A receiving blanket is a small, lightweight blanket used to wrap or swaddle newborns, as well as in infant care more generally. [1]
In the United States, many hospitals use a standard white cotton flannel receiving blanket, patterned with pink and blue stripes, manufactured by Medline Industries. [2] 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. [3] [4]
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. [5] The use of receiving blankets during kangaroo care of preterm infants is recommended in order to maintain the infant's body heat. [6]
Parents may use a receiving blanket to cover a sleeping infant, or place a blanket beneath the infant to create a soft sleeping surface. [7] Some mothers cover their infants with receiving blankets while breastfeeding, feeling that it provides modesty and discretion. [8] Receiving blankets are often recommended for miscellaneous purposes in infant care, such as propping up an infant [9] or as a place for a sponge bath. [10]