70's and good book!! was Health Visitors & Baby Weight (Rant)

May 27, 2000

>Barbara said.........Isn`t it horrendous....having heard from my SIL all

the goings-on which used

to happen in the 70`s when my nieces* were born>

Lesley...........Oh, yes, this was life when DS1 was born! He started on

rice at six weeks, was weaned off a bottle onto a cup with boiled cows milk

by six months...its amazing he made it to adulthood.

-------------

>Barbara said....... But why is the whole system caught up on these old

charts? If I used

some 30 year old research from the 70`s in an ANT essay, it would appear

outdated...>

Lesley.........I am currently reading a book called Perfect Parents by

Hardyment for my PN training. Every mother should read it!!! It

is the history of childcare since the 18th century and details all sorts of

childcare theories, many of which still linger today.

I am currently reading about Truby King, who advocated five feeds a day [no

night feeds], along with 22 hours sleep, most of which should take place

outdoors, and potty trained by 6 months. The one good thing about Truby

King was that he was an ardent advocate for BF [even if only 5 times a

day!!] and said babies should be fully BF until 9 months and then introduced

to solids.

Most of all, the book details how mothers have lost confidence in their

ability to care for their children due to the increasingly scientific

attitudes to child rearing. It has made me realise that almost everything

we think we know today has either been done before or been discredited long

ago! Do read this book, if you can. I am not sure it is still in print but

your local library should be able to get it for you.

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