1. Swaddling is very comforting for most very young babies. It prevents them from startling and reminds them of the womb.
2. You can wear a younger baby on your back more easily when swaddled than when not swaddled.
3. Baby can ride much higher when swaddled, and therefore even a young baby can see over his mother's shoulder to learn about the world.

Are you concerned at all about the ribbon slipping up around her neck?
Oh, absolutely. First,  I make sure that both the swaddling cloth and the ribbon have a slightly rough texture (not slippery) so that there is no slipping. Second, I always make sure she is very firmly and securely swaddled. Third, I never leave her swaddled and unattended. On the contrary, I swaddle her and then put her on my back immediately. Fourth, when I wear her on my back in the swaddle, she is so high that I can see her face by simply turning my head to the side. So, it's easy to check on her -- and I do that frequently -- not just to check on her, but to talk to her, kiss her, and so on.

What if I don't want to use a ribbon? Can I use the other method - with just a blanket?
That should be fine. I used the gauze ribbon to hold on the small piece of gauze cloth so that the amount of fabric on Toni is minimal. It's hot down here in Texas. Whew.

~Tracy Dower

I thought about swaddling Toni when she was born, but I was worried she'd sleep too deeply (she doesn't), that she'd forget her nighttime nursings (she doesn't).

A month ago I did a lot of "research" into traditional babywearing (and mothering) by viewing journalists photos on stock photography web sties. I looked at thousands of photos. I was startled how common swaddling is. I tried it a little with Toni. She didn't seem to mind.

Then, I received Babies Celebrated in the mail. It's beautiful and filled with photos of mamas and daddies and babies all over the world. I was surprised how common swaddling is. So, I tried to swaddle her and wear her on my back. It worked fine. She liked it.

Then, I read "The Happiest Baby on the Block" by Dr. Harvey Karp. I loved the book. Dr. karp explained that babies love swaddling and challenged all of my modern ideas about it being a little neglectful or cruel or somehow not AP. It's very AP.

While I am doing all this reading and research, Toni is becoming more and more mobile. A few times I've woken up and she's been near the edge of the bed. This was really freaking me out. I was trying to decide if we should get more rails or put the mattress on the floor and store the bed frame. Then, I had an "Aha!" moment. We started swaddling Toni at bedtime. She doesn't creep around looking for a breast. She just lays there, right next to me, and smacks her lips. Doesn't even wake up. Just smacks her lips very loudly, I nurse her, she stays asleep.

So, take home message: swaddling, for us, is compatible with AP and keeps our tiny one from tumbling off our bed.

We didn't swaddle from birth. I wanted her skin-to-skin all the time. I did swaddle her, but inside a sling which was against my body. So, she has always been totally used to being bundled up snuggly.

I swaddle her and nurse her and it is much better than just nursing. I've noticed that when Toni is starving but can't settle down to nurse because we have guests or we're out visiting, a quick swaddle helps her concentrate on nursing with just a little looking around and she's much happier that way than when she has two conflicting urges (eat, see the world).

We started in earnest at 5 months, and she's 9 months now. We swaddle her almost only at bedtime. I plan to continue as long as she likes it. It keeps her safe at night, right next to me, not crawling all over potentially getting stuck under a heavy comforter or falling off the edge of the bed. Plus, she now vocalizes to signal hunger instead of crawling to look for my breast. Thursday night she sang "hmmmm hmmmm hmmm" until I nursed her.

So, why didn't we start at birth? I thought it was cruel and Victorian and I wanted lots of skin to skin contact. Turns out it's not cruel, babies like it, it enables me to keep her at my side safely all night instead of having to use the co-sleeper or fear that she'll plunge to her death.

Why did we start at 5 months? Because that's when I realized that my modern prejudices against swaddling were wrong. I researched babywearing and saw a lot of swaddling in cultures that co-sleep, breastfeed on demand and babywear all day. Not too Victorian. Then, I read Mother and Child, A World of Babies, and Babies Celebrated, and Happiest baby on the Block. At the same time, Toni was learning to crawl and several times almost crawled right off our bed. So, we tried it and she liked it.

It's really hot in Texas, too. I am using a 1 yard piece of lightweight cotton gauze let over from making baby slings. Plus, a really long ribbon to wrap criss-crossed from shoulders to calves.

~ Tracy Dower