From preemie to a size that is big enough for your toddler’s bed, you have to go through a variety of blankets, for your little ones. If you are planning to buy a baby blanket for your little one, as a parent you have to be conscious of the size and type of the blanket, that is appropriate both for the age and use for your child.
I have done thorough research on baby blankets and by reading this article you will learn the sizes and materials of the common types of baby blankets. You will learn more starting from preemie, receiving ( birth to 2 months old), and swaddle (2-5 months old) blankets to the crib and stroller blankets. In addition, I have added a couple of recommendations for great patterns if you’re going to try and make one yourself!
Sizes of Baby Blankets by Age, Usage, Size, and Material
Below is the chart of the complete guide to the size of baby blankets by your baby’s age and usage. The list starts from preemie, receiving ( birth to 2 months old), and swaddle (2-5 months old) blankets, all the way up to the crib and stroller blankets.
| Age/Use | Size | Material | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preemie | 18″ x 18″ to 30″ x 30″ | Cotton, flannel, or satin | Avoid lace or large loops |
| Receiving (birth to 2 months) | 18″ x 18″ to 40″ x 40″ | Flannel or Minky material | Should stand up to heavy use |
| Swaddle (2 to 5 months) | 40″ x 40″ to 48″ x 48″ | Muslin or flannel | Stop using when baby is able to roll over |
| Crib (1 to 2 years) | 30″ x 40″ to 45″ x 60″ | Quilted cotton or plush | Don’t use in crib before baby is one year old |
| Lovey | 12″ x 12″ to 18″ x 18″ | Flannel, knit, or Minky fabric | Should be very durable and able to be washed regularly |
| Stroller | 14″ x 32″ to 22″ x 30″ | Muslin, flannel, knit, or Minky fabric | Some options have strap slits |
| Toddler | 42″ x 48″ to 40″ x 60″ | Quilted cotton, flannel, knit, or plush | Should stand up to heavy or long-term use |
The first thing you need to keep in mind while choosing a baby blanket (or pattern, if you are making the blanket), is the purpose of the blanket. Are you looking for a blanket to be used to swaddle a newborn? Will you use the blanket to decorate the crib, or it will be used on your toddler’s bed once your baby is older? However, your baby’s blanket will definitely end up holding a special memory in your heart!
If you know the purpose of the blanket, and with it the age of your baby, it will be easy for you to choose a blanket or pattern based on the dimensions and materials. I have collected the most common types in the above chart, but if you are trying to make a blanket yourself, be sure to review the specific sections for general tips, potential safety concerns, and a few great resources.
Preemie blanket
Preemie blankets (Also known as NICU blankets) are specifically designed for the smallest babies, as safe as possible, without snagging on any tubes or wires that may be connected to the baby. This blanket is very much comfortable as it is very warm, and they are also very soft to touch.
It is very common for preemies to spend much of their first days away from their parents, many new parents will hold the blanket so that it starts to smell like them before asking that their new baby be wrapped in it. This way the newborn baby can start to connect with the smell of his parents, and it also helps bring comfort to the baby, that he would feel with his parents into the sterile incubator.
Preemie blanket Sizes
Preemie blankets are really small in size because they are mainly used for babies as small as just one pound or even below, but these types of blankets need to be big enough to cover both the baby and any medical attachments safely. For that purpose, preemie blankets sizes range from 18 by 18 inches up to 30 by 30 inches. ( 18 x 18 inch to 30 x 30 inch)
Materials and style
We know that newborn babies have very sensitive skin, but most of us don’t know that a preemie’s skin may not even be fully developed. Before the age of 34 weeks, the skin of the baby may really be so thin you can see through the skin, making preemies appear reddish. Many fabrics that feel soft and smooth to an adult’s hand may actually be extremely rough for preemie’s skin, because of such sensitive skin.
When choosing a blanket or pattern and material for a preemie, always make sure you are using the softest, smoothest fabric available. The most popular options are cotton or satin fabric, where wool is not at all recommended because of possible allergies. If you are making a preemie blanket, you must use a very tight weave so that there is no space for wires, tubes, or tiny fingers to push through.
Where to buy Preemie blanket?
I have personally used Comfort Silkie when my children were born. This is a popular brand of preemie blanket and it is satin on one side and flannel on the other side. These preemie blankets come in different colors and one more thing is that they can be customized with either your baby’s name, initials, or both. The best thing is that they are available on Amazon. You can check them out here.
| Image | Product | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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Pink COMFORT SILKIE Security Blanket | Sized for little hands. 14 x 18 inches. Beautifully gift boxed. Custom sewn in label for child’s name & our signature satin loop. Our security blanket is designed to evoke a comfort response and achieve baby bliss. | Check Price |
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Swaddle Blanket Wrap, Preemie Size | 3 SIZES AVAILABLE: Bublo Baby Swaddles come in 3 different sizes. The preemie fits up to 7lbs, small-medium fits 0-3 months, 7-14 pounds, up to 27 inches; large fits 3-6 months, 14-18 pounds, up to 32 inches. | Check Price |
Receiving blankets
You might already know what a receiving blanket is. It’s the blanket the baby is first received by the parents in. All newborn babies are wrapped in a white flannel receiving blanket with pink and blue stripes. This pink and stripes design is the most iconic version of a receiving blanket and they are available in a broad range of sizes, fabrics, and patterns.
Receiving blankets Sizes
Receiving blanket sizes can go from 18×18 inches to 40×40 inches. Receiving blankets are also used to swaddle small babies, but babies usually outgrow swaddling blankets within the first few months. Unlike other sizes of baby blankets, receiving blankets can be used in other ways even after they become useless for their primary use. I myself always kept a receiving blanket in the diaper bag in my early parenting days.
Materials and style
Receiving blankets are mainly made of very thin, soft flannel that can be cleaned regularly and easily.
Homemade Receiving blankets are not always so functional, but they are very comfortable. In this must-watch video ( Down below), Jenny Doan recommends a Minky cuddle fabric or flannel.
Where to buy Receiving blankets?
You can visit Carter’s Store on Amazon. They make very popular, remarkably long-lasting receiving blankets that come in a wide range of colors and patterns. Visit their store on Amazon.
| Image | Product | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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Unknown unisex baby 8-pack 8 Pack Flannel Burp Cloth, Animals Green, One Size US | Soft, long and wide. Pretty designs. | Check Price |
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Simple Joys by Carter’s Baby 7-Pack Flannel Receiving Blankets | 100% Cotton, Imported, Machine Wash, Soft, breathable cotton, Perfect for, swaddling, burping, or cuddling | Check Price |
How to make receiving blankets at home?
Jenny Doan from the Missouri Star Quilt Company has received more than one million views on her video tutorial Self Binding Baby Blanket, on Youtube. Her instructions are so clear that I could trick myself into believing that I could make one of these blankets easily without owning a sewing machine!
