Have you heard the one about the baby quilt??

[ghost1000]

As some of you know, my stepdaughter is expecting a baby either late December or early January. I'm a quilter, so it's only natural that I'm making a baby quilt for her.

Apparently she told Doug recently that she heard you're not supposed to use baby quilts, but just hang them on the wall. Someone told her that the baby can get tangled up in a baby quilt.

I'm completely out of touch with the whole baby thing. Has anyone else heard this? I mean, if a baby can get tangled up in a baby quilt, they can more easily get tangled up in a blanket or a sheet. A quilt tends to be a bit firmer in structure than either of those.

From the viewpoint of a quilter, the worst insult to a quilter is not to use the quilt they make for you. If she's not going to use the baby quilt I'm making, then I'll have to think up some other present for her.

[KNWVIKING]

Well, to be perfectly safe, just hang the baby on the wall and leave all the blankets and quilts in the crib.

BTW, I didn't know your stepdaughter was having a baby. Why was this info kept from me ? Do you have something against Vikings ?

[ghost1000]

Thanks, Viking. I was very upset by her statement, but you know just how to cheer me up.

I had posted a message about this, but that was several months ago and appears to have scrolled off. To make it up to you, I'll give you her first born. Expect a FedEx delivery package in either late December or early January.

[AFMom]

Both of my kids used quilts - I would also think the crib sheets would be more apt to tangle and be a problem! The quilts were usually the only thing in the crib that wasn't all in a bunch. Maybe it's the filler that causes the concern. Some fillers emit vapors (kinda like new carpet) that can be harmful .... hmmmm..... I'm thinking this is one of those urban myths that goes around to scare the be-jesus out of new parents!

[ErinC]

Actually, the new thing is no blankets at all on the baby(when sleeping). They don't want you to use bumpers in the crib or stuffed toys. I guess your supposed to just dress your baby like an eskimo when you put them to bed. It's kinda funny to me how all the "rules" change in between babies. Mine range from 3 to 10 and it seems with each newborn, a new set of instructions was given. I'm sure she'll use the quilt for something, maybe just not in the way you orginally intended. I use to love to lay my babies on a nice soft quilt on the floor for some tummy time. The comforters that came with the bedding sets were pretty much just decoration in my kids rooms. I either would just use them on a rocking chair, or fold them across the end of the crib (which would be considered a no-no by the Pediatric association people). If this is her first child, than this is probably what she has heard. Go ahead and make the quilt. It will be a wonderful keepsake for the baby when it is older. My girls still tote some of their baby quilts in the car to keep them warm on trips and cooler winter mornings. Here's a website that gives some info on the infant bedding (not that I agree with it all, but this is where it comes from)

http://www.randolphcountyhealth.org/docs/phs/infant_sleep.html

Best of luck to you! Have fun making your quilt.

[Ginger]

I'm a quilter too. When I make a baby quilt, I make it twin or lap size. That way the Mom can use it on the floor and the baby can play on it. Many of my friends are having/have had children and they don't use anything in the crib. Like Erin said, they dress them like an Eskimo. :)

Why don't you ask your Step-Daughter what she would like- a wall hanging or a floor quilt or a quilt for when the baby gets a "real bed"?

[Stimpy]

I agree with Erin and Kristy. I wouldn't take it as an insult but I understand why you would :hug: If she's a first time Mommy, she'll probably hear a million different rules. 1st timers tend to listen to all the books, magazines etc like they are the Bible. By the 2nd they start to relax and do things more their own way.

We also heard no blankets, sheets etc. The babies were supposed to sleep in these really weird little sleeping bag things that they got tangled in more than any blanket.

With all the new baby rules, it's amazing we all made it to adulthood! ;)

BTW, I do have a quilt hanging on DD's wall and it looks pretty. It's only hanging b/c it was store-bought and feels very stiff and uncomfortable.

Maybe you can make it large enough for a toddler bed or twin bed? Then after using it for decoration, they can use it for bedding when the baby gets older.

And if you really need someone to appreciate the quilt, I'm redecorating DD's room soon and moving her to the toddler bed :hahahaha:

[AFMom]

Ya know, rita, have you ever heard of the sleeping bag type things that babies sleep in in Germany? My SIL sent us one when the kids were tiny - it didn't really work until they were about 4 months old, but then they were able to use it until they were almost 2. It's made of quilted material, you place them in it, zip them up.... it has almost a tank style top to it and then is a a bag on the bottom - nice because they can't kick it off and get cold at night!
It'd be a great way to still use a quit you made! I'll see if there are any on the internet......

[ghost1000]

This is a rare instance when I'm using a kit, but I fell in love with the design and the fabrics. Here's a sample picture of what the quilt will look like when it's completed. The size will be approximately 46" x 62".

