Handmade baby shawls are having a moment. Or perhaps they never really went out of fashion. Either way, there is something about a beautifully made wool shawl that no acrylic blanket will ever come close to matching.

Sleeping newborn baby wrapped in a white lace christening shawl by Mabel and Moose newborn photographer Dundee

Before you were pregnant, baby shawls were probably not something that crossed your mind. But now that a new little life is on the way, the world of newborn linen suddenly opens up and it can feel a little overwhelming. Muslins, comforters, swaddles, shawls, blankets, sleeping bags, the list goes on.

So let us concentrate on baby shawls.

Premature Sleeping newborn baby wrapped in a white lace christening shawl by Mabel and Moose newborn photographer Dundee

Mother cradling her sleeping newborn baby wrapped in a white lace shawl at Mabel and Moose studio Dundee

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BABY SHAWL AND A BABY BLANKET

This is one of the most common questions new parents ask. Blankets are thicker and considerably heavier. A knitted blanket is never as fine or as delicate as a traditionally made baby shawl.

Shawls are light, often lacy, and can have beautiful scalloped edges. The lacework should be very fine as larger patterns can trap tiny fingers. Blankets still have their place and are generally less expensive, so most families end up with one shawl and a few blankets alongside it.

Shawls are really for the newborn to twelve week stage, sometimes called the fourth trimester, when your baby is adjusting to life outside the womb. A super soft shawl gives them the perfect cocoon to rest in, helping them feel safe and secure in those early weeks.

Close up of newborn baby feet wrapped in a white lace christening shawl by Mabel and Moose Dundee

HOW MANY BABY SHAWLS DO I NEED

Shawls need careful washing but dry very quickly, so one is usually enough unless your budget stretches to two. If you are expecting twins, two is the minimum.

Twin babies lying on a white christening shawl photographed by Mabel and Moose newborn photographer Dundee

WHY INVEST IN A BABY SHAWL

Wrapping your newborn in a fine wool shawl is like tucking them into a soft cloud. It weighs almost nothing and your baby will not have the weight of a heavy blanket on their tiny limbs.

Your baby will sleep in it, be carried in it and spend much of those early weeks wrapped in it. The material is gentle against their skin and the warmth of it is genuinely comforting for a brand new baby.

One day, years from now, you will find it wrapped in tissue at the back of a drawer and every feeling from those first days will come flooding back. And if you are lucky enough to become a grandparent, wrapping your first grandchild in that same shawl will be one of the most emotional moments of your life.

WHAT MATERIAL IS BEST FOR A BABY SHAWL

Shawls are made from wool, merino wool, cashmere, acrylic and cotton. My favourites are all made by G.H. Hurt, a wonderful British company who have been making baby shawls for generations. The Elegant Soft Wool Shawl, the Super-Fine Merino Wool Christening Shawl and the Cosy Cashmere Shawl are all beautiful.

Super-fine merino wool is particularly good because it is exceptionally breathable, keeping your baby at just the right temperature whatever the season.

Sleeping newborn baby with red hair wrapped in a white lace GH Hurt shawl by Mabel and Moose photographer Dundee

WHAT SIZE IS BEST FOR A BABY SHAWL

Shawls should be generous in size. Because the material is so finely knitted it never feels bulky even when wrapped around a tiny baby. My favourite is 124 x 116cm, large enough to swaddle comfortably without being unwieldy.

Awake baby lying on a white surface wrapped in a white christening shawl at Mabel and Moose studio Dundee

WHY ARE HANDMADE SHAWLS SO EXPENSIVE

Each shawl takes two full days to knit and hand finish using traditional artisan techniques. You are not buying a blanket, you are investing in something that is genuinely crafted to last for generations. Kept carefully, a beautiful wool shawl will be passed down through your family long after your baby has grown up.

Mother smiling and cradling her sleeping newborn baby at Mabel and Moose newborn photography studio Dundee

BABY SHOWER GIFTS

A baby shawl makes one of the most thoughtful and lasting baby shower gifts you can give. It will be used from the very first days and treasured long after. If you are looking for a gift that is genuinely special rather than just practical, this is it.

Awake newborn baby swaddled in a white lace GH Hurt shawl looking up at Mabel and Moose studio Dundee

IS A BABY SHAWL USEFUL IN A NEWBORN PHOTOSHOOT

Absolutely. I have a selection of beautiful shawls in my studio and use them in every newborn session. They are perfect for settling a baby, beautifully soft against their skin and they photograph in a way that nothing else quite matches. The classic simplicity of a white christening shawl fits perfectly with my Scandi style.

All of my studio shawls are from G.H. Hurt. If you have your own shawl or white christening blanket please bring it along. There is something extra special about using a piece that already belongs to your family.

Sleeping newborn baby swaddled in a white GH Hurt lace christening shawl photographed at Mabel and Moose Dundee

If you would love calm, timeless photographs of your new baby I would love to hear from you.

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White Baby Shawl: Everything You Need to Know Before You Buy