A beautiful super-soft blanket or lovey (small security blanket) representing Africa with watercolor paintings of African animals including hippos, zebras, giraffes, flamingos, and elephants. Front: A smooth minky fabric that's custom printed on demand in the USA using eco-friendly processes. The colors print vibrantly on minky and don't fade with washing. The fabric design is a Spoonflower.com exclusive that isn't found in physical stores, making your blanket even more unique and special. Backing: A minky or faux fur (The minky may be smooth or cuddle dot, depending on availability. If you have a preference, please specify it in Notes to Seller or by sending a message through Etsy Messages.) Add a name embroidered (Personalization): https://www.etsy.com/listing/882675486/personalized-embroidery-added-to-your?ref=listings_manager_grid Fabric designer: English watercolor artist Elena O'Neill (elena_o'neill_illustration_ on Spoonflower) Design: African Safari Animals Main colors: White background with grays, browns, oranges, black, greens, and pinks Click here for more Africa items... https://www.etsy.com/shop/HeritageHomeGoodsCO?ref=seller-platform-mcnav&search_query=africa FAQ: What is a lovey? * A lovey is a mini-blanket meant to be used by a baby or toddler for calming and self-soothing. The ideal lovey is soft, not too big, and doesn't make any noise. When your little one starts walking, you'll find that the lovey is small enough that it doesn't get dragged on the ground. It's also the perfect size to tuck into a diaper bag or purse; * Scent is a powerful soother. Parent (or caregiver) should sleep with the lovey for a couple of nights before transferring it to baby. The scent of the loved one will comfort baby during the night, during nap times, while away from the caregiver, or in distressing times like learning a new skill or traveling. * When we adopted our son, my husband and I slept with a couple of loveys close to our skin for several nights, then gave them to our son when we visited him in Guatemala at 2 months and 6 months of age. By the time we were able to bring him home at 11 months of age, he was fully attached to them... and remained attached to them through age 4! He carried them everywhere, slept with them, and slid the edges through his thumb and forefinger to calm himself. * Tip: Have two loveys that are exactly alike so that when one is in the wash, your little one has another to hold onto. Use them equally since babies are sensitive to smell and touch, and they'll prefer one over the other if they aren't equally used. Are there other uses for loveys? * Loveys can be soothing for people with Alzheimer's or dementia, or with certain special needs. The different textures can be calming and keep hands busy. * Loveys can be wonderful memorials of loved ones that have passed... something soft to snuggle with when remembering the loved one. As someone who's lost multiple babies to miscarriage, I know how comforting it is to have something to hold when mourning the loss. * Loveys can be beautiful as home decor. They're small, and they look cute hanging up on a wall, as a table topper for a tiny side table, or tossed over the back of a chair. What are the differences between the minky and faux fur blanket backings? * I only use high-quality minky and faux fur for my blanket backings. * Minky has a soft, silky feel and is considered a medium-weight fabric (7 to 9.5 oz/yd²). The kind I use for blanket backings is either smooth or textured with raised dots. You can machine-wash blankets with this backing and dry them on a low to medium setting. (The minky on the front of the blanket is digitally printed and has a 3mm pile, so it's not plush, but is more like a thicker, softer flannel.) * Faux fur is incredibly silky and is considered a heavyweight fabric (12 to 12.5 oz/yd²) It has a wavy texture with a 10mm pile. You can machine-wash blankets with this backing and you can dry them on a low setting or air dry them. *********************** It takes several weeks for the specialty fabric to be printed and made into a beautiful gift especially for you. Ships for free to US addresses. I refund shipping overages to buyers outside the USA. ********************** Need something sooner? Check out our blankets that are ready to ship within 1-3 days here... * Blankets - RTS: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HeritageHomeGoodsCO?ref=seller-platform-mcnav§ion_id=29015513 * Quilts - RTS: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HeritageHomeGoodsCO?ref=seller-platform-mcnav§ion_id=29015597 * Loveys - RTS: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HeritageHomeGoodsCO?ref=seller-platform-mcnav§ion_id=29015517 www.HeritageHomeGoodsCO.etsy.com