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/ghost1000/mouseowne/quilt.jpg

One of my quilting buddies says she always washes the baby quilt before she gives it to someone. She includes a note that says, "I have already washed the quilt so don't hang it on the wall but use it for the baby. I don't care if you spread it on the floor for the baby to lay on or wrap dirty diapers up in it, but use the quilt -- do not hang it on the wall."

[lllovell]

Rita, that is a wonderfully sweet gift and I am sure your stepdaughter is being over paranoid and bless her soul, it is almost impossible NOT to have these feelings as you get so much unsolicited and solicited advice! I had to stop reading those baby books when I was pregnant with my first because they seem over the top about EVERYTHING!

Tell her that you still would like to make the quilt and that you would love for her to use it for the baby in any way she sees fit and offer the suggestions of having it for floor play time, a take along blanket for visiting others, a colorful bit of stimulation laid over the back seat (which the baby will face for a year) for longer trips in the car, etc.

The whole not using blankets thing is just crazy to me. At first, you swaddle them and they can't move, but once they can, are you supposed to keep your house 85 degrees? We used the sleeper blankets but PJ is already too tall for them. She sleeps every might with two blankets on her (we keep it chilly in our house) and footy pajamas. I suppose I can understand the fear of a very small baby rolling over and not being able to breathe, but once a baby is bigger, I just can't see that happening. I also think a quilt would be GREAT for putting UNDER the baby while sleeping since they tend to be flat and not puffy like comforters. You aren't supposed to use puffy things under the baby for smothering fears as well.

A quilt will really come in handy and I would give your grandbaby your beautiful quilt and hope her mommy comes around! We have used two quilts for ours and they still come in handy!

Laura

[crazywig]

yes it's true, every baby website/book will scream at you to not put a thing in the crib. it's to prevent SIDS..i don't agree with a lot of the 'evidence' but that's another topic.

i did put a blanket on my kids, but a smaller thin one, or an afghan type. any quilts or heavy blankets i received i used on the floor to play. i am sure a handmade gift will be more than appreciated!! if not, just send it along to me :laughing:

[ghost1000]

i am sure a handmade gift will be more than appreciated!! if not, just send it along to me :laughing:


Sorry, Stimpy's got first dibs on the quilt. But if you twist my arm I may consider raffling it off.

[TW1]

By the 2nd they start to relax and do things more their own way.And by the 3rd kid they're lucky they even get a bed

[pollymn]

I can't really coment on the new baby rules, it's been a looooooong time since
I've had a baby in the house, but I know that my son was completely attacthed to the baby quilt I made him. Even if she can't use it now, like others have said she could hang it on the baby's crib. With all the beautifull
colors, I'm sure the baby will be entertained.
Polly

[ghost1000]

Several years ago I made a baby quilt for a co-worker. Since I put the baby's name on the label, I needed to wait until the baby was born, but once that happened I sent it to my co-worker. She called me one day and thanked me, but appeared less than enthused about it (or maybe she was just tired that day). About a year and a half later, she told me how much Sarah loved her baby quilt, and how Sarah would play peek-a-boo with it, and how Sarah would drag it around the house with her, etc. Sarah was her second child, and one of the few things that wasn't hand-me-down was the baby quilt I made for her.

I still haven't convinced myself that I want to continue to make the baby quilt, but I should keep in mind that it's for the baby, not for Hollie (as long as the baby eventually gets a chance to use it).

[TW1]

Make the quilt and save it. When the kid gets older, give it to them and let them play with it when they visit you at your house.

[jiggerj]

I think that your gift is very sweet one and alot of hard work- I cant sew to save my life and a stapler has worked in the past for me in a pinch- :innocent: All of my kids received beautiful handmade quilts when they were born- They still have them- I feel there is something very special about a handmade quilt and feel that they should be appreciated- obviously my kids didnt when they were little babies but as they grew older they were great to cuddle up with- "Hey...That was MY blankie!"

The colors that are in the quilt you have chosen are WONDERFUL!!!

[nono]

Once again--THANK GOD I ADOPTED AT AN OLD AGE!!!!! None of these "rules" filtered through to me and I somehow managed my daugther to a ripe old age of 2.5!

Holy CRAP! (as Everybody Loves Raymond's father would say!) If you think this is bad, try going to Baby R Us and asking about a baby pillow. (seriously). My daughter was used to having a baby-sized pillow for the first 12 months of her life and was sleeping on her stuffed dog. I asked in a Babys R Us if there were any infant-sized pillows and got lectures from 2 retail sales clerks about 1/2 my age why I should not consider that concept.

