Historical Changes in Scientific Advice to Parents Concerning Child-training*
1914 |
1942 |
The infant is endowed with intense, concentrated, and dangerous impulses |
The baby is harmless; impulses are diffuse, moderate. |
The infant's self-stimulatory behaviors must be not be permitted. These impulses "easily grow beyond control." "Children are sometimes wrecked for life." |
Self-stimulation is a small, unimportant aspect of the infant's exploratory activities. |
To prevent the infant from thumb-sucking, "the sleeve may be pinned or sewn down over the fingers of the offending hand for several days and nights." |
The infant is mainly interested in exploring the world. Everything amuses him, nothing is excessively exciting. |
The infants arms and legs should be restrained, tied to the corners of the bed and/or pinned down to prevent self-stimulation (especially at night). |
"See that he has a toy to play with and he will not need to use his body as a plaything." |
A clear-cut distinction is made between the infant's "needs" and "wants." |
The infant's needs and wants are equated. |
The baby's (physical) needs must be identified and met; meeting the baby's "wants" will lead to serious problems. |
What the baby wants for pleasure (attention, play) is as legitimate as his physical needs. |
Crying is a bad habit. "when the baby cries simply because he has learned...that this brings him what he wants, it is one of the worst habits he can learn." |
"A baby sometimes cries because he needs a little more attention...just as he sometimes needs a little extra food and water." |
Overfeeding is a constant danger. |
The infant's appetite regulates food intake adequately. |
Impulses are dangerous; therefore, playing with the baby is dangerous. |
Play is harmless and necessary for the baby's developing motor skills. |
The good and the pleasant are opposed. |
The good and the pleasant are intertwined. Play and singing should be part of the routine of everyday life. |
Parenting is a duty, a moral obligation which requires complete dedication. |
Parenting is supposed to be fun. "Babies - and usually their mothers - enjoy breast feeding." "Nursing brings "joys and happiness." At bath time, the baby "delights" his parents. |
The mother must deny her own impulses as severely as she denies those of her child. |
Having fun as a parent is not only permissible, but required. It is a moral imperative. |
*Based on an analysis of the Infant Care bulletin of the United States Children's Bureau.
Adapted from Martha Wolfenstein (1955,1956)
Fun morality: An analysis of recent American child-training literature.
In, M. Mead & M. Wolfenstein (eds.), Childhood in Contemporary Cultures,
Chicago: University of Chicago.