Baby Wrapping

In our quest for protection, are we losing the ability to create perfection.

When I was a young man I was told, for a child's development, they needed to move freely to create a stable structure in the spine. I often wonder with today's world and fear of SIDS; where we are encouraged to incarcerate our babies in tight swaddling, whether we are creating developmental problems.

This also may contribute to the inability of developing good chest expansion with the restriction on the intercostals. In our compulsion to keep babies warm could an ill fitting jumpsuit be compressing the stomach expansion and creating discomfort after a baby's feeding? Could ill fitted shoes, not tailored to measure, create instability in the young child's balance due to its inability to complain? Could tight booties or socks restrict foot flexion, discouraging a young child to push themselves up onto their feet therefore restricting their confidence, their curiosity and suppressing their natural ability to explore? I have seen babies lying on blankets, unable to push forward due to restrictive shoes on their feet - no natural toe movement is being developed.

Is our over protective society restricting the mental, emotional and creative ability of the next generation by placing it in a sterile, overly controlling cocoon of today's world? Have we not the right to encourage natural development and to question?

As it is recognized, all people are born unique - so, are we taking away the individuality by making all fit the same mould.

As a therapist we should encourage the parents to look further than clothing trends and social restraints in the name of safety, which allow fear to override the enjoyment of their childs own natural development.