Friday, February 8, 2008

Swaddling Baby

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:7

I love this image of The Presentation of the Child Jesus, the Child Jesus swaddled in the arms of His Blessed Mother. In recent times it makes me reflect back on our precious girl’s baptism last Saturday on this feast day, as she was swaddled just like this until it was time to put on her baptismal gown.

I have discovered the loveliness and benefits of swaddling late in life – 6 babies down the track thanks to my Christian homebirthing doctor who recommended it to me (in fact she taught me a few new things I WISH I had known 6 babies ago) I notice that my little girl settles beautifully when wrapped, she sleeps and feeds better.

When looking for swaddling cloths I could not get anything better than Eco Child’s Luxury Organic Muslin Baby Wraps, I bought two to wash and use and have found them generous in size and soft and gentle to the touch. It is beautifully breathable for our summer weather.

Here is how I wrap her:
I lay her down the top end of the wrap, with her head hanging over it.

Then I lift up the other end of the wrap and place it up to her neck.

Then I tuck one side of the top layer under her arm and back.

Then doing the same to the other side.

Then I take the bottom layer and fold it over the top of her.

And then finish with wrapping the other side over her and around her back, if there is enough material. She is now snug without being tight. If I want to, I can make a little hood over her head with the loosened material from the back.

After these photos we went down to the lounge room where my precious one promptly went off into blissful slumber...
Looking for a lovely birth gift for a baby? I recommend these wraps!

12 comments:

coffeemamma said...

In Canada, the nurses at the hospitals teach new parents how to do the same thing with flannel "receiving blankets". The only one who didn't settle and love being swaddled turned out to be autistic- she still hates blankets :-)

Sweetness and Light said...

So beautiful!! She's just too cute for words! Love the wrap, hugs,

Mary Vitamin (Helen) said...

Isn't she lovely!

Great post Anne.

the mother of this lot said...

I always 'swaddled' my babies and they were all great sleepers!

WhiteStoneNameSeeker said...

Beautiful. I did this with my lot and it stops them scratching their face. One of them used to be able to get a hand free every time-Houdini babe.

Ruth said...

She's absolutely beautiful!!!!

Anonymous said...

Lovely...

Unknown said...

My oldest would ONLY sleep very, very tightly swaddled.
plus it helped keep him from scratching himself.

thanks for all the beautiful pictures.
Congratulations!

Mary Machado said...

This is such a great tutorial - and she looks precious - just like the Bellini painting, too.

JoAnna said...

She is beautiful, Annie. I'm terribly behind on reading up on everyone... what a beautiful tutorial. My last babe very much needed swaddling the first few weeks, too. More-so than the others...

Jacqlyn said...

Thankyou for sharing. I too am a converted "swaddler" and finds it makes the babies so much more relaxed. Please tell me, do you use a baby hammock? I seem to remember reading that you have one and I was wondering how it is going? I am thinking of buying one for Joel. Bless you, Jacqui xx

Anne (aussieannie) said...

Jacqlyn, I have a hammock, here is the site: http://www.babyhammocks.com.au/ It is very good and I would recommend it, there should be some very good info on that site, citing the benefits of these sort of beds.

God Bless, Anne