A Baby Shower Classic

A waffle blanket is a heavy-weight, yet thin blanket with a textured pattern of indented squares, like the surface of a waffle. They make excellent throw blankets for keeping warm on chilly evenings and they're a great gift for baby showers, as they're much warmer than most baby blankets. They're usually made of cotton, though waffle baby blankets are also made of flannel, fleece, or wool for additional warmth.

The waffle blanket is great for snuggling up on the couch when there's a nip in the air. Waffle baby blankets are sure to keep your baby or toddler cozy in their crib, yet the texture is thin enough to keep from smothering or overheating your baby. Waffle baby blankets lend a luxurious and sophisticated air to a nursery and can "spice up" an otherwise dull couch or chair when used as a throw blanket.

Strange Name.. Great Texture

The waffle blanket is so named because of its textured pattern of indented squares. This distinctive pattern is what makes the blanket so effective at retaining heat without smothering. While the thick lines between the squares hold in warmth, the thinner areas of fabric allow your body heat to disperse. The effect of wrapping yourself in a waffle blanket is similar to putting on a breathable, heavy-weight shirt.

This is why the waffle blanket is one of the most popular baby blankets. Most baby blankets are either too thin, providing no warmth at all, or they're created more for appearance than function, and are realistically too puffy and thick to be anywhere near a sleeping infant. Waffle baby blankets are heavy and warm, but breatheable. Where the long and puffy fibers on many baby blankets poses a breathing risk, waffle baby blankets are tightly woven, presenting no risk of possible aspiration.

Often Imitated, Never Duplicated

Due to its popularity and its refined appearance, the name "waffle blanket" is occasionally given to blankets that imitate the waffle texture, but share none of its other qualities. When shopping for blankets you should manually check the blanket to be sure it's the genuine article. A waffle blanket should be less than an inch deep; the pattern of squares should be raised, and you ought to be able to feel the pattern when you touch the blanket. Many false waffle blankets have a square pattern printed on them, without actually having the texture. Waffle blankets and waffle baby blankets also have a distinct weight to them, so that they hang naturally when draped over something. Even waffle baby blankets, which might be made of blended cottons or synthetic fibers, should have a nice weight to them. This is part of the charm of the waffle blanket: the weight.

Quality waffle blankets aren't cheap, but they're durable, flexible, and well worth the cost. Hospitals use them in patients' beds and as baby blankets because of their breathable quality and pleasant weight. Despite having an odd name, the waffle blanket is an enduring classic.