Top 5 Ways to Use a Baby Blanket, Part 4: Touchy Feely
In yesterday’s blog post, I reminisced about how to use lighter-weight blankets.
Thick blankies will be today’s focus. The bumpy ones, the ones with fringes and mysteries stitched in.
While a versatile blanket will support your baby’s overall development, a blanket that offers interesting textures will specifically stimulate motor development, body self awareness, and intellectual development.
What an interesting blankie looks like.
Some of them are made of terry cloth. Some double as bath towels. Others look like a combination stuffed animal/soft blanket. My favorites are safely constructed, boldly decorated, and have job descriptions.
One corner of the blankie might have a compelling (color-contrasting) appliqued animal or image (visual stimulation). In another corner, perhaps there will be a soundmaker (rattle? squeaker?) embedded (auditory stimulation). There might be corduroy patch or a fuzzy square sewn into the design so that when baby scoots around, his fingertips discover a new sensation as part of his reward for daring to explore (tactile stimulation). If the blanket is made of non-raveling felt, the edges might sport a fascinating fringe, perfect for fingering and flicking (self-soothing). Like a good book, the blanket might offer (cloth) flaps for opening, tugging, crinkling, or closing. Again and again (object permanence stimulation).
More developmental benefits of a touchy feely baby blanket.
Settled babies (3-4 months) and older babies (6 months and up) are bringing together just the right combination of skills that help them make the most of a blanket that has stimulating features.
The following areas of development will grow as a result of tactile exploration:
- Intellectual – thinking skills first show up as curiosity. New textures will spark new questions, finding out the answers will spark new brain connections.
- Gross motor (large muscles; arm, for example) – Each new day brings more practice at reaching out to grab items of interest.
- Fine motor (small muscles; hands/fingers, for example) – Each new grab brings an opportunity to touch, poke, squeeze the loot your baby hauls in.
- Emotional – your baby will develop his own preferences for textures. Some children detest goopiness, some revel in it.
Tomorrow, in the finale of this series, we will see why sometimes a blankie is just a blanket.
to be continued…..
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Carly Jennings | Parenting Skills | 
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