to things like kitchen roll. You need bibs as well but bibs are for when you wean or they become dribble when they teethe.

I used them instead of bibs, so much easier to take away a muslin when baby falls asleep on the bottle than trying to take off a bib and not wake them up.
Both mine used them as comforters as well when they get a bit older.