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It’s Time for Swaddling to Make a Comeback
For centuries, parents have been hesitant about swaddling their
babies. Critics have claimed swaddling was just a fad—and some
continue to do so:
About ten years ago, I visited a nursery for newborns in

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northern Italy. I shared with the nursery director the
concept of the missing fourth trimester and my belief that
the time had come for a worldwide “renaissance of
wrapping.”
The director listened politely, but his face wore an
amazed and amused expression. After I finished my
impassioned speech, he patted my shoulder in a
grandfatherly way and said discreetly, “We haven’t done
that in Italy for generations. We believe that babies must
have their hands free to encourage their muscle
development.”
At that moment, his secretary summoned him to take a
phone call. No sooner had he left the room than a nurse
shyly came up to me and whispered, “You know, Il
Directore likes to keep the babies unwrapped, but as soon
as he leaves for the day, we always bundle them all back
up again!” She winked at me, adding, “They really are
happier that way.”
Learning How to Swaddle—Step by Step
ou probably already know that the number-
one way to calm your fussy baby is to pick her
up and hold her tightly in your arms. That’s
exactly what swaddling does, except it has the
extra benefit of giving you a few minutes to cook a
meal or go to the bathroom!
Swaddling is easy to do, but it does require precise

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technique and some practice. Many books recommend
wrapping, but they rarely teach how to do it, which is
problematic because incorrect swaddling can make
your baby’s crying worse.
Here’s everything you need to know to become the
happiest (and best) swaddler on the block. Don’t worry
if it feels weird at first; after five to ten tries swaddling
will become as automatic for you as changing a diaper.
There are as many ways to swaddle babies as there are to fold
napkins for a dinner party. But one method that a wonderful
midwife taught me many years ago is clearly the best. I call it the
DUDU wrap (pronounced “doo doo,” standing for Down-Up-Down-
Up).