Special Announcements:
-Join us at the New York Baby Show! The family-friendly event for new and expectant parents with infants and toddlers from the Tri-State area and beyond will take place on the weekend of May 18-19, 2013.
-In honor of the New York Baby Show, you can enter our Ultimate Nursery Giveaway (worth approx. $5,000!), compliments of Bellini, a brand new Stella collection designed by Newport Cottages.
-To enter to win a new Stokke Xplory stroller (worth $1,099.99), click here. Deadline is May 15. Plus, check back regularly at www.newyorkfamily.com for our weekly stroller giveaways leading up to the New York Baby Show!
Expectant parents need some basic items to prepare for baby’s arrival: a crib, car seat, stroller, and diapers. While you may not be as familiar with a swaddle blanket, it’s an item you’ll certainly need too–sometimes desperately. Swaddle blankets are designed to simulate the enclosed feeling of being inside the womb. This familiar embrace reassures infants and helps them fall asleep, which will, in turn, help you maintain your sanity. A less obvious, yet hugely important, benefit is that the blankets also help babies remain on their backs, which the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) currently recommends.
As always, the difficult part is choosing which one to get. To help, we’ve rounded up our top picks—each with unique features, but all sharing the common goal of ensuring that your little one has a more comfortable sleep.
aden + anais Bamboo Muslin Collection
Bamboo fiber muslin makes this aden + anais favorite incredibly soft – and it gets even more so with each washing. Although it’s a simple, square baby blanket, at 47” x 47”, it’s noticeably larger than standard receiving blankets, which makes swaddling your little one that much easier. The simple design means the swaddle also has a variety of other uses, from a nursing cover, to a burp cloth, to a tummy time mat. A large variety of fashionable patterns ranging from elephants to stars to Liam the Brave make it quite the draw, too!
$45 for a 3 pack, adenandanais.com
giggle Better Basics Halo SleepSack Wearable Blanket (organic cotton)
If you’ve read my previous posts, you’ll know that I’m a huge fan of giggle products (and stripes!). The SleepSack is no exception. Basically a cross between a pair of pajamas and a sleeping bag, it will keep your baby’s toes warm, but opens up with a simple zip so you can change diapers in the middle of the night without having to fully remove it. A separate wrap attaches in back with Velcro and easily binds the arms for comfort, reassurance, and to keep baby’s little fingernails away from its face!
$29, giggle.com
Summer Infant Kiddopatamus SwaddleMe
Strategically placed Velcro makes swaddling a breeze, with no more worries about your infant kicking its way out and then becoming fussy as a result. Plus, the 100% cotton swaddle has cutouts so your baby can be swaddled even in a stroller or car seat. But what’s the best part? The ridiculously affordable price tag.
$8, amazon.com
Miracle Blanket
The hugely popular miracle blanket is made from 100% cotton and looks much like a standard receiving blanket, though it’s significantly easier to use. Special flaps hold baby’s arms in place, while an extra long corner wraps around to hold tightly. It’s guaranteed to stop colic and makes it a lot easier to hold your baby while breastfeeding.
$29.95, miracleblanket.com
Original Woombie
Shaped like a peanut, the award winning Woombie holds arms and legs in place while still allowing babies to stretch and move their feet a bit. There is no wrapping required – just seal the zipper and the stretch fabric holds your baby snugly. Plus, unlike a traditionally shaped blanket, there is no danger of it getting kicked loose and covering baby’s face.
$26, woombie.com
TrueWomb Sleeping Swaddle
This is a perfect choice for use during the warmer months since it’s made of lightweight, breathable cotton for comfort. A pouch holds baby’s legs firmly, but still allows stretching, while a belt keeps it from being kicked off. Arms slide into sleeves which then wrap around and are held in place with Velcro, keeping tiny fingernails away from baby’s face and even arms and belly.
$39.99, truewomb.com
Summer Infant SwaddleMe Organic Cotton 2-Pack Combo
Made from 100% organic cotton, this wrap is comfortable and breathable, but also very simple to use. A sewn-in pouch for baby’s feet and “wings” that wrap and hold with Velcro make securing baby safely within the fold a total cinch.
$30, summerinfant.com
Swaddle Designs Ultimate Receiving Blanket
Slightly smaller than the aden + anais blanket at 42” x 42”, it’s still plenty large enough to easily swaddle your newborn. And it even has sewn-on instructions showing exactly how to do it in case you need the reminder. Made from soft, breathable cotton flannel, it comes in lots of patterns, ranging from simple dots or stripes, to Mickey Mouse, to cheetah prints.
Starting at $12.50, swaddledesigns.com
Weegoamigo Muslin Wrap
At 47” x 47”, the Weegoamigo makes swaddling a breeze. While you can get this 100% cotton receiving blanket in a variety of colors, the printed versions include beautiful and unique patterns ranging from a circus to world peace which baby can enjoy during tummy time.
$15, amazon.com
nested bean Zen Swaddle
Held securely with Velcro, the Zen closes tightly, binding baby in reassuring comfort. Beyond simply swaddling though, the Zen adds a special weight in the center of the blanket to simulate a hand resting on baby’s chest, while weights on the sides simulate close cuddling.
$39.99, nestedbean.com
Elisabeth Reed is the shopping editor for New York Family Baby. Prior to becoming a freelance writer, she worked in the financial services industry. Elisabeth was born and raised in New York and loves exploring the city with her husband and two children, Brandon and Julia.
