Organic cotton muslin blanket, 4-layer, Penguin, 120 × 120 cm

Current UK safer-sleep guidance from The Lullaby Trust is that loose blankets shouldn't be in the cot before 12 months — they can ride up over the face or cause overheating. Before then, baby blankets are best used during awake time — as a pram cover, nursing cover, play-mat layer, or changing-mat layer. From 12 months onwards, a blanket can join the cot at bedtime.

Muslin (4-layer) is breathable and lightweight — best for warmer rooms, summer pram use, and as a coordinated piece with our comforter range. Knitted cotton (speckled, pointelle, or lace) is heavier and heirloom-feel — the blanket that gets handed down. Ribbed cotton is stretchy and lightweight — coordinates with our sleepsuits and works as a layering blanket. Bamboo gives you a silkier feel from the first use. Different fabrics, different jobs — most parents end up with two: one for everyday use, one for the cot.

Our blankets aren't designed for newborn swaddling — they're sized as lap blankets rather than the 120 × 120 cm muslin standard for proper swaddling. If you specifically want a swaddle, our 2-layer muslin swaddles are made for that purpose (and double as pram covers afterwards). The ribbed blanket in this collection can be used as a stretchy wrap for very young newborns, but most parents use it as a lap blanket.

Our 4-layer muslin blankets are 120 × 120 cm — generous, work as a pram cover or light lap blanket. The knitted blankets are 70 × 90 cm or 80 × 100 cm — generous lap-blanket sizes, plenty for a pram or changing mat. The ribbed blanket is 75 × 100 cm. If you're picking your first blanket, the muslin or the ribbed are usually the most versatile starting points; knitted blankets come into their own from 4-6 months onwards.

Machine wash at 30°C with similar colours. Don't tumble dry. Knitted and ribbed blankets are best reshaped while damp and laid flat to dry to keep their shape.