Mother and baby advice from 1960 - ask away!

[TerpsichoreanMuse]

I've been clearing out my father's house (he's sold it) and I've found the baby manuals given to my mother when I was born in 1960.

There are four: the "Glaxo Mother and Baby" book, "From Milk to Mixed Diet" (a guide to modern baby feeding), "Relaxation and exercise for natural childbirth" (1959) and "You and your baby," published by the BMA.

If anyone would like any advice (only 60 years out-of-date!) on this topic, please ask and I shall attempt to answer.

I'm still not over the word "slub"

Slub.
Slub.
Slub.

Slubbby slubby slub

@TerpsichoreanMuse the midwife holding the baby by the ankles in your book picture is the one that delivers me apparently.... thankfully that's not me in the photo

Should a lady in labour drink a pint of castor oil to help the baby slide out more easily?

How many days should a father remain celebrating his child's birth in the pub and at what age should the children meet him?

Generally you should probably continue smoking at least the same amount as you would during pregnancy to get a small baby for an easier birth.

Fandaddydoozie

Should a lady in labour drink a pint of castor oil to help the baby slide out more easily?

Well, yes, apparently.

My mother was twice given an enema followed by a glass of cod liver oil (with a tiny bit of orange juice floating on the top to render it more palatable) to drink to try to induce me.

Funnily enough, when I was a child I used to have nightmares about being made to drink cooking oil (no, she hadn't told me about it then).

I love how they should be out in the bracing fresh air but if they're indoors they must have a shield against draughts :o

Why is air suddenly poisonous just because it's come indoors??

The cocktail of disgusting liquids including cod liver oil is still used as an induction technique in Germany! They don't do stretch and sweep there, but they will offer you the dreaded cocktail if you go overdue Some of my friends were offered it!

Love this thread. I've got a book called 'Frankly Feminine', that was given to my Mum when she got married in the 70s, but was first published in the 60s.

Chapters include:
Perfect Posture
Reason and Rouge
Care-free legs
Stocking techniques
Eating Difficult Food
Travelling Abroad at an Hotel
How to make a Pretty Speech
Quarrelling
Unexpected Joys of Pregnancy
Keeping Your Looks
New-Baby Routine
Planning a Menu
Setting the Table
Candle Glow
In Search of Vitality
The Middle Years

I mean it's ridiculous but I kind of love reading it

Unexpected Joys of Pregnancy

And How to Make a Pretty Speech!!

Amazing! I'd love to hear what those unexpected Joys are. Less intercourse perhaps?

Eating difficult food :o Which foods are considered difficult?

Thank you for this thread, OP - a beacon of light in an otherwise depressing day!

Can I ask what sleeping arrangements are recommended after the first two weeks? Presuming the dad still needs to keep out of the way to make sure everyone else is well rested?

And any tips for travelling with your baby?

I also used to get left in a pram at the end of the garden (I’m 33!)

A bit of a thread derail but
@ReallySpicyCurry

Have you really not seen cotton slub tee shirts ? I promise you it's quite a common thing .

For some reason I really want to read these cover to cover.

Re the putting the baby outside, this was what I did, often we just went for a long walk for a couple of hours in the pram. Or stuck her in the pram while I gardened (long garden) My oldest slept through from 6 weeks, and I don't think it was a coincidence.
Read an article in the Telegraph in 2004 that showed researchers found that allowing baby time outside in the fresh air/daylight during the day meant the exposure to daylight helped baby sleep overnight. So no wonder she slept through.

How to eat difficult food

How to make a pretty speech

This is great

And of course, the unexpected joys of pregnancy

Ariela it’s still really normal to take babies out for walks for naps - I’ve had babies in the last few years and i and everyone I know has done this. Sleeping through the night is much more variable though!

Corn on the cob
“No hostess in her right mind would offer this vegetable at a formal dinner”
Hahaha

Sorry if it’s already been asked, but what age to start potty training?

Well, now I know what I got wrong. I wasn’t up for “surrender[ing my] independence with a generous heart” during pregnancy. 🤷‍♀️ If only I’d had the gift of that proper ladying book.

Great thread! Is there anything about breech births? Mum had her 2 in early 60's both at home - DB was breech and she talked of having to lay with her legs up the wall before giving birth - mind boggles.

I've got a busy morning but I'll catch up with more answers later on. Keep the questions coming...

Love the difficult food, Inside. I remember a dinner at university where artichokes were served, and the whole table looked at each other in total bemusement, until one brave knowledgable person showed the way.

Never knew that about asparagus either - just thought I was being greedy picking them up.