Handmade blankets

[LeslieR]

We have received a crazy amount of handmade blankets for DS since he was born. Seriously, I think we have 2 quilts and a dozen or more knitted or crocheted blankets! Out of all of the blankets, I have only used the quilts and one of the knitted blankets. I'm torn on using them because I don't want them to get ruined, but OTOH, I know that someone spent a lot of time making them with the idea that we would use them well. Do you use your handmade blankets? Did you use them more when DC was younger or older?

[cr8zyforaf]

I have three and DD is 9 months - I have never used one. I felt bad because I didn't want them to get dirty..also - they are cross stitched (I think - there are images on them made with string/thread..who knows) and don't seem very comfy...it certainly isn't something I could have wrapped her in.

One I wanted to hang - made my DH grandmother - she told me she started working on it as soon as she found out I was pregnant - I was going to hang it but I don't have the room and it doesn't match...so it is folded up in a drawer. Makes me feel horrible when I think about it.

[catmom]

I have several handknit blankets as well, and we used all ours. They are all acyrlic, though, so they will hold up to lots of washing fine.

Also, my friend has a quilt that someone made for her DD which she hangs on the wall.

[allyray231]

I have 3 but only used them a bit in the winter when I would take DC out of the house. I would love to use them more but they are too heavy.

ETA-I have a quilt that I keep meaning to hang but haven't done it yet.

[Kiley]

We have two - one quilt that my grandma made that he uses every night and one knitted from DH's cousin one that we've used now and then.

[aprilshowers]

We have a bunch too, including one I made which I never used and am going to gift to someone else. I don't have any idea what to use them for either. I've started using them to cover our couches to protect them from spit-up. I figure that at least they are out on display that way and, like catmom's, they are all acrylic or cotton so machine-washable. A friend who had her kids years ago told me you can never have enough blankets but I honestly don't know what to do with them all...

[mamax2]

We used a couple of them - the knit ones in her strollers for walks, or tossed over the back of the glider as decoration. The quilt we use on the floor as a play mat.

If you have a few that you've never used AND you plan to have more children, just pack them away and save them. We had several handmade things for DD1 and I think they're so nice and special but DD2 didn't recieve one single handmade item. I'm thinking of giving 1 or 2 of the knit blankets to her so they both have a couple - either to play with or pass down.

[jmvan74]

I have 2 knittted or maybe crocheted blankets. I love them. I use them on DS during naps and I'm sure I will use them this winter. I feel like the little holes would allow him to breathe if he pulls it over his face. :rolleyes:

[lady1297]

I have a ton, some given to DS, some were DH's. We rotate them around and use as many as possible. One is always in the crib (DS is 21 months) and one in the car. Then there are ones in the stroller, at my mom's and in the wash. I say use them. And enjoy them.

[BeachBum]

I never really used blankets at all. We live in a warm climate, so maybe that is why but I don't really get the "never to many thing". As for the handmade ones--I would reach for those first.

[nettreefrog]

I have tons of handmade blankets... and I love them. My question is "HOW DO YOU CLEAN THEM?" Can you wash them in the regular laundry? How are they dried? Thanks!

[lady1297]

nettreefrog-I throw mine in with whatever is heading into the laundry. I line dry them though.

[BTB]

I was afraid to use DD's handmade blankets and quilts at first, but also hated to leave them untouched. I was pleasantly surprised that they're pretty tough. She has a handmade teddy bear, too, and he's still lookin' good so far - that may change as she progresses through toddlerhood. :)

[elladee]

We have a bunch of handmade blankes and I use them all the time (the ones I like anyway). DD still needs a swaddle at night, and now that she's bigger I find the handknit/croched ones to be perfect. They're bigger than the flannel receiving blankets and a little stretchy so I can get the swaddle nice and tight. We also thow them in the stroller, use them on the floor, in the car seat, etc.

To wash, I throw them in with her laundry and dry in the dryer. I wash her stuff on gentle and dry on low.

[jbenny75]

I got 6 crocheted blankets and 1 quilt at my shower. I plan to use the quilt for a playmat on the floor (it's a fairly simple one w/ the Care Bears on it, not elaborately stitched or anything). I'll probably use the blankets in the winter. Kinda funny that I got so many, seeing as I'm having a June baby.

