Swaddling Clothes Meaning

(idiomatic) An early period in development, infancy, the beginnings of something; inception.

Example: A garment, made of strips of cloth, used to bind an infant and restrict movement of its limbs
  1611, Bible (KJV): Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn
1952, Steel Industry Union Strife Has Been In Progress For Even Century, "The Day" issue of June the 4th, 1952
  The steel—industry wore swaddling clothes when the first walkout occurred exactly 100 years ago.
1954, Academy Site May Be Chosen May 15, St Petersburg Times, 11 May issue
  The Air Force Academy, baby brother to West Point and Annapolis, is crawling out of its swaddling clothes.