I would add to Laurie Wheelers comments: Why not suggest a halfway mode,
with the baby wrapped onto the mother? The deep-rooted ideas underlying
tight swaddling (yes, I've seen it in Russian newborns) are diverse in
different times and places, and may concern keeping warm, making limbs
straight and other ideas. In some cultures, it has involved "shaping" the
head in an unnatural way. William Cadogan wrote against swaddling in his
much quoted 1748 Essay published in England. He recommended and
designed clothing which allowed the limbs to be free. (He's also worth a
read on his description of the then-current pre-lacteal feeds, which he
deplored, and the very early complementary foods.)

Cultural practices can change, and respect and tact are excellent tools in
facilitating this. The ancient use of pre-lacteal feeds because of the
suspicion of colostrum (as it was considered to look like pus) has been
common in many cultures, was recommended by influential Graeco-Roman
medical authors 2000 years ago (Thorley & Sioda, 2016) and continued in
England till the end of the 1820s (Smith, 1979), despite the criticisms of
Cadogan and others. The practice changed and no longer was colostrum
withheld. The preference for artificial feeding of infants in Iceland on
cow's milk and cream, practiced for generations, also changed.

Culture has the same aim as we do - that is, to do what is perceived as
"the best" for the baby, even if a practice is flawed. So a starting point
is agreeing that the aim is the same, and then explaining the why and
wherefore for change.

I can provide references if anyone wants to contact me privately.

Dr Virginia Thorley, OAM, PhD, IBCLC, FILCA
Cultural Historian of the History of Medicine
Private Practice IBCLC
Ipswich, Queensland, Australia

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