RaMa Mama Doula Share: The Art of the Swaddle...

Swaddling is a nurturing practice that serves to calm, protect, and secure a newborn baby in the first weeks of life. It is a technique that mimics the womb by providing security, protection, and calmness with a wrap when the baby is adjusting to the freedom of being outside of the womb.

This tradition dates all the way back to Ancient Mesopotamia and Greece when they believed it would help the limbs to grow more straight and uniform. The Native American tribes used to bound babies to cradleboards with cloths for this same reason. Swaddling was used in the Middle Ages, and it has also been used in Islamic and Asian cultures for childrearing. Around the time of the 18th-19th centuries, people became fearful that this technique could restrict the movement of a newborn, but by the 20th century, new research proved that it was something that babies greatly benefitted from. Today, it is taught to everyone who gives birth at a home, birthing centers, or in the hospital, and to most all mothers globally. So how does it work?

You can actually purchase premade swaddle products in today's world, but the old techniques are also embraced by many new parents globally. It is advised that once a baby starts to roll over, it is time to stop swaddling. It is not meant to be used in extremely warm weather either, as it can overheat the baby. The technique requires that the face and neck are clear of obstruction for safety reasons, and it is important not to bind the legs so that the hips can still move.

There are four main steps to swaddling:

Step 1: Put the blanket down on a flat surface and fold down one corner to make a triangle. The baby will lay on their back with their shoulders right below the folded area.

Step 2: Straighten one arm and pull the blanket across the body on the same side, tucking it under their body on the opposite side.

Step 3: Fold the bottom corner over the feet and tuck it into the top of the blanket.

Step 4: Straighten the other arm and pull the blanket across the body on the same side, tucking it under the body on the opposite side.

As long as the swaddle is snug but not too tight, then the job is complete. If the blanket is too tight around the legs and hips, then hip dysplasia is a concern. Take time to do it right and this technique can really support the baby in the first moments to weeks of living on the Earth. This transition time can be traumatic for some infants, and swaddling offers security and protection to help them feel safe to grow and thrive.