Swaddling newborns in the Golden Age

V Welcome and bonding

An ancient tradition required that newborns were hermetically wrapped in cloth bands preventing any movement of their limbs. This practice was shared by all social strata. It was believed that newborns had soft and flexible skeletons from their time folded in the uterus. Thus, it was thought necessary to bandage the baby to prevent deformities from occurring until its bones had become stronger as a result of breastfeeding.  According to this conviction, it was not only possible to strengthen and straighten the unfinished body of the child, but it was also believed to provide other benefits such as keeping the baby at the correct temperature, so it was contented and able to sleep. 

Once the child was born, the umbilical cord was tied with a string. A dressing soaked in oil, that prevented infection from airborne germs, was applied.  This was held in place with a band around the waist to compress the navel so that it didn’t protrude. This process of helping to mould the new-born continued with the placement of the metedor —a long, narrow cloth that crossed the child’s crotch from the belly to the lumbar vertebrae, to contain excrement—, a rectangular diaper was then overlapped at the front of the metedor, and on it, a piece of cloth was placed to absorb urine. In addition, the torso was optionally covered with a shirt, and the stomach was protected with a stomach band. After that, the child was wrapped with a small sheet swaddling its body as if it were an Egyptian Mummy.  Meanwhile, the baby’s head was covered with a cloth pinned to the neck in a bid to correct its oblong shape. Finally, depending on the season of the year, the child was sheltered with a blanket of cotton, wool, or silk. [José Antonio Fernández Fernández]