I asked them if they thought it was better for a child to not sleep every night or to possibly expose this highly intelligent being to something she managed for the first year of her life to not use to kill herself...and it was wayyyyyy beyond their comprehension.

Thankfully, my MIL got a pillow made and sent to D! D has since graduated to a full sized pillow, which at 2.5 is probably against some rule about parenting. :holymoly:

We have about 8 blankets at the bottom of D's bed, and she picks which one she will sleep with (and she feels free to change them out overnight). We feel honored by all of the gifts of blankets and so does she. Ahhh, experts...they make me sick!!!! Anyone recall the movie "Sleeper?" :D

[Colorado Belle]

One thing about those rules...about every ten years they completely flip flop. Like sleeping on your tummy..or sleeping on your back. Hey, it's tuff to be a kid!

Try not to take this personally.....I think that for your step d, that hanging a quilt on the wall is akin to hanging a beautiful piece of artwork. Perhaps she believes she is honoring you.

I sew, but don't quilt (tho I made a few for MY baby). I never realized that quilters would prefer that you use their gifts on the bed instead of hanging them on the wall. OOPS!

I'm sure that eventually either the step d or the baby or both will come to love and enjoy that hand[made quilt.....it looks lovely!

[TW1]

Once again--THANK GOD I ADOPTED AT AN OLD AGE!!!!! None of these "rules" filtered through to me and I somehow managed my daugther to a ripe old age of 2.5!

Holy CRAP! (as Everybody Loves Raymond's father would say!) If you think this is bad, try going to Baby R Us and asking about a baby pillow. (seriously). My daughter was used to having a baby-sized pillow for the first 12 months of her life and was sleeping on her stuffed dog. I asked in a Babys R Us if there were any infant-sized pillows and got lectures from 2 retail sales clerks about 1/2 my age why I should not consider that concept.

I asked them if they thought it was better for a child to not sleep every night or to possibly expose this highly intelligent being to something she managed for the first year of her life to not use to kill herself...and it was wayyyyyy beyond their comprehension.

Thankfully, my MIL got a pillow made and sent to D! D has since graduated to a full sized pillow, which at 2.5 is probably against some rule about parenting. :holymoly:

We have about 8 blankets at the bottom of D's bed, and she picks which one she will sleep with (and she feels free to change them out overnight). We feel honored by all of the gifts of blankets and so does she. Ahhh, experts...they make me sick!!!! Anyone recall the movie "Sleeper?" :D
I sense alot of therapy in your daughter's future - way too much warmth and security in your household.

[CRSNDSNY]

Amelia is nearly 1 and a half yo and we just started putting her down with a blanket. We were taught in the NICU that you should never put a baby to bed with a pillow, soft toys, loose sheets, blankets or using the bumper guards. They put a baby at higher risk for SIDS.

Now, when a baby's brain is better developed (nearing a year old), if they accidentally cover their mouth or faces with something, their brain kicks in and reacts to it. When they're younger their brain hasn't developed that skill yet.

We have some beautiful blankets and my inclination was to hang a beautiful quilt on a wall to display. You can also display it on a quilting rack.

[PoohsPal]

I crochet and it used to be that the babies could sleep with an afghan, as they had holes. No more. However, a quilt fr on the floor or when they get older is wonderful. My niece did not really use her afghan for the first 2 years, but has loved it since. SHe's 9 now. Even if it won't get used right away, it will mean something to your baby. DOn't even think about trying to convince a new mom that the books are wrong, though. ;)

BTW, I did an afghan for a friend's wedding. I tied it in a bow for packaging purposes adn 4 years later, it's still that way. I put instructions in it that it had been washed and that it could be washed again, but she wouldn't do it. However, it is in a sho place in her house. Took me a while to realizie that that was an honor in itself. She is very picky about her house. So, although it may not be the intnded use, it's used in their way and makes them happy. Isn't that what I really wanted?

lol about the pillow nono. The standing oke at our house is that a child starts with a brick and then moves up to a board....

[ghost1000]

I did some thinking and made a decision. I'll finish the baby quilt. However, I'm not planning to give it to Hollie. It will be a Christmas present to the baby next year.

[withdisneyspirit]

And a very lucky baby she will be too to have a grandmomma make her such a beautiful quilt :goodvibes

[ErinC]

I did some thinking and made a decision. I'll finish the baby quilt. However, I'm not planning to give it to Hollie. It will be a Christmas present to the baby next year.

Rita, I think that's a wonderful idea! Post a picture when you are finished with it.

[CRSNDSNY]

Rita - I think that's a great idea!
Amelia is about 1 1/2 now and is just now really enjoying all of the blankets she got as gifts...especially the handmade ones!