As you consider the perfect baby blanket to give as a present at a baby shower the two main catageories to consider are if the baby blanket will be handmade or home made or if the blanket is going to be purchased from some retail source. Of course there are many fine retailers who sell handmade and home made baby blankets so buying a hand made baby shower blanket is an option as well. Beyond this initial question you will want to consider the size of the baby blanket, the colors of the blanket and how easy the blanket will be to care for so that the new parents are not spending more time laundering and pressing the new balnket rather than spedning time with thier baby.
While there are many opinions about color and design of a blanket for a new baby, and what makes a really special baby shower blanket gift, the real issue is if the blanket will be used over and over and become a favorite of both parents and baby. When thinking about blanket design and color this tends to lead us in the direction of a baby shower blanket which is not too ornate and decorated. Avoiding many colors and designs, along with the stitching that goes along with those designs, will make the blanket practical, soft and easy to love in a variety of circumstances. A simply colored baby blanket which is very soft and easy to care for is likley going to become the stand out gift at a tbaby shower.
After finding the perfect color for the baby blanket gift, which will match a room or a favorite stroller you should now consdier size. The blanket needs to be big enough to wrap around the entire body of the baby without leaving a space in the back where air will draft in and bring a chill. If the blanket is too big then there is all kinds of extra material which just gets bulky, heavy and in the way. A good sized blanket for a newborn baby is about 4' x 4' square.
Finally you will want to give consideration to the material and care of the blanket. Cotton blankets are of course very popular and come in an adorable array of colors and sizes. Cotton bankets can make a great summer baby shower gift. The down side to cotton blankets is that in the winter they are not good at keeping out the cold. Sometimes a cotton blanket can shrink in uneven ways and become lopsided and awkward to fold or wrap around baby. A blanket made of a polyester material is an excellent choice for warmth and even some weather resistance if there is snow or rain. Make sure with any poly blanket it has been treated properly to resist flame and heat if there every was an accident involving fire.
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