The Young Mother

-SEC. 3. Creeping-why useful-to be encouraged.-SEC. 4. Walking-general directions about it.

THE CRADLE; CARRYING IN THE ARMS; CREEPING; WALKING; RIDING IN A CARR

cking in t

occasional use highly proper. Those who condemn it, do it chiefly on the ground that it produces a whirling motion of t

ly laid aside. As far as mere amusement is demanded, it is quite unnecessary, since there are so many amusements which are far better. As a means of inducing sleep, I am still more strongly oppos

e, and so great the temptation to keep the child in it, that he will often be found soaking there a large proportion of his time. Every one knows that the air has not so free access to a child in the cradle as elsewhere, especially if it have a kind o

, rather than rocked. And this swinging should be in a line with the body of the child

arrying i

he first two months of existence; and indee

three fourths of his time, yet it should never be forgotten that the demand for proper exercise

, immediately afterward. The same gentle motion should be often repeated during the day; care being taken to hold t

f the cradle, but to means still more artificial-the use of cordials and opiates, to which I have already adverted. But whatever the means used may be, they defeat the purposes of nature, and are in the highest degree reprehensible. Nothing but the most chill

the body may rest at as many points as possible. In this position he has the opportunity to move his limbs with the most perfect freedom, and to exercise his numer

sition for a small part of the time; placing the body so that it may form an angle of a few degrees with the horizon. When this is done, however, it should always be by placing the hand aga

ht a part of the time, almost without any support at all. There can be no doubt that the spinal

ant's body in an erect position. Every inquiring mother-and it is for such,

f the back. Now every person must see that the weight of the child's head and shoulders, resting for a considerable time on the sl

t before they were a month old. It is truly ludicrous, he says, to see the little creatures sitting as straight as if they were stiffened by

e seen first, by observing one shoulder to be lower than the other, and next by a projection of the part of the shoulder blades next to the spine. Whenever these changes begin to appear,

roll about loosely; as if it hardly belonged to the body. In the former case there is danger of producing a habit of holding the head upon one side, which

ho reads this work, trust the matter wholly to a nurse; she must see to it herself; else she incurs a most fearful responsibility. The suggestions I have made

ndeed, it is rather to be recommended, as likely to give strength and vigor no less than pleasure to the child. But when such movements are carried to excess, so as to frighten the child, they are highly reprehensible. T

hich they rest should be often changed. Nor should they be grasped too firmly. A skilful mother will hold a child quite loosely, with the most perfect safety; while an inexperience

3. Cr

so indispensable to secure any highly important or valuable end. But it is as true literally, as it is figuratively. The

ut this intermediate step. But such mothers must have strange ideas of the animal economy. They must ne

greater pleasure than if done by the mother or the nurse. Yet the latter are exceedingly prone to forget or overlook

f all the latter were good for, was display and amusement. They feed them, indeed, and strive to prolong their ex

contrary would be far the safer extreme; and the parent who keeps his child scrambling about upon the back as long as possible, and when he cannot prevent longer an inversion of this position, retains him at creeping as long as is in his power, is as much wiser, in

of habit will retain them on their knees after nature has given them strength to rise and walk; for their incessant activity and incontrollable restl

ng hold of a chair or a table, and endeavoring to raise themselves up by it. If they fail in a dozen

means of the muscles of the body and lower limb-simple as it may seem to those who have never reflected on the subject-is really an important acquisition for a child of twelve or fifteen months. No wonder they feel a conscious pride, when they find themselves able to stand

at we find them with curved legs, or crooked or clubbed feet. These def

their legs are fit for it, but to efforts of every kind, whose main object is the same. Teaching them to walk by taking hold of one of their hands, is in some resp

tary efforts as much as possible, these falls will be fewer,

4. Wa

g of an old schoolmaster whom I once knew; and I may say with as much confidence and wi

ight have otherwise been contained in this section. A

, upon the green grass;-not lest the air should reach him, or the sun shine upon his face and hands, but because the surface of the gr

are of a drop of rain or dew, or a breath of wind. For say what they will in favor of riding, sailing, and other modes of exercise, there is none equal to walking, as soon as a child is able;-none so natural-none,

excite astonishment; and the man who should do it would be deemed insane. The health and growth of our young domestic animals is best promoted by suffering them to walk, run, and skip in their own way. They ask no artificial le

ever, it will be seen, on a little reflection, that the number of those who carry children about, is, after all, very inconsiderable. The greater portion of the community regard it as t

any age-from walks which are very long and fatiguing. Walking should refresh and invigorate: whe

iding in

an walk. Before this period, however, I think they may be often serviceable; and there are occasional instances which may

e axle unusually extended. The body should be long enough to allow the child to lie down when necessary; and so deep that h

as will secure the child-if necessary-from the full blaze of a hot sun. This point might indeed be secured by having the ca

a carriage, because it requires more strength to sit in a seat which is moving, than in a place where he is stationary. In ass

strength increases, however, the latter direction will be less and less necessary. I need not repeat in this place, (had I not witnessed so m

y clothed. It is well to keep them in motion, while they are in the carriage, and especially to guard aga

ever to exceed the length of half an hour; but no pos

iding on

this mode of exercise is sometimes one of the most salutary in the world. But after boys are six or seven years old, and girls ten, if they are ever to pract

lacing a child in it at once. But I wish to be distinctly understood, that I do not consider

riding on horseback, by boys, as an

questionably in exclusive use long before universal dominion was given to man, if not for many centuries afterward; and I believe it wo

s, in such cases, should opportunity offer, from tyranny over the brute slave, to tyranny over the human being. There are slave-holders in the family and in the school, as wel