A girl sleeps in a crib. A baby blanket is an accessory, the choice of which must be approached responsibly, as when buying pillows and bed linen for a child. The stores offer a wide range of children's blankets. A high-quality, practical product can provide a good rest. Its composition, appearance, as well as the child’s age, height, and sleeping space parameters are taken into account.
Primary requirements
Not so long ago, in order to buy clothes or bedding for a child, you had to go to many stores and stand in lines for hours. That time has passed. Today there are a large number of textile products on the market. It is difficult to understand this volume without preparing in advance.
In accordance with what basic requirements are children's blankets purchased:
- The season in which the item is used. Blankets for children are available for summer or winter, as well as combined and double-sided. The model called “Four Seasons” is made from two autonomous elements. They are secured with a zipper or buttons. When the room is cold, this baby blanket can be used in its entirety. As soon as it gets hot, remove the insulated part.
- Dimensions, weight of accessories. Lightweight, not very bulky. Standard parameters for children over 3 years old are 110 by 140 centimeters. The lightweight blanket is filled with goose or eider down and artificial fibers. Cotton and wool products weigh more.
- Hypoallergenic. The child should be surrounded by things made from natural materials. The natural composition of the filling of a baby blanket is a very important point. Down and woolen accessories are suitable for people without allergies. If this problem exists, you should choose a blanket stuffed with holofiber, padding polyester, padding polyester, and other synthetic fibers.
- High level of breathability. A sleeping child turns around and places his head under the pillow, so his blanket must conduct air well. This property is present in almost all natural materials; with artificial ones the situation is somewhat worse.
- Easy care. In order not to be upset when you see stains on a baby blanket again, you need to buy easily washable models that dry quickly and do not lose their shape after washing.
- Firmware quality. It is necessary to study how the blanket is quilted. Poorly secured padding in the case will begin to clump over time. The item will become inconvenient to use.
The most durable options are with cassette firmware or carostep type. The first ones are stitched in the shape of squares; the filler cannot penetrate beyond them. The second is the original pattern, with the help of which cells are formed to accommodate the stuffing.
Doctors recommend buying two types of baby blankets: with thick filling for the winter and thin ones for use in the summer season.
Do you need a pillow for a newborn?
This question is difficult to answer unambiguously. Ideally, it is better for children to sleep on a pillow after two years. Its use can lead to spinal curvature. For children with allergies, pillows with down or wool can cause a severe reaction.
The main feature of a pillow for newborns is its height and composition.
For newborns, a flannelette diaper, folded several times, is placed under the head. The ideal option is orthopedic pillows for babies with a recess for the head located in the center. It is indispensable when walking in a stroller. The baby's head is securely fixed and does not roll to the side.
Positive points:
- the head and neck are fixed in a comfortable position;
- prevention of torticollis;
- avoids skull deformation;
- comfortable and restful sleep.
A thick pillow should never be used for babies, as it increases the likelihood of deformation changes in the cervical vertebrae.
By 6-7 months, the baby becomes more mobile and can sleep as comfortably as possible. An orthopedic pillow is especially important in cases with a lack of calcium in the body; it will help avoid a flat back of the head and the formation of an irregular skull shape.
When choosing a pillow, you should adhere to the same requirements as when choosing a blanket. Only natural, environmentally friendly and reliable materials, and use as filler:
- buckwheat husk;
- latex;
- polyester.
This pillow supports the head at a comfortable level and does not lead to numbness.
Do not use down or wool under any circumstances.
A baby's sweet and healthy sleep largely depends on the correct and individual approach when choosing bedding.
What to choose for the summer
Child with a blanket
The hot season seriously influences the choice of accessories for a comfortable sleep. The baby blanket should not provide any warmth at this time. Its main functions are moisture removal and good air permeability.
Bamboo filling is suitable for summer relaxation. Its antibacterial properties are maintained after all washes. You can even care for it using a washing machine.
Another material for a baby crib blanket for the summer is silk. This is expensive material. It is smooth, pleasant to the skin, hygroscopic, and cools even in extreme heat. The baby will not sweat in his sleep, as his skin “breathes.”
A silk blanket will not harbor harmful microorganisms and dust particles will not accumulate. Silk does not need to be cared for in any special way. The only drawback of the fabric is its high cost.
