About Flannel Burp Cloths
All babies spit up--sometimes a lot. Even though spit up is a fact of infant life, it doesn't have to ruin your clothes and drip onto your furniture. Burp cloths are designed to catch and absorb baby spit. Flannel burp clothes are especially absorbent and soft against you and your baby's skin.
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Function
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Babies typically spit up because they have an underdeveloped esophageal valve and immature muscle control, have allergies or reflex, or, if breastfeeding, the milk is coming in too fast with a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance. As babies grow older, spitting up will become less of a problem. In the meantime, you can minimize stains and spills by arming yourself and your home with strategically placed burp cloths. Flannel burp cloths are also useful in absorbing leaks of breast milk and can be used as a small nursing privacy shield.
Types
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Flannel burp cloths come in a variety of styles and patterns. You can buy flannel burp cloths in big-name stores or have them custom made from a work-at-home-mom (WAHM). Many WAHMs will allow you to pick your fabric and with the wide selection of flannel available, you're sure to find one that will fit your style. Organic flannel is becoming increasingly popular because it is grown without the use of chemicals.
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Features
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Some flannel burp cloths are fitted to your baby like a bib. Others contain pockets so the spit-up won't slide onto the floor when you're burping a baby over your shoulder. Burp cloths may also have flannel on one side and another fabric, like minkee or terry cloth, on the other. There are many styles and features to choose from, especially if you plan on making your own.
Size
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Just as burp cloths come in many styles, they also can be found in an array of sizes. A typical size is 11 by 17 inches or 8 by 20 inches. Most burp cloths are large enough to be draped over a shoulder, but some are smaller to fit easily in a diaper bag. Flannel burp cloths may be either one or two layers thick. The more layers, the more absorbent a burp cloth will be.
Considerations
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If you're crafty or even if you're a beginning sewer, you can make your own burp cloths with minimal effort. They make thoughtful gifts for new parents-to-be and are sure to be a welcome addition at any baby shower. Simply find two coordinating pieces of flannel and trace out a pattern. You may want to round the edges. Wash and iron the flannel and place them together with the right sides facing each other. Now cut your fabric and sew it together, leaving a gap so you can turn the fabric inside out. Flatten the seams, finish sewing, and tie the burp cloths with a ribbon.
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Resources
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