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Mothers have swaddled their babies throughout history, and it is still a popular remedy for crying, unsettled newborns. Votive statuettes have been found in the tombs of Ancient Greek and Roman women who died in childbirth, displaying babies in swaddling clothes. Swaddling clothes were used in conjunction with rocking cradles, so that the infant was tightly confined both within and without the swaddling. The confinement is supposed to provide warmth and security for a baby who has recently left the womb.
It's unclear as to whether babies were left in swaddling clothes for long periods of time without changing them. If so, the babies would have suffered terribly from being in long-term contact with urine and faeces. If the swaddling clothes were changed as regularly as we now change nappies, it would have been a very time-consuming activity as many metres of cloth were used to encase the infant in complete rigidity.
A modified form of swaddling is still popular today as a means of settling and soothing irritable infants. The lengthy swaddling cloths of mediaeval Madonna and Child paintings are now replaced with receiving blankets or flannelette sheets, and babies are only swaddled if they seem to enjoy it, and only for the first few weeks of life. It is thought that the technique can sooth the distressed newborn and provide extra warmth in the first few weeks until the baby's temperature control system is functioning.
Current medical opinion supports swaddling as a comforting technique so long as the baby's limbs are not constricted beyond the first few weeks of life. It does not seem to be implicated in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), otherwise known as Cot Death, so long as the swaddled baby is put to sleep on his back and not on his front. Swaddling is little different in this respect from the recommended practice of tucking the baby's bedclothes in tightly. Swaddling represents a layer of bedclothes, though, and this should be taken into account when making up the baby's cot.
To swaddle a baby, follow these instructions:
Lay the blanket or sheet on a flat surface, such as a bed, and turn down the top right-hand corner a few inches.
Place the baby on his back, head on the fold in the blanket.
Pull the corner nearest the baby's left hand across the body, tucking in this edge under his back, on the right side under that arm.
Pull up the bottom corner of the blanket under the baby's chin.
The loose corner near the baby's right arm should now be brought up over the arm and tucked under the back, on his left side.
This leaves a securely swaddled baby. If he does not like it at first, try freeing his arms. Some still enjoy the security of being held close, but like freedom for their arms. In this case, follow the instructions as above but tucking the blanket under the arms rather than over them.
It might take a bit of practice, especially if you are on your own and the baby is distressed and squirming. But it might be the technique that soothes both of you. Some babies hate being swaddled, however, and if the level of distress grows after swaddling, discontinue the practice. There is no point in doing something that only upsets him more. The theory behind swaddling is that it simulates the closeness of the womb, and of a loving parent's close embrace. Some babies will only settle for being in mum or dad's arms, though, and, as this stage does not last for long you might as well go along with it.
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