To swaddle or not to swaddle, that is the question Rebecca and I face every night. For those of you who don't know what I am talking about let me give you a brief explanation. Swaddling is a process of tightly wrapping your baby in a large receiving blanket with his arms "cemented" along his sides. Only his little head is outside of the blanket and he resembles a little cocoon. Christian was swaddled in the hospital right after he was born. The nurses had obviously mastered this technique, which is not as easy as it appears.
It is suppose to be the cornerstone of calming by giving nurturing touch, stopping flailing arms, and focusing your babie's attention on sleep. For me, swaddling was a new concept but I understand it has been an ancient mothering "art" practiced all over the world for centuries. Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Jesus were all swaddled as babies. In Tibet, babies have always been swaddled tightly in blankets. Traditionally, the wrapping was secured with rope and the baby was tied to the side of a yak to be carried as the family hiked through the valleys. I doubt if Rebecca and I will do much hiking with Christian. Besides, yaks are hard to find around here!
Swaddling went "out of fashion" in the 1700s when scientists proved that unwrapped infants didn't pluck their eyes out or dislocate their arms therefore they concluded swaddling was a waste of time. It was also an era of new freedoms and swaddling was viewed as a "baby prison".
Well, swaddling has made a big comeback and all birthing classes now tout it as one of the most important skills to master. Rebecca and I found it easier said than done. We practiced with dolls in the birthing classes BUT dolls don't wiggle, roll, scream, or flail their arms. Every night as we attempt this procedure Christian loudly voices his displeasure. Sometimes we wait until he is asleep and sneak in the process hoping he doesn't wake up "mid swaddle". I had to sew bigger swaddle blankets than the ones purchased from the stores because Christian was always "unwrapped" before his first feeding. For a little guy he is strong and wants out of the package! Yet, when we try to put him to sleep with his arms free he jerks awake after only a short rest. This nightly "battle" would look rather comical viewed from above: two grown women unable to successfully swaddle one squirming 6 pounder. When he is finally encased in flannel he does calm down, relax, and appear to feel comforted, but the jury is still out as to whether or not this will become a nightly routine.
Do you ever think that as God's children we often resist His swaddling? He wants to comfort us, surrounding us with his love and protection yet we would rather do our own thing, flailing our arms in rebellion. Isaiah 66:13 says, "As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you." In Psalm 32:10 we read: "The Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him." I want Christian to trust me enough to know that I am swaddling him for his comfort. The question I ask myself is do I trust God enough to let him swaddle me according to His will and not mine?
1 comment:
Interesting idea that has circled back around, as many things do. Sounds tricky so I am glad we did not know about it when our kids were little. I had enough to figure out.
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