Dangers of an Ancient Childcare Practice

Dec. 6, 2002 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Swaddling refers to wrapping a child up tightly to restrict any movement. It is an ancient practice used to stop excessive crying in an infant. Swaddling is still commonly practiced in Russia, Turkey, China and is becoming more popular in the Netherlands. But swaddling can have serious side effects including death. A new article reports on twins who were swaddled with severe repercussions.

The twins were born without complications and were sent home with the mother after a brief stay in the hospital. At home, the boy did very well but the girl cried often and had minor feeding problems. The mother took the children to her mother's home for help. The grandmother, who supported the ancient practice, advised to swaddle both infants and keep them inside in a well-heated room.

At 10 weeks old, the children were brought to the emergency room after the parents noticed something looked wrong. The boy had irregular breathing problems and circulation problems. The girl was in a worse state then her brother and was pale and without any reaction to stimulation. The girl was put on a ventilator and suffered severe organ damage. While the boy recovered, the girl died in the hospital.

Authors of the article say it is likely social and ethical circumstances of the parents played a role in the decision to swaddle their children. The mother listened to her mother out of respect to elders and adherence to traditional habits. This is why the authors say it is important that the potential risks of swaddling be brought to the attention of parents. As noted in this case study, swaddling can be deadly. Authors comment, "Parents have to be well-instructed when swaddling is being considered as an intervention for excessive crying and that additional measures may have to be taken to make it a safe intervention."