[MSH]

Our baby isn't here yet but I do intend on using any handmade blankets we receive. I assume this was the intend when they were given to us.

I have made blankets for other new moms and hope they would use them. I honestly would not be upset if the blanket ends up stained or ruined. I made it so the baby could use it, spit up happens :)

[Daniel's Kitty]

I use all of the handmade ones. I love them.

[LIZNKEITH]

We received 3 crocheted blankets and use all of them. DD loves to snuggle up to a blanket at night and since they are so thin and have some many little holes in them, that I feel comfortable leaving them in her vrib since they are so breathable.

I wash with the regular laundry and hang to dry (or tumble dry low heat, if I need it quickly).

[Renrel]

My mom made one hand knit blanket for my son but she made it at my request after he turned one to go with the uphoulstered (sp) chair she gave him for chanuka. He likes to play "nap" with it. Either pretending to sleep or tucking us in. He did not have any as an infant. He does not really use a blanket in his crib since he always kicks it off and usually will not let us cover him when he goes to sleep. At daycare he has a fleece blanket, not hand made, and they cover him after he falls asleep with it. My mom gave me some fancy wool baby carrage blankets she has from when my sisters and I were babies. I have not used those much because they are light in color and I am afraid of getting the dirty or losing them.

[AusAshMommy]

My MIL made each of my kiddos a blanket, starting when she found out I was PG with both of them, and we use them all. We have 3 for Austin and 2 for Ashley along with a quilt someone from WC made for Austin when he was born, he still uses that one everynight. The crocheted ones we use all the time and they are durable enough for washing several times...we love them!

[daisysue62]

DD has several handmade blankets and quilts. One quilt was made by Dh's grandmother that was intended to go on the wall...it's a crib quilt with a girl bunny in the center of her own design. It's really neat but I'd never wash it since it has ribbons etc sewn onto it. DD also has an antique handmade quilt that was my FIL's when he was a baby, I just can't bring myself to let dd use it so it's in the closet :( I do use a flannel taggie blanket my grandparents made and it's awesome to go on the floor. I also use some of the crotcheted afghans every now and again for dd to play on the floor. My mom made me practical burp clothes/large receiving blanket for a nursing coverup out of flannel that she hemmed which has proven to be very handy.

I say use them if you can, that's what they're meant for :)

[BooeyJ2]

We've used all but one so far (and that's just because I kinda forgot about it - whoops!). Most of them were used more when DD wasn't crawling yet. They made the perfect "instant - clean play areas" for her when she was doing tummy time or just sitting up and playing. We've also used some of them in the stroller during colder months, etc. Majority have been used for play though, especically the quilts that are more "stiff"? :)

[Sophia]

One of my aunts made comforters, and I made quilted blankets and quilts. They all got used all the time, mainly on the floor as play mats or for naps.

[wildcat]

One of the quilts my mom made DD is hanging on her wall (designed to go with the nursery). We received many other quilts, crocheted blankets, etc. and we use all of them...they're my favorite (along with Gymboree and Baby Gap blankets). We're in the midwest and DD was born in September, so we used a TON of blankets all winter. Now that it's warmer, we use them as playmats on the floor. I say use them.

[LeslieR]

Thanks for the replies, ladies! Since it's been really hot lately, I decided to start putting Luke to sleep with some of the crocheted blankets instead of the sleep sack and so far so good!:)

[EJH]

We got so many beautiful handmade blankets for DD.

We use a couple of ours regularly, or at least we did through the winter. We have a beautiful pink one that would come out with us on our daily travels.

Neither have suffered overuse though, so will be nice keepsakes for DD.

[ginadc]

We have a couple of gorgeous knitted afghans that we haven't really used much; they are draped over the rocking chair in DD's room, but they're really too heavy to cover her with (especially at just a few months). Sometimes I have her play on them, though.

[jrsygirl]

WE literally receive dozens when our twins were born. I swear at one point we had more than 20. Some were from complete strangers. For example my aunts hair dressers sister sent us two.
I kept a lot of the special ones and use them regularly..in the stroller, for them to play on etc. A few though I donated to Project Linus (http://www.projectlinus.org/index.shtml)
better than lettng them go to waste when someone spent so much time on them. This way they are at least bringing comfort to a child that needs it.