Baby muslins: what they are for and why they are useful.

Essential in the layette of an incoming baby, newborn muslins are an extremely versatile item with numerous uses. Let's see together what they are for and how to choose the best ones.

Here we are: your baby's birth is almost here and it's time to buy everything you need to welcome the little one. Bedtime, bath time, food... have we got everything? 

Before you start looking for the latest AI-equipped stroller model (they don't exist yet, but sooner or later they will be invented), our advice is to focus on an accessory that should never be missing from a newborn's kit: muslins .

Baby Muslin: What is it?

Muslin is essentially a lightweight cloth, and is usually made of cotton. 100% organic or bamboo . Regardless of the material it is made of, its main characteristics are four:

• Softness: Muslins are perfect for wrapping your baby in the cot, after bathing and when you're out and about
• Resistance, even after several washes
• Breathability: excellent even on the delicate skin of a newborn baby
• Absorbency: The fabric has an open weave, like gauze

Surely you have already heard about it and your friends who are already parents will have told you how useful this simple object is in a thousand occasions . However, if you still don't know it, we can tell you that it is a real "magic cloth" to use everywhere, and that will accompany the baby in his first months of life.

Depending on their size, baby cotton muslins can perform various functions. For this reason, we recommend purchasing several models, so that you can always have them available when needed.

Discover our 100% cotton muslin baby sets , also perfect as a gift idea.

A curiosity: this accessory is also called “muslin”, and owes its name to Mosul , the city in Mesopotamia where the type of fabric originated. In those areas the climate is very hot, so it is not  It's hard to imagine how such a light and breathable fabric could have proven so useful!

What are baby muslins used for?

Let's see in more detail what are the multiple uses of these magical cotton cloths. We anticipate that once you try them you will not be able to do without them because they are real life savers on many occasions.

Your baby will also appreciate them for their freshness and softness and will always want to have them close by. A bit like Linus' blanket, but even better because they can be taken anywhere.

For the cot

During the warmer season, muslins are great to spread on the cot as a light bedspread for sleeping. Likewise, they can be placed inside the pram during the daily walk.

This way, the baby will be protected from the sun's rays, but at the same time the lightness of the fabric will ensure that he or she is not too hot. A tip to make the muslin even more cozy? Keep it on for a few minutes.

By doing this the fabric will have the mother's smell, and the baby will feel calm and sleep better.

During and after feeding

Another use for muslins for newborns is as a “post-regurgitation” cloth. We know how delicate the post-feeding phase is, and having an easy-to-wash cloth on hand can definitely simplify things.

Not only that, if you are out and about, you can also use muslin to cover yourself while you are breastfeeding. This way, you will be protected from prying eyes if you do not feel comfortable breastfeeding in a public place.

And when the baby starts to grow? Here is where a cotton muslin also turns out to be excellent as an emergency bib in case you are out and about and have forgotten it at home.

For diaper changing

Even on the changing table you can benefit from these cloths in two ways. The first use is as a towel to dry the baby's clean bottom after changing.

Baby muslin is delicate and hypoallergenic , and will not irritate the delicate skin of the newborn. For this reason it is more suitable than a classic towel.

Plus, if you have a large changing mat, you can also use it as an “on the road” changing mat for all the times you need to change your baby’s diaper away from home (and that could happen often!).

Buy our XXL muslins , available in different colors and patterns.

For the bath

Always due to its softness and absorbency, a muslin can also be used as a post-bath towel .

Wrapped in a towel, your baby will feel cuddled and protected, and will be more inclined to bathe. In this regard, for the first few times we recommend immersing the little one in water wrapped in muslin.

This way you will give him even more security, and he will easily get used to the practice of cleaning.

For swaddling

A final possible use is to swaddle the newborn with muslin while walking. This is a technique called “swaddling” , which dates back to ancient times and is still widely used in African countries.

Cotton or bamboo cloth is perfect for this practice, because it is resistant and at the same time breathable, so the baby will avoid getting hot. We recommend that you do not tie the band too tightly, but at the same time do not leave it too loose.

The important thing is that the baby is well supported and can move his legs freely inside the swaddle. The muslin will make him feel comfortable and safe, just like when he was in his mother's belly.

When the child grows up

These sheets will also be very useful during the first years of your child's life. In fact, you can lay them out on the ground every time you go to play in the garden or, why not, on the beach.

Sand castles, a picnic for stuffed animals… can you imagine how much fun your child will have?

How to choose the best muslins for newborns

Now that we have seen all the functions of these light sheets  and breathable, here is a short buying guide. The choice is very wide and at first it is easy to feel disoriented, but do not worry.

Regardless of the pattern or color you choose, we want to give you three general tips that will help you choose the items that best suit your needs.

1- The dimensions

We have seen that the size of the cloth depends on the use you want to make of it. We at Nannafrufrù have muslins

• Standard size (90 x 65 cm, or 90 x 70 cm)
• Large size (130 x 100 cm)

Generally speaking, a standard muslin is excellent as a wipe or bib, while an XXL one is recommended in all those cases where a larger cloth is needed (changing table, swaddle, cot, etc.).

Having multiple sizes of cloths will help you juggle different daily activities. Last but not least, having multiple muslins will allow you to have more changes, since you will wash them often.

2- The fabric

The 100% organic cotton muslin is certainly the most popular, but in our store we also have baby muslins in bamboo, soft, versatile and able to protect from UV rays.

We suggest you choose according to your preferences, but always opt for organic and guaranteed fabrics. Our towels are made exclusively with Oeko-Tex certified yarns. Standard 100 Class.

These are the most suitable, because they are breathable, hypoallergenic and  perfect for not irritating the delicate skin of the little one. The health of the child comes first!

Not only that: since they are natural fibres, they are completely biodegradable and good for the environment.

Here we talk about our Nannabamboo philosophy and the care we put into choosing our fabrics.

3- The colors

Little flowers, teddy bears, rainbows… We know that creating a layette for an incoming baby is also fun and it is difficult to choose among so many beautiful patterns.

What we recommend is to use muslins in delicate shades . Too bright shades could in fact be too aggressive for the eyes of a newborn baby who is discovering the world.

Washing and cleaning

After having seen what muslins are used for and having listed the characteristics that make them indispensable accessories, we want to add a few words on how to always keep them fresh and clean.

When you have a newborn baby, you know that you need to do laundry frequently. Fortunately, muslins are made of durable fabric, and can be washed often without losing their characteristics.

For optimal cleaning, we recommend that you simply wash them at 30°. Since the cloth is very light, it is not necessary to use high temperatures. We also do not recommend bleaching them, or using fabric softener.

These products could in fact irritate the baby's skin, as well as pollute the environment. In this sense, muslin is truly an eco-sustainable choice , if we think about wanting to raise our children in a better world, don't you think?

As for drying, the classic air drying method is best. Using the dryer in fact could make the fabric fibers lose their softness. Finally, we recommend ironing the muslins inside out, so as not to ruin the brightness of the colors and designs.