How Many Muslins Do You Need? A UK Parent's Guide

Most families do well with 8 to 12 muslins in the first few months, with a few more if you are using them for everything. That is enough to keep a clean one in the changing bag, one by each place you feed and burp, and a spare for the inevitable laundry backlog. The number matters less than what you use them for, because the safety rules differ: the Lullaby Trust says muslins have no place loose in a cot, and a muslin draped over a pram is a very different thing from a proper sunshade. This guide covers how many muslins you need, what size and weight to look for, and the uses that are fine and the ones to avoid.

How many muslins do you actually need?

There is no official number, so treat this as a practical rule of thumb rather than a rule. Newborns spit up, dribble and leak in unpredictable bursts, and a muslin is the cheapest thing to grab when it happens. Here is a sensible starting stash:

• Changing bag: 2 muslins. One for mess, one spare.
• Where you feed and burp: 2 to 3 in the room you use most, plus 1 to 2 in a second spot such as the bedroom or living room.
• Pram or car: 1 to 2 kept in the pram basket or glovebox for emergencies.
• In the wash: 3 to 4, because you will be washing them almost daily.

That adds up to roughly 10 to 12. If your baby is a frequent spitter, aim for the top of the range or beyond; if you are mostly bottle feeding at the table with a bib, 6 to 8 may do. Buying one large multipack is usually cheaper per cloth than several small premium packs, and you can add a couple of nicer ones later. If you are building your wider list, our guide to baby gear you don’t actually need shows where muslins sit among the genuine essentials.

What size and material should you look for?

Muslins are woven cotton squares, and the main differences are size, layers and price.

Size

Standard supermarket and own-brand muslins are typically around 60 x 60 cm, which is plenty for burping and wiping. Larger squares of about 70 cm, such as the aden + anais Essentials muslin squares, are more useful as a light shoulder cover or feeding cover, but cost more per cloth. The Done by Deer double-layered muslins are listed at approximately 65 cm.

Single or double layer

Single-layer muslins dry quickly and fold small. Double-layered ones feel softer and absorb a little more, but take longer to dry. Neither is safer than the other, so choose on how much washing and drying you are willing to do.

Organic and certified cotton

Certified organic cotton, such as the GOTS-certified Etta Loves sensory muslins we list at about £26 for three, is a material upgrade if it matters to you, but it is not needed for the job. Specifications here are as stated by the manufacturers; we have not hands-on tested these products. You can compare every muslin we list on our muslins and burp cloths category page.

What muslins are good for

• Burping and spit-up: the classic use. Keep one over your shoulder or on your lap.
• Wiping faces, hands and surfaces: softer than kitchen roll and washable.
• Changing mat cover: a quick, clean layer on top of the changing mat, changed after each accident.
• Feeding cover: if you like a little privacy, a larger muslin works as a light cover while breastfeeding.
• Light swaddle: covered below, with the safety rules that apply.
• Tummy-time or floor blanket: a clean square to lay under your baby during supervised play.

Safe swaddling with a muslin

The Lullaby Trust says to use a lightweight material such as a thin muslin or thin cot sheet for swaddling, not a blanket, because a blanket could cause your baby to overheat. Its wider swaddling guidance is worth reading in full: keep the swaddle looser around the hips so their legs can move, always lay your baby on their back, keep their head uncovered, and stop swaddling with the arms wrapped once your baby shows signs of trying to roll. If you are deciding between a swaddle and something else for night time, our guide to swaddles versus sleep sacks goes through it in detail.

What not to do with a muslin

Don’t leave one loose in the cot or Moses basket

The Lullaby Trust advises keeping the cot clear of any items that could cover your baby’s face and head, such as bumpers, toys and loose bedding, and says babies are at a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) if their heads are covered. A muslin left in the cot, tucked in as a “comforter” or draped over the side, is exactly the sort of loose fabric it means. Babies need a firm, flat, waterproof mattress and lightweight bedding that is firmly tucked in. That is why muslins are a great everyday cloth but not part of the sleep space. If you are setting up the sleep area, our guide to choosing between a cot, cot bed and Moses basket is a good next step.

Don’t drape one over the pram as a sunshade

The Lullaby Trust says prams should not be covered with blankets, cloths or any cover that prevents air circulating, because this could lead to overheating, which increases the chance of SIDS. Instead, it advises a clip-on sunshade to keep your baby out of direct sunlight, with their temperature monitored to avoid overheating. So keep your muslin for spit-up and use a proper shade for sun.

Looking after your muslins

Wash new muslins before first use, since they tend to be stiff and slightly shrink at first. Most cotton muslins are machine washable and get softer with each wash, but care instructions vary: some brands say to line dry or avoid tumble drying, so check the label. Rotate them so the same few do not take all the wear, and retire any that have holes or fraying, because loose threads are not something you want near a baby’s fingers.

The short version

Buy about a dozen muslins in a multipack, add one or two larger ones if you want a versatile cover, and use them for burping, wiping, light swaddling and feeding. Keep them out of the cot and off the pram, and you have one of the cheapest and most useful bits of baby kit.