receiving blanket

{{Short description|Blanket for swaddling newborn babies}}

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A receiving blanket is a small, lightweight blanket used to wrap or swaddle newborns, as well as in infant care more generally.{{cite web |last1=Curran |first1=Erica Jackson |title=What is a receiving blanket and how can parents use them? |url=https://www.care.com/c/what-is-a-receiving-blanket-and-how-do-you-r/ |website=Care.com |access-date=19 August 2024 |language=en |date=18 March 2022}}

In the United States, many hospitals use a standard white cotton flannel receiving blanket, patterned with pink and blue stripes, manufactured by Medline Industries.{{cite news |last1=Hsu |first1=Andrea |title=Born In The USA? This Blanket Might Look Familiar |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/07/22/138575125/born-in-the-usa-this-blanket-might-look-familiar |access-date=19 August 2024 |publisher=NPR |date=22 July 2011}} Handmade receiving blankets, sometimes given as gifts to a new or expectant parent, may feature colorful prints and be embellished with ruffles or decorative stitches.{{cite book |last1=Hawley |first1=M'Liss Rae |title=Fast, Fat Quarter Baby Quilts with M'Liss Rae Hawley: Make Darling Doll, Infant, & Toddler Quilts - Bonus Layette S |date=5 November 2010 |publisher=C&T Publishing Inc |isbn=978-1-60705-092-6 |pages=62–64 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FHfGR7z1U0kC&dq=%22receiving+blanket%22&pg=PA62 |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=Kim |first1=Sue |title=Baby Boutique: 16 Handmade Projects - Shoes, Hats, Bags, Toys & More |date=1 December 2013 |publisher=C&T Publishing Inc |isbn=978-1-60705-722-2 |page=127-132 |language=en}}

Hospitals use receiving blankets for a variety of applications. Some neonatal intensive care units use receiving blankets to cover incubators, in order to reduce light and improve infant rest.{{cite journal |last1=Lee |first1=Yi-Hui |last2=Malakooti |first2=Nima |last3=Lotas |first3=Marilyn |title=A comparison of the light-reduction capacity of commonly used incubator covers |journal=Neonatal Network |date=2005 |volume=24 |issue=2 |pages=37–44 |doi=10.1891/0730-0832.24.2.37 |pmid=15835478 |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15835478/ |access-date=19 August 2024 |issn=0730-0832}} The use of receiving blankets during kangaroo care of preterm infants is recommended in order to maintain the infant's body heat.{{cite journal |last1=Ludington-Hoe |first1=Susan M. |last2=Ferreira |first2=Carla |last3=Swinth |first3=Joan |last4=Ceccardi |first4=Jennifer J. |title=Safe Criteria and Procedure for Kangaroo Care With Intubated Preterm Infants |journal=Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing |date=September 2003 |volume=32 |issue=5 |pages=579–588 |doi=10.1177/0884217503257618 |pmid=14565736 |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0884217503257618 |access-date=19 August 2024 |language=en|url-access=subscription }}

Parents may use a receiving blanket to cover a sleeping infant, or place a blanket beneath the infant to create a soft sleeping surface.{{cite journal |last1=Flick |first1=Louise |last2=White |first2=Deborah K. |last3=Vemulapalli |first3=Caroline |last4=Stulac |first4=Barbara B. |last5=Kemp |first5=James S. |title=Sleep position and the use of soft bedding during bed sharing among African American infants at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome |journal=The Journal of Pediatrics |date=1 March 2001 |volume=138 |issue=3 |pages=338–343 |doi=10.1067/mpd.2001.111428 |pmid=11241039 |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022347601633171 |access-date=19 August 2024 |issn=0022-3476|url-access=subscription }} Some mothers cover their infants with receiving blankets while breastfeeding, feeling that it provides modesty and discretion.{{cite journal |last1=Sheeshka |first1=Judy |last2=Potter |first2=Beth |last3=Norrie |first3=Emilie |last4=Valaitis |first4=Ruta |last5=Adams |first5=Gerald |last6=Kuczynski |first6=Leon |title=Women's Experiences Breastfeeding in Public Places |journal=Journal of Human Lactation |date=February 2001 |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=31–38 |doi=10.1177/089033440101700107 |pmid=11847849 |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/089033440101700107 |access-date=19 August 2024 |language=en |issn=0890-3344|url-access=subscription }} Receiving blankets are often recommended for miscellaneous purposes in infant care, such as propping up an infant{{cite book |last1=Lipman |first1=Blythe |title=Help! My Baby Came Without Instructions: How to Survive (and Enjoy) Your Baby's First Year |date=7 April 2010 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-57344-563-4 |page=2,6,12,16 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=spP0uY3L-0sC |access-date=19 August 2024 |language=en}} or as a place for a sponge bath.{{cite book |last1=Birchenall |first1=Joan M. |last2=Streight |first2=Eileen |title=Mosby's Textbook for the Home Care Aide |date=15 October 2012 |publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences |isbn=978-0-323-29294-8 |page=377 |language=en}}