Hydrophilic cloths are part of the new mommy/baby must-haves. They are soft, breathable, lightweight, easy to wash and easy to dry. But how many of these guys do you actually need? How many does it take to always have a few clean ones available while the rest are in the wash?
Well, it really depends on what you're using them for. A good rule of thumb is that the best way to go about this is to select a specific task for each swaddling cloth you own. For example, if you use a muslin cloth as a nursing cover, it is best to purchase one or two muslin cloths XL and reserve them for that task only. Since it's not that dirty to use it as a nursing cover, two will probably be enough. One in use and the other in the wash.
When using a muslin cloth to wrap your baby, it's best to have three as they often tend to get dirty faster: from spitting, pooping, peeing, you name it. With a minimum of three you have one in use, one in the wash and one as a spare in case of an accident.