Sammy Says Blog

My brother and his wife recently had their first child, and I traveled across the state to meet the new addition to the family. It seemed only appropriate that I bring a gift for the baby boy, but I was a bit out of touch with what babies needed. I figured his parents would have given him more than enough clothing, so that was out. Also, I wanted to avoid purchasing a toy because it might be hazardous to a child so young.

In the end, I settled on one of the most unique baby gifts I’ve ever seen: a shopping cart cover. Knowing that babies are especially susceptible to viruses and bacteria, I figured my brother and sister-in-law would appreciate a layer of protection between their child and an unsanitary grocery cart. The cart cover also ensures that the kid will ride around in comfort while his parents do the weekly shopping. As predicted, the gift was a hit.

The practice of wrapping your infant tightly in any various kind of fabric is known as swaddling, and it’s a time-honored tradition that mothers have been utilizing since as early as 4000 BC. It’s believed to have originated in Asia, where mothers would tightly wrap the infant on a backpack type contraption used for long periods of migration with small children. In fact, in many cultures where migration was a staple, swaddling became a common practice.

In today’s culture, swaddling has carried over and is still an everyday tradition. While it used to be used predominately by the rich, upper class, and the swaddling clothes were entirely elaborate, swaddling is currently used by people of all economic statuses. And the clothes are no longer the overcomplicated collection of cloth used in Tudor times. Rather, these swaddle blankets and other baby bedding implements are simple, comfortable, and functional.