by Joyce Slaton posted in Products & Prizes

When your mom was a new mom, she was probably gifted piles of what they then called "receiving blankets," named because they were literally used to "receive" babies at their birth.
But since modern moms know that it's not safe to put babies to sleep with loose bedding, baby blankets aren't the must-have they were in the 1970s or 1980s, with one exception: swaddle blankets. They're different from baby/receiving blankets, because they're square instead of rectangular, and made of material intended to wrap tightly around newborns to calm them and encourage sleep. Ever tried to swaddle an infant with an old-fashioned knitted baby blanket" Yeah, you don't try that twice.
Swaddling blankets come in handy outside the crib, too; you'll find you bring them with you whenever you go out. They make great shade on top of your stroller or car seat, give your infant a clean place to squirm around on the ground, pinch-hit for a changing pad, shield a baby sleeping on your chest, and substitute for a burp cloth when you really need it.
With so many uses, you'll be using your swaddle blankets every day. So make sure you buy blankets that are easy on the eyes so they'll cheer you up every time you get one out. Be sure to consider the time of year your baby will be born, too. Summer babies will sweat in all but the most breathable blankets, while winter babies might appreciate a warmer blanket.
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