Baby muslins: what are they for? How many should I buy to prepare for birth?
If you're not about to become a mother, you've probably never heard of them! Yet they're a must-have accessory from the first few months until about a year old for so many uses, mommy's word!
But what exactly are baby muslins used for?
Here's a comprehensive guide to its use to give you an idea of how much it's advisable to purchase in preparation for the birth.
Baby muslins: what are they for?
During the first year of life, they are used daily in many situations. With a newborn, it is always necessary to have an absorbent or protective cloth, and muslins are very suitable for all these uses, being thin, practical, and versatile.
But let's get into specifics: here are all the situations in which newborn muslins are used:
During breastfeeding, to protect the baby from the cold or wrap him or her, to dry any milk drops that fall, residues on the baby and the mother.
Burping and spitting up : Small spits up are a normal part of everyday life. Muslin can protect mom's shoulder while holding baby during burping and absorb spit up, wherever it ends up! 😀
Sleeping and resting: in summer, use it as a light blanket over your baby to protect him during his nap, or to wrap him up using the swaddling technique (if you want to learn more about this, read our in-depth article "Swaddling newborns: pros and cons: a guide for new mothers")
Diaper changes: some people find them convenient as a changing table cover, as frequent diaper changes can also make the changing table dirty, and the muslin can be used as an interchangeable cover to keep it clean. They can also be used to dry the baby after bathing.
Bath time: Muslin is also ideal for quickly swaddling a newborn after a bath. Because it's so thin, it can be soaked in warm water and draped over the baby's shoulders, ensuring warmth even when out of the water.
Walks, playtime, and outings: as an additional shade to protect the stroller from the sun or wind (be careful not to cover the entire opening of the stroller; air must always circulate to avoid overheating). Also use it as a blanket for a nice picnic in the park or for playtime on the floor.
Food and drool: With the first meals, medium-sized muslins become a tie-on bib. Once your baby starts drooling, you'll see how much they'll save your baby!
As you can see, the uses are endless!
But how many baby muslins should you buy?
Given the constant demands and hectic life of a new mother (we don't expect a punctual washing twice a day 😉), we definitely recommend stocking up right away, but without overdoing it, as it's vital for every mother to establish her own routine first, understanding her own needs in the first few days of her newborn's life and then confidently purchasing what she's already used and found useful.
We recommend preparing a small supply of 8-10 handkerchiefs, 4-6 medium-sized muslins, and 1-3 large-sized ones. This will allow you to test them and see what you really need.
You may find that your baby loves being swaddled and you want to buy a larger size, or that you don't like disposable wipes and need a good supply of small muslins, and so on.
In conclusion
Muslins are an essential accessory for the care and comfort of your newborn, unlike other accessories, you will hardly not use them given their versatility.
The amount of muslin you need will depend on your daily routine, but generally, the muslins we've recommended for starters are what you need to test their use. Only after the birth can you purchase additional items you truly need to comfortably manage your daily routine as a new mother.
At Baby Island, we know how investing in the right amount of muslin and its quality allows a new mother to face everyday life with greater peace of mind, knowing she always has such an essential accessory available.
For this reason, our muslin collection is full of different patterns, sizes and materials to meet the needs of every new mother. 👉🏼 Discover our entire collection of Baby Island newborn muslins here!
You can find:
