Look, I know you have, like, 50 baby blankets. Unless your great grandma hand-quilted them, you probably only need 7: one for baby to love on right now, three that baby has loved on (that are in the dirty laundry pile because: so much spit up) and three more that baby will love on (as soon as so much spit up happens – again.)

So go donate a bunch to the local NICU or give them to that new pregnant lady at work. Unless you’ve hit the mother load. And are sitting on top of a huge pile of momma’s best friend: the humble fleece blanket. Then keep on hording!

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How to use a fleece blanket

Here are 10 ways to re-purpose your fleece blankets.

1. Bedspread

(Duh.) My 3-year-old absolutely loves this hideous deer blanket. And I’m pretty sure it’ll appeal to his 10-year-old self, too. Guessing I can skip the Laura Ashley bedspread for him. (Does anyone actually know who Laura Ashley is these days? Am I just that old?) Also, when he does finally get tired of it, we can always donate it to the dog.

2. Midnight bed-wetting mom-hack

As in your night-time BFF when your kid wets the bed. Throw that blanket down on top of the wet spot and toss the sleepy kid right on top of the blanket. You can wrestle with the sheets in the morning.

3. Swim suit car seat saver

Thus solving the old pool trip conundrum: do I change the kid’s clothes at the pool or drive everyone home all wet to deal with when we get home? Lay the blanket between the kid and car seat. Works for mommas, too.

4. Picnic blanket

Keep one handy in the car at all times. For the impromptu picnic-by-the-sea. Or to place under baby when dining out to keep the restaurant floor a little less crumb-filled. Or to guard against hypothermia in a snow storm.

5. Diaper changing pad

As in you can change the baby’s diaper in your trunk or on the ground or on a random picnic table or on one of those (gag me) public restroom changing tables.

6. Super easy, no-sew, crib railing, bite guard

Why pay for a fancy plastic one when you can make your own in 15 minutes? Grab a pair of scissors and prepare to get all Pinterest-y. Check out the pattern below: the length of the finished product should be slightly longer than your crib (probably 54″), with the ties about 6″ across so you can tie it on between each rail.

7. Car seat vomit guard

Similar to number 3 above. Kid (or dog) throws up in car and you still have 3 hours to go (true story). Clean things up as best you can. Buy one of those vanilla car air fresheners. Then place blanket between the poor little sick one and the vomit-ladened car seat, and carry on.

8. Wall hanging

If you like my deer blanket, feel free to get your own on Amazon and create an outdoorsy theme in your kid’s room. (Or in hubby’s man cave.)

9. Creative play toy

Drape it across 2 chairs and you’ve got a fort. Throw it over your toddler’s head and you’ve got peek-a-boo. Wave it like a matador at the dog and you’ve got a bull fight. Pin it to your kid’s shirt and you’ve got a super hero.

10. Black-out curtain for the car

No sleeping babe’s beauty sleep should be disturbed by pesky lights during your 6-hour night trip. Simply hang the blanket over baby’s car seat by suspending it from one head rest to the other – this will allow air to circulate, while keeping out street lamps and hellishly BRIGHT car lights. Sleeping babe means driving sanity for momma! (Have you noticed a theme here? You should keep a fleece blanket in your car….)

Bonus ideas

I could go on…

Fleece blanket as cloth diaper liners, tissues, party tablecloth, napkins, actual black-out curtains, momma cloth – especially after labor and delivery when your tushy is too shocked for abrasive pads.

Comment below with your own fleece blanket re-purposing tips or on Facebook at MothersRest.

Photo credit, featured image: from pixabay.com