Swaddling your baby is a great way to make him or her feel snug and secure, helping them sleep better and longer. After I read the benefits of swaddling my baby, I was excited for him to arrive so I could test out some of the swaddles that I got from the baby shower.
I received four swaddle blankets as gifts at the baby shower, so I was totally unaware at that time how expensive they are. If you have not looked at the prices yet, swaddle blankets cost anywhere from $10-$30 each. OUCH!
But, no worries! With me being the savvy money saver that I am, I have found a way for you to have perfectly sized, high quality swaddle blankets for your baby at a fraction of the cost. I am talking $1 or less per swaddle. Doesn’t that sound nice?
Materials Needed
In order to do this project you’ll need a few materials:
- Fabric
- Scissors
- Sewing Machine/Hand Sewing Kit OR
- Hot glue gun
Step 1: Choose Your Fabric
Swaddle blankets are made from a variety of material, with each one having its own benefits and downfalls. Go over the list below carefully, or simply look on the back of the label of your favorite swaddle to find out what the material is made out of and choose which fabric (or fabrics) you would like to use. Here is a general guide:
Cotton Gauze (Muslin Fabric) : very light weight and breathable fabric. Good for swaddling babies in the summertime, but not in the colder winter months. Stretches nicely to get a tight swaddle on your baby. Is not able to be dried in the dryer without shrinking. Medium softness.
Jersey Fabric: Very stretchy fabric that is wrinkle resistant. Breathable, yet warmer than cotton gauze. Most jersey fabrics are also very soft and durable, making it a great option for infant swaddle blankets.
Cotton Fabric: Often very soft and warm. Good for use during the cold winter months. Not wrinkle resistant, and can not be dried in the drier without shrinking. Does not stretch link jersey or cotton gauze, but is a good option for cooler weather, and usually provides the highest softness level.
Step 2: Purchase Your Fabric
Once you’ve chosen your desired fabric, make sure that you have the correct size. The traditional swaddle blanket is 42 inches by 42 inches. That leaves enough room to keep the baby snug in the swaddle and also leaves enough room to tuck in the edges.
You can buy the fabric bigger and cut it at home if you’d like, or if you ask nicely the person manning the counter will likely cut the fabric to size for you.
Step 3: Cut To Size
If you decided to buy a larger portion of fabric and cut it yourself at home, now is the time to do so. Lay your fabric out on a table or a flat surface and cut out 42 inch by 42 inch squares.
If you already had it pre cut, no worries about this step. Just move on to step 4.
Step 4: Sew/Glue In The Seam
Now is the time to sew in the seam, or glue it in if you decide that sewing just isn’t your forte.
Whichever you decide, go ahead and make a half inch seam and seal it shut with either hot glue or sewing it in. With hot glue, use a thin line and then press the seam fabric over top of the glue. Let it sit for an hour or so before using it to make sure the glue has time to fully set into the fabric.
Step 6: Swaddle Your Baby 👶
Congratulations! That’s the end of the process. Now all that is left to do is swaddle your baby in their brand new hand made baby swaddle, and enjoy the savings you get from making them yourself at home.
Let me know down below in the comments how it goes for you, what fabric worked best, and how your baby loved it! I love to hear all of the feedback from y’all.
Have an amazing day!
Xoxo,
Lia
Boss Mom Blog 