An essential in every hospital bag, a classic cellular blanket is the perfect baby blanket to use right from birth. An essential in every hospital bag, a cellular blanket is the perfect baby blanket to use right from birth. Recommended by midwives they are lightweight, warm and washable. Available in a range of colours they also make a perfect newborn gift, you really cannot have too many!
What is a cellular blanket?
A cellular blanket is a lightweight cotton baby blanket which contains lots of small holes, or cells. These holes are essential for maintaining airflow and helping to keep baby at the right temperature unlike tightly woven thick baby blankets which may cause overheating. Choose one made from natural materials such as ours, which is designed especially for baby’s delicate skin, is non-scratchy and made from 100% hand-picked cotton.
How can you use a cellular blanket?
Recommended by midwives as a newborn essential, there are many ways in which you can use them; for swaddling, for feeding, as bedding, to mop spills, as a make shift play mat and even for entertaining your baby with a game of peek-a-boo! Every new parent should have at least one, if not two, or even three.
Here are our top five ways to use a cellular blanket:
1. Bedding
The Lullaby Trust promote the safest way for baby to sleep is in a separate cot or moses basket containing no more than a baby blanket – no toys or pillows. By following the feet first rule (feet at bottom of the cot, crib or moses basket) with baby on their back and a lightweight blanket tucked no higher than their arm pits this will encourage the safest sleeping position. A cellular blanket, which traps air between the layers, will keep baby warm whilst still allowing the air to flow and therefore avoiding overheating.
2. Swaddling
Swaddling may sound like an outdated technique but many parents still swear by it, saying it helps to calm their little one and promotes longer periods of sleep. Swaddling does carry some risks, so we recommend you read up about it on trusted sites such as NCT, so you can make your own informed judgement about whether it’s right for you and your baby. What is universally accepted is that you shouldn’t swaddle too tightly and that a lightweight blanket, such as a cellular blanket, is the best way to go to prevent overheating. Always keep an eye on your little one while they’re swaddled to ensure they are comfortable and that the blanket isn’t covering their face. Do not swaddle too tightly, and discontinue swaddling once your baby starts showing signs of rolling over.
3. Layering up
In the depths of winter you may worry about your baby keeping warm at night. Instead of relying on a solitary heavy blanket, the NHS recommends using a layering technique utilising lightweight baby blankets. With their unique cellular open weave cellular blankets are ideal for this. When using layered blankets, it’s crucial to be mindful of the cumulative effect of multiple layers. A folded blanket, for instance, contributes as two layers so remember to count layers as opposed to the number of blankets used. It’s important that your baby doesn’t overheat and if they show signs of being too warm you must remove layers. Here are a few signs to look out for that may mean your baby is too hot:
They feel warm to the touch
- Your baby’s skin is red
- They have a rapid heartbeat
- They have a fever but aren’t sweating
- Your baby is lethargic or unresponsive
- Your baby is vomiting
- Your baby seems dizzy or confused
4. Travelling play mat
Easily washable, quick to dry and extremely lightweight, cellular blankets can fit easily into a changing bag when you are out and about and make a great pop-up play mat! Simply lay the blanket out on the floor and add toys and baby! This is super helpful for parents with older children when baby tags on to playdates and soft play centre visits.
5. Out and about
Whether you’re out and about with a pram or pushchair, stopping for a picnic or getting some fresh air in the garden, cellular blankets will help maintain baby’s ideal body temperature wherever you might happen to be.
- Suddenly turned chilly on your afternoon stroll? A cellular blanket will keep your little one snug in their pram or pushchair
- Prefer to nurse with a cover? Their breathable nature keeps baby cool and your covered
- Bored toddler when visiting relatives? Possibly their lesser known use, however they make create fort covers!
- Impromptu picnic? Keep uninvited creepy crawlies out of your food by laying using one as a make shift picnic blanket
Getting the right blanket
With so many colour options and different products available it can be hard to know which is the right product to choose. Checking customer reviews is always a good place to start as well as considering price and how that fits within your budget especially if you’re planning to buy a few. Blankets will also vary in size, we say the bigger the better (or certainly the more flexible!) and our cellular blankets are all generously sized at 100 cm x 75 cm. When it comes to choosing colour, it’s worth checking customers reviews again to confirm that the colour information and photos on a website are a true representation before you place an order.
A versatile newborn essential
With their ability to adapt to various situations, from traditional baby blankets to picnic mats and nursing covers, we think, cellular blankets really are the number 1 newborn essential for babies!
