All about muslin swaddles for newborns

One of the first and most important things in the life of newborn babies are diapers. They must be of high quality, hypoallergenic and pleasant to the touch, so their choice must be approached very responsibly. Recently, products made of muslin fabric have become very popular. It is worth considering in more detail what their features and advantages of use are.

Muslin

First, it is necessary to dwell in more detail on the material from which diapers are made. The birthplace of this fabric is considered to be the ancient city of Mosul, located in the territory of modern Iran. From here, with the help of merchants, it spread to the territory of Italy and France and in a short time managed to become a favorite of local tailors, who began to use it for sewing outfits and dresses.

This fabric is characterized by: full or partial transparency, softness and lightness. Muslin is a completely natural material. Cotton, wool or silk are used for its production. Depending on the composition, the fabric has small features, but the main characteristics are the same.

Cotton muslin

Since the fabric was originally made from cotton, it is currently the most common type. It is characterized by thinness, softness and durability of the fabric. The main disadvantage is the difficulty of preserving the color.

Wool muslin

The least popular of the types provided, but captivates with its low price. The canvas made of such material has a loose structure, with a small weight it has a large volume. The main advantage is that it is durable and reliable.

Silk muslin

The most expensive of all. At the same time, it has a beautiful texture and is very pleasant to the touch. Products made from it are very comfortable to use. The main disadvantage is that it is prone to the formation of small holes and tears along the seam line.

Why is it better to choose muslin diapers?

Such products are made of natural cotton. A special method of interlacing threads is used in the manufacturing process. Due to the fact that the fibers are twisted together many times, the product is strong and durable. Muslin items are soft and very pleasant to the touch, the baby will be comfortable in them. Therefore, it is definitely worth buying diapers or a muslin blanket for a newborn. They will be especially necessary in the summer - due to the good breathable properties of the fabric, the child will not sweat and overheat in it.

Even if you don’t need to swaddle your baby, muslin can be useful in the following cases:

• On a hot day, it can be used as a canopy for a stroller;
• They can be used instead of a towel and used to dry your child after a bath.
• Use instead of a blanket or comforter.
• When changing diapers, muslin sheets can be laid out on the changing table.
• A bright muslin diaper will perfectly replace a blanket when leaving the maternity hospital in hot weather.

Thus, it turns out to be not just a diaper, but a multifunctional material that can be used in various circumstances.

How are muslin diapers different from regular ones?

Probably, many will ask this question. After all, if ordinary diapers have always been used, then why change them for an unknown material. In fact, the advantages of muslin are obvious. It is an environmentally friendly material, which is an important quality for a thing used by a baby. Despite the cost, in the end, such products are more economical than ordinary ones, since due to their texture they have increased strength. Due to its softness, muslin is ideal for premature babies or babies with delicate skin.

Muslin diapers have better thermal insulation properties than other materials. This, in turn, provides the child with a comfortable and peaceful sleep.

How to use muslin swaddles

Briefly, the options for using this fabric are discussed above. However, it is worth dwelling on them in more detail, as well as adding other ways of using diapers.

Swaddling

Most pediatricians now recommend swaddling a baby not too tightly, leaving the arms and legs in a slightly relaxed position. With this method of swaddling, the baby seems to be back in the mother's womb and therefore falls asleep faster, and his sleep is calmer and better, since unexpected flapping of the limbs will not disturb him.

Canopy for a stroller

Muslin is much better suited for use as a canopy than flannel or calico. The diaper will reliably protect from the sun's rays and at the same time provide access to fresh air.

Towel

If you buy muslin containing bamboo, it will replace any towel, even the softest one, for a long time.

Nursing cover

When you need to breastfeed your baby in a crowded place, the breathable fabric will allow you to calmly cover your baby without fear that it will be difficult for him to breathe.

Blanket

In warmer months, muslin is ideal for use as a lightweight blanket. For colder months, you can buy a real blanket made of this fabric.

Bed sheet

In addition to blankets, muslin can be a good replacement for sheets. Due to its lightness and softness, the newborn baby will feel good on them.

Blanket for changing table

To avoid spending extra money on a special blanket for the table, you can replace it with a muslin swaddle.

Crawling mat

When the baby starts crawling, it is best to put something soft and warm on the floor. A muslin swaddle will help the baby to desire his first movements with pleasure.

Cover for a child car seat

In the car or outside, a loose and breathable diaper will ideally serve as a cape.

When choosing muslin diapers, you should decide for what specific purposes they will be used, and then choose the size. Large diapers, measuring 100 × 100 cm and more, are suitable for swaddling. For use outdoors or as a table cover, it is better to use medium-sized diapers - 70 × 70 cm. There are also diapers of a very small size (40 × 40 cm), but they are suitable for use as handkerchiefs or a bib.

Rules for caring for muslin diapers

Muslin fabrics are quite easy to care for, but it is still worth outlining the basic rules for washing diapers and some features for handling them.

The basic principles for caring for such diapers are as follows:

• To ensure the quality of each individual diaper, it is recommended to wash them separately from each other the first time.
• To eliminate the possibility of shrinkage of the material and loss of its properties, washing is carried out at a temperature of 40°C.
• Muslin can be wrung out in a dryer or washing machine.
• It is preferable to wash diapers by hand. In the washing machine, use the "Delicate wash" mode.
• For washing, use powder and rinse aid intended for children's clothes.
• Diapers are washed separately from adult linen and items of general use.
• There is no particular need to iron muslin after washing, but if necessary, this should be done at a temperature of no more than 200°C using steam.

Disadvantages of Muslin Swaddles

In addition to the obvious advantages of muslin fabric, there are also a number of disadvantages. Perhaps the most important of them is the high price of the product. Although there are domestic muslin diapers, imported ones are much better quality. They cost about 700 rubles and usually come with three sheets. Such a price can scare off many young parents, given the fact that in the first year of life, a baby needs more than a dozen diapers.

Another disadvantage is that due to their lightness and breathability, such products do not retain heat at all. Therefore, they can only be used in the summer; in winter, the child will simply freeze in them.

Reviews

Based on all the positive qualities, muslin diapers will be an indispensable thing in the first years of the baby. Despite their high price, they will be an indispensable assistant to a young mother. And to understand whether you need to buy them, you should read the reviews on this material.

Victoria, Chelyabinsk: “I bought these diapers for the first time and they did not disappoint me in my choice. I had not heard of them before, but I decided to try them. The lightweight fabric came in very handy in the summer months - the baby was not hot under it, and the skin breathed freely. Although many people dissuaded me, I still decided to buy a product from a domestic manufacturer. And, despite expectations, they turned out to be of very good quality. The set included two large and two small diapers with beautiful children's patterns.