Is Velcro Bad for Babies?

Updated on August 12, 2008
M.F. asks from Highland Park, IL
14 answers

I am expecting our first child within the next 4 weeks and am busy getting things ready in the house that I will know that I need. I was planning on getting the "swaddle me blankets" but someone told me that velcro was bad for babies. I tried to do a google search but got no results. I decided to ask you all because you usually have good advice. I am also getting regular swaddling blankets as well as a miracle blanket but thought the swaddle me would be good for my parents, husband, and possibly me in case I can't get the hang of the other blankets. So, does anyone know if velcro is bad for babies? Thanks!

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C.D.

answers from Springfield on

I've never heard anything bad about velcro. In fact many of my daughter's clothes and the swaddle blankets we used had it. Which by the way are the greatest invention EVER for swaddle idiots like me.

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C.S.

answers from Chicago on

If velcro was bad for babies the baby industry would have some serious problems. There are VELCRO tabs on almost everything...even disposable diapers use a velcro type closure.

Don't worry about VELCRO, praise it for being there when you only have one hand to close a bib, open a bag, or when you are diapering a wiggly baby!

Congrats on your first!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.M.

answers from Chicago on

Just another consideration when it comes to actually swaddling your baby -- my son HATED to have his arms in so we would leave them out and just swaddle his body. He's 2 now and still doesn't like having his arms under blankets. (Maybe he was TOO squished up in the womb and wants his arms free - who knows!?)

Congrats and I don't think the velcro is harmful as long as they're not eating it. ; )

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S.C.

answers from Chicago on

I don't think you have anything to worry about. I have never heard that about velcro and I agree with the mother who said it's on everything...because it is! Shoes, hats, jackets, blankets, etc etc. Don't worry about it. Just make sure it's not in an area where it can rub the baby's skin.

BTW, I also got the Swaddle Me blankets and never used them. Let's just say I was very prepared for having my first child arrive, I had every single thing you could possibly think of. I know better now. Simple blankets for basic swaddling are fine. Those Swaddle Me blankets aren't cheap and I think I have 3 or 4 that I literally never used one time. Plus babies are swaddled for only so long and then they're moving, having tummy time, etc. So although it's great to be prepared, just buy 1 and see how you like it before investing more into them.

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V.L.

answers from Chicago on

The Swaddle Me blankets are great! We used it with our son (our first) who is now 6.5 months. It makes swaddling such a breeze. They never come undone and they stay tight. I don't think velcro is bad for babies. Sometimes the noise of really strong velcro could startle a baby. Maybe that's what people mean. The small patches of velcro on the swaddle blankets don't make too much noise. My diaper bag has velcro and sometimes when I pull it abruptly my little guy might jump. Congrats on your upcoming baby!

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A.S.

answers from Chicago on

I've never heard of that. We use the swaddleme blankets...they are great! velcro is on everything for babies/kids....my cloth diapers have them, my preschoolers shoes...bibs....I wouldn't worry about it.

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B.M.

answers from Bloomington on

Well, I guess if they ate the velcro....all kidding aside, the others have covered the velcro issue...as for swaddling...neither of mine were swaddled, we used sleepsacks (DS is 2 and still has one)...I think it depends on your child...mine were fine in the sleepsacks, they are still awesome sleepers...they slept through the night at about 8 weeks (and were nursing so i I usually had to wake them to feed them).

B.

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K.M.

answers from Chicago on

I would wait to see if your baby even likes swaddling before you spend the money on those. Some babies actually hate being swaddled. I bought one of those and mine didn't seem to fit in it nicely. Plus, she didn't want her arms in so I figured it ended up being a waste of money in the end.

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J.K.

answers from Chicago on

Never heard that one. I have noticed though, that if your baby has bibs with velcro closures, the hook side sometimes scratches and causes abrasions on the back of baby's neck.

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A.R.

answers from Chicago on

Personally, I would have a hard time believing that velcro would be bad for babies. The SwaddleME blankets with the velcro tabs are an absolute Godsend for those babies who want that 'in utero' feeling. The regular swaddling blankets are okay...if you don't have a squirmer and if your baby doesn't grow all that much (lol).

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C.W.

answers from Chicago on

while i agree with the other posters (velcro is probably a-ok, some babies do not like to be swaddled, babies do outgrow the need for swaddling quickly, you can use a receiving blanket to swaddle, you have to be careful not to over-heat a summer baby, etc...) i do recommend a product called "the amazing miracle blanket" - look for it online. its a total no-brainer for the origami challenged and it keeps babies totally snuggy. my baby was a summer preemie, so we were home (in the quite cool a/c) quite a bit and he did need a layer of wrap, especially for sleeping...some people might not like how the blanket's internal flaps keep the child's arms in place, but i tell you, it really worked!

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C.S.

answers from Chicago on

Be careful about swaddling. Swaddling the arms does not allow them to show you feeding cues (hands to mouth). If you respond to early feeding cues- you have a happier baby that does not cry as much

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G.H.

answers from Chicago on

I don't know about those blankets but make sure the hospital nurses teach you the proper way to bind the baby in the blanket so the arms are not flailing around causing scratches to you. Binding gives them a sense of security because they're bound up in your tummy for 9 months. The longer you keep them like that, the more secure they feel.

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H.D.

answers from Chicago on

I could only figure that it may scratch the baby. The harness in the carseat scratches my baby all the time. But I can't think of any health risk. @ N.W. Community someof the nurses did not swandle because they believe that it can leed to overheating (which is very serious especially with a summer baby) and breathing issue as the baby sleeps. I did not swadle my baby but millions of moms have so I guess it's alright. I would make sure that the velcro never comes loose so it can't be pulled off.

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