bakermom

what is your source of information for the "danger"? I've made/used both tied and rag quilts for nearly 30 years. noone ever mentioned this as being a problem for them with their babies.

Candace

Common sense is my source.

Mattee

As a mom, I am well aware of the danger of SIDS and leaving an infant unattended with a blanket of any sort. However, my common sense, such as it is, tells me that if a well washed rag quilt (the long threads removed in the wash) were too dangerous for a supervised infant, many of the books and toys that are intentionally made with varying materials such as ribbons to stimulate a baby would also be too dangerous. I just don't buy it. Just supervise your kids.

jljack

I would say any strings coming off the fringed fabrics would be very short and not really a choking hazard, and after a few washings there wouldn't be any left to fall off. Not sure I would put one on a tiny infant, but after a few months I cannot see any danger. As above, a lot of toys given are much more dangerous with glued on embellishments, painted on faces, ribbons, bows, fringes, etc.

moonangel12

I was thinking the same thing. Last I heard, regulations state that any strings or ribbons must be 6" or shorter so as to lessen the strangulation risk (this was while studying in college so in the last 5 years things might have changed - they seem to change their minds every few months anyway!). If lint or fuzz is the concern, I would think dolls with yarn hair would be bad, too. Once it is properly washed and dried a few times any lint "danger" (if there is one) is pretty much gone. I would think a rag quilt would be a good texture for babies. There is a whole company marketing tag items that haven't posed any obvious risks yet or I am sure they would have been pulled of the market by now. There are going to be freak accidents, but you can't really raise a child in a plastic bubble?

As for the original question, I have never made a rag quilt before, but 3 layers of flannel should be fine. I used one that was 2 layers during the spring and summer or to nurse b/c it seemed too light weight for much warmth. I would use it with my baby, especially in the car or on the floor. When they were itty bitty, baby blankets were perfect for tummy time and impromptu naps while away from home.

bakermom

That is the point I wanted to make.

Candace

Anyone who has experience making rag quilts knows sometimes a slight tug of the material will pull off pieces of fabric. Very easy to stick in the mouth and swallow. No I don't raise my children in bubbles, but I also don't want them dead. My great uncle died at 2 1/2 years old from a choking hazzard. So, I wouldn't intentionally put danger in my child's path, either.

If you feel it's safe enough, that's your decision.

Qbee

Goodness....poor FMD36....all you wanted to know was how thick to make the filling!!

quiltmaker

Not to cause a problem here but most of us who had children over 30 years ago mananged to raise them perfectly well. Our daughters are now beseiged with horrors and concerns we never thought about and frankly I think most of it is ridiculous. Makes for very nervous mothers. We all were given common sense so my opinion is to use your own. Every couple of years the medical profession changes everything anyway...so unless something is proven absolutely life threatening I would suggest using your common sense. Good grief we wrapped our babies up in flannel receiving blankets in bed oftentimes with a quilt or afgan on top for warmth. I don't understand how we did it and the mothers before us did it with no problems and now everyone has problems with it.

quiltmaker

I apologize for getting off your topic but allowed the other opinions to take over. My suggestion would be to use the flannel with your backing being a cotton print I think using a thin cotton batt would be just fine and not to warm. The mother would know if or when her child was too warm and could use something else she has if necessary.