7 ways to use a swaddle

A swaddle, also called a muslin cloth, is an indispensable item with a baby around the house. No wonder it is a common item on layette lists. Swaddles are used for different purposes and our Little Dutch mothers really can’t imagine not having them at the ready.

1 – Swaddling
This is of course what the word swaddle comes from. It is the first goal we like to use the cloth for. If your baby is a restless sleeper, it may be a good idea to try swaddling your child. When swaddled, the baby’s limbs lie close to the body, which re-creates baby’s secure feeling inside the womb. He or she is no longer bothered by uncontrolled movements, which makes falling asleep a lot easier.

2 – Feeding cloth
Would you like to cover your baby while breastfeeding? Tuck a corner of the swaddle under your bra-strap and put the swaddle around your baby. This creates a calm and cosy environment for your little one. Muslin cloths have good air permeability, allowing you to cover your baby without any problems.

3 – Burp cloth
Place the cloth over your shoulder after a feed. Do we need to say more?

4 – Towel
A muslin cloth is wonderfully soft and very absorbent. After a relaxed bath, there is nothing more comfortable than to dry your baby with this cloth instead of a regular towel.

5 – Bed sheet
Cover the mattress with a muslin cloth and place it under your child’s head. This is very comfortable and requires fewer changes of the fitted sheet.

6 – Sun protection
Going out for a nice stroll? There’s nothing more annoying than the sun shining directly into the pram. This problem can be solved by placing a swaddle over the pram’s canopy. And there is another advantage: it reduces stimuli from the environment, which calms your baby down, encouraging him or her to fall asleep. The breathable qualities of the fabric prevent your baby from getting overheated.

7 – On the go
A hint from us at Little Dutch: make sure you always have a swaddle – or two – in your nappy bag when you go out. For hygienic purposes, we recommended to place a swaddle on top of the changing pad or nappy pouch when changing your baby in a public restroom. This also eliminates the fuss in case of a little accident.
Would you like to have your hands free? For this purpose, the muslin cloth is useful too: unfold a large swaddle on the floor and your baby has its own play area!