There are several models of summer cotton baby blankets:
- calico;
- terry;
- flannelette.
Each of them is light, pleasant to the skin, and “breathes.”
In this case, you won’t have to buy a duvet cover, since the duvet is one-piece.
Products with buttons are good for summer. In particularly hot weather, part of the baby blanket can be unfastened, making it lighter. These models are easier to care for.
Thin blankets for the summer season
In summer, a blanket made of cotton or silk is better for a child.
To relax in the summer, your child will need a thin blanket that can protect him from both the evening coolness and the scorching sun. To make a summer blanket, natural materials are used: cotton or silk. They allow air to pass freely, quickly absorb moisture, are light and pleasant to the touch.
Cotton
At modern textile enterprises, cotton filling for blankets is produced using fundamentally new technologies. Therefore, it cannot be compared with ordinary cotton wool, so often used in the past for stuffing bedding. Cotton fiber is completely cleared of husks, combed and parallelized, resulting in a snow-white and even layer of soft, high-quality threads.
Among cotton models, flannelette blankets and bedspreads made of thick terry fabric are especially popular among buyers.
Silk
A blanket made of natural silk is ideally suited for a baby crib, as it ensures full air circulation.
- Under such a blanket, the child will not sweat and at the same time will not freeze on a cool autumn evening.
- Silk bedding is absolutely hypoallergenic, since the natural filler does not contribute to the emergence and development of harmful microorganisms.
- A silk blanket is easy to care for. The product is machine washable, dries quickly, does not deform after cleaning and retains its original appearance.
Caring parents try to surround their beloved children with not only beautiful and comfortable, but also useful things. Bedding made from natural materials is the best choice for healthy children who do not suffer from allergies. Otherwise, it is better to purchase a blanket made of holofiber or synthetic down.
What to choose for the winter
A child under a warm blanket
For the winter, blankets for babies are selected depending on the temperature and humidity in the room.
Down options are good when the temperature in the room where the child sleeps is 16-17 degrees. You can sleep even outdoors under a warm baby blanket filled with white goose or loon down. Down filling allows air to pass through, absorbs moisture while remaining dry. The disadvantage is that it is quite difficult to care for, high price, and provokes allergies.
Wool blanket models are suitable for children's sleep in rooms with dry or humid air. Stores sell children's blankets made from sheepskin, camel wool, merino, llama, and cashmere. They warm perfectly, absorb moisture, and even have a calming effect.
Synthetic winter blankets for children - for relaxing indoors with dry, warm air. This model cannot be called one of the best. Its level of breathability is worse than that of the options described above.
Products with natural padding will provide more reliable warmth in winter.
Accessories filled with holofiber and silicone. They warm well and allow air to circulate freely. A suitable choice for people whose purchasing budget is limited. Can be used by allergy sufferers.
Additional recommendations for selection.
The choice is not limited to the criteria mentioned above. There are a couple more points that are worth paying special attention to:
- Stitch. Be sure to buy a quilted blanket. The extra stitching makes it more elegant and practical, preventing the filling from bunching up in one corner. The more stitches, the better.
- Colors should not be a brand. Small children are unpredictable and can easily stain a blanket, and unnecessary washing is completely undesirable; dark colors are more practical and safe.
Beautiful baby blanket.
Interesting ! Bamboo, eucalyptus and aloe vera are antiseptic fillers. In addition to being hypoallergenic, they do not accumulate static electricity and resist the proliferation of harmful insects.
Types of blankets
Star
There are several types of baby blankets, varying depending on how old the child is.
Types of quilted baby blankets:
- envelope. Accessory for newborns. Serves not only for sleeping, but also as clothing. The convenient shape allows you to quickly dress and undress your child without unnecessary temperature fluctuations.
- The choice of envelope depends on the season. Demi-season ones are made of one layer; for winter it is preferable to buy two-layer products (one layer of fur, the second of water-repellent material);
- transformer. For a growing child. Blanket in the shape of a bag. The baby lies in it freely, but not open. The main advantage of this children's product is that parents do not have to constantly get up at night to cover their child. The accessory will provide reliable protection from drafts;
- a blanket for walks in the fresh air when it’s cool outside. Can also be used as a sleep accessory for children under 3 years old;
- An ordinary baby blanket is bought for a child from the beginning of the second half of the year.
Recommended Manufacturers
When we choose a baby blanket, we need to pay attention not only to the characteristics and properties of the products. Many textile companies offer their products on the bed linen market, but not all of them actually meet the high sanitary and technical requirements.
Among them, it is worth choosing those whose quality of products there is no doubt about. Experienced mothers recommend paying attention to bedding from the following foreign and domestic manufacturers:
- "IKEA" and "BЯUIN"
- "Kaufmann" and "Hefel"
- "Lider Kids" and "Soft Dream"
- "Three Bobbleheads" and "Primavelle"
- "Feel Magic" and "Asabella"
- "FAN" and "Setex"
What fillers are they made from and their advantages?
Children's blanket A
high-quality children's blanket is made from natural material that has undergone special processing. This option may not be suitable only for children with allergies. In this situation, artificial analogs will come to the rescue.
Made from fluff
The down model can be called the best children's blanket for a frosty winter, especially when the air temperature in the room does not rise above 17 degrees.
The accessory retains heat, allows air to pass through, and absorbs moisture.
It is comfortable for the baby to sleep under it not only at home, but also on the street, during winter walks.
Disadvantages of down models:
- high price;
- not very easy to care for, the product cannot be washed;
- down filling becomes a suitable breeding ground for microorganisms that are harmful to human health.
Merino
Merino wool has many beneficial properties. It can both warm you up in the winter season and protect your child from excessive heat. What are the healing qualities of a baby sheepskin blanket:
- cure rheumatism, muscle pain;
- strengthening weakened immunity;
- beneficial effect on metabolic processes in the body.
Eco-friendly sleep accessories, stuffed with 100% sheep wool, promote rapid relaxation, calmness, and eliminate insomnia. Disadvantages: they weigh a lot, and allergy sufferers cannot use them.
Made from camel hair
A baby blanket filled with camel hair is more expensive than sheep's wool versions, but there's an obvious reason for that. The wool of this animal can be collected only once in several years.
Doctors were able to prove that camel hair contains the largest percentage of animal wax, which has a healing effect on the human body.
A camel blanket “breathes”, absorbs moisture and evaporation, and can warm you up in cold weather and cool you down in hot weather.
You don't need to take special care of your baby's accessories. Airing twice a year is enough, hand washing if necessary.
From cotton wool
A baby blanket made of cotton wool is a budget purchase option. This model is natural and quite heavy. Cotton wool absorbs moisture, retains heat, but does not conduct air well, and also absorbs and retains absolutely all foreign odors.
This product is recommended to be purchased as a spare, but not for permanent use.
Do not cover children under 3 years old with a blanket stuffed with cotton wool. For an older child, you can choose this option, but it is better if it is quilted.
From padding polyester
Sintepon is the most affordable filler among other artificial fibers. Children's blankets made from it are light and retain their shape for a long time.
It is better to purchase a synthetic blanket for a child aged 5 years and older. It should be well quilted to increase service life. The padding is quite comfortable to use, but its main disadvantage is low breathability.
Made from holofiber
The most popular of synthetic fillers. This is a non-woven material created from polyester threads intertwined with each other. The formed numerous cells are filled with air, because of this the holofiber product is light, “breathable”, and retains heat.
A baby blanket with this padding is a good choice for covering a child with allergies. It will not cost as much as other models.
Made from bamboo
Bamboo fibers began to be used in textile production not so long ago, but adult and children's sleep accessories made from them quickly gained popularity.
Natural bamboo padding is antibacterial and prevents microorganisms from multiplying.
An item with this filling does not provoke allergic reactions; various parasites cannot develop in bamboo fiber.
The soft, lightweight product is easy to wash and dries quickly. It is comfortable to relax under it in any season.
Video material
Do you want to choose the best blanket for your child? Then you should first take into account his age and state of health. Using the information from the article, you can easily purchase the best option for your child, which will last for many years, will please the baby and ensure his comfort while sleeping. A good blanket plays a big role in the quality of your rest, so you shouldn’t waste money and effort on buying a really high-quality and safe thing.
