To believe this? - Is this just an old wives tale? 50's baby routine. My partner thinks I'm stupid to believe mums used to do this..

[NinaJade666]

So I've heard from lots of people that 'back in the day' (specifically the 50's) that new mums were advised to get baby into a strict routine, which involved parking babies in their pram at the end of the garden and bringing them in every 3 or 4 hours for a feed. Crying or not.

My partner says don't be an idiot and believe that, that's just an old wives tale. QUOTE - "They never would have done that. Put baby as far away as possible from mum? In the garden alone? They weren't stupid back then you know."

Anyone know if their parents or grandparents did this or were advised to?
Any links anyone can provide to 'prove' I'm right? Or wrong?

TIA

[primallass]

I have a lovely photo of my daughter, wrapped up cosy sleeping in her buggy outside in the winter, with a robin sitting on the handle.

[Whothefuckfarted]

My Nan, said she was told to leave all her kids to cry including my mum, no picking up unless it was feeding time. Spoiling the baby they said. She says she remembers sitting on the stairs crying herself day after day as she wasn't 'allowed' to comfort her baby. Sad really..

No wonder my mum is so emotionally stunted.

[SecretSix]

I asked mum about this, having posted up thread about my sister - Mum said not only was the advice to leave baby in the pram in the garden to cry, but to do the hoovering so she couldn't hear her

It's a wonder I was born at all, given she's my elder sister. Mum said she wouldn't settle at all unless she was being carried, rocked or the pram was moving. For about 2 years!

[NinaJade666]

Well just updating :) I think my other half has finally agreed that I am right

I'd just like to say thank you for all the wonderful stories (good and bad)

Keep them coming if you want!

Also just to add, I don't judge or think bad of any mum who did take up this sort of routine (and there of course were some who didn't) Like many have said it was just 'the done thing' or it was advised by professionals etc.

There were a few stories on here that really pulled on my heart strings!

[LongDeadMotherofHorrors]

1944 girl - not endorsing whisky or boily but potty training from the get go worked for my girls. Straight after a feed I'd pop them on the potty. Graduated to a loo as soon as possible. Sorted by 12 months. No transition issues. (Did have to carry the portapottee everywhere though!) Whereas with my son I had to migrate him from nappies to potty and it took ages - 2 and half before he was pull-up free.

[LauraPashley]

My dcs are only 5 and 2 and they had almost all of their naps outside! Seems only sensible to me, they get fresh air and it means no tip toeing around inside the house at nap time! I used to try to time so I took a wee walk to the shops, did my errands and then they fell asleep on the way home and got parked in the garden! Never left to cry though, but I did do this in ALL weathers!

[LadyHarrietdeSpook]

MIL did this to LorddeSpook. Found him covered in poo one time. I guess he hadn't cried? Dunno.

[PepperPotts]

My mum did this, late 70s early 80s.

When I had DC3 he used to fall asleep every morning on the school run, he's a May baby so the weather was nice and I used to leave him outside the back door until he woke up, it could be 3 hours (most he slept for 12 months!)

It was great, He was always in the shade and I was never more than 10 yards away. I wish I'd done it with dc1 and 2!!!

[morethanpotatoprints]

Fulltime

I left Butlins in 1987 just before they demolished the camp at Skeggy.
I was officially the last person detailed to do the baby crying announcements to the Ballroom. Ah, fond memories.

[MyHumpsMyLovelyBabyBumps]

dhs mum did it. 70s baby. have we discussed baby cages in windows yet?

[JumpingJacks]

That's incredible Fulltimedadof4

[Fulltimedadof4]

Butlins used to have a service where if the parents went to the ballroom at night you could leave the baby in your chalet, a nurse would be cycling around and if she heard your baby crying she would go to the ballroom and chalk up the chalet number on a black board for you to go and tend to your child. You can't imagine this being done now can you?

[PurplePidjin]

My gran (b 1921) fed my dad on demand in the night because she was living with her MIL who would bang her stick on the wall and shout "shut that baby up" can't imagine anyone able to out-battleaxe my gran She fed him to 10 months though!

She also tells of the time she left my uncle aged 2 in the pram in the garden while she did some tutoring work. She came out and it looked like a snow storm, he'd found a hole and ripped out the stuffing :o

Her kids were born in 47, 49 and 58. She's very envious of how much we get to cuddle my 8mo.

My MIL says dp (b 1965) was the baby who cried most of her three. She also advocates a 3 hour routine from birth. She sees no irony or connection between the two statements

I was early 80s and one of many who were ff from 6 weeks "because the milk dried up". Otherwise known as the 6 week growth spurt. My mum and many of her friends still talk about it with regret

OP, what a fascinating thread

[eddiemairswife]

I had mine in the 1960s. Two in hospital, then two at home. read all the books including Dr. Spock. The latest idea was feeding on demand, which I proceeded to do. My babies were quite big so they did go for roughly 4 hours between feeds. Always put out doors where I could see them and all slept well between feeds. [Still do!!]. My mum mentioned that Truby King was the expert when I was a baby, but I don't know if she followed his regime. She never imposed her ideas on child rearing upon me unless I asked for advice, and I have done the same with my grand children's upbringing.In fact my grandchildren's various parents seem to follow the same methods as I did, with minor differences such as sleeping position and when to introduce solid food, and best of all they were all breastfed as my children were and I myself was.

[ladymariner]

MumnGran a grin turns out just fine .....Xxxx

[storynanny]

Bassettfeet, me too, I loved my broderie anglais canopy.

[Chottie]

I was a 50s baby and I used to sleep outside in my pram. My DC were born in the 70s and 80s and they also slept outside. All DC were bf on demand. My GM had 7 children and she did that too.

[MumnGran]

ladymariner ....oo-er. No wonder you sounded a bit short!! I spotted a post earlier on today with someone having issues with weird stuff...odd links, in that case ...and that was a Firefox issue?
They all look like smiles in Chrome!
How does a (grin) turn out?

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

Definitely smiles on my screen (I hope!)

[ladymariner]

Fgs, can somebody tell me if they can see smiles or cards in my above post!!! Sending MumnGran them but as before they've come up as cards!!!! Anyone know why???

(apologies op!)

[ladymariner]

MumnGran for some reason it hasn't appeared as a smiley face on my screen, it's come up as a card with "Mr & Mrs" on it!!!! Have no idea why, but it clears that up anyway!!! Thanks for the smile anyway, much appreciated....xxx

[farewellfigure]

DS (5) slept in his old-fashioned-style pram outside every day if it was warm enough. Why not? I was usually parked on the beanbag next to him having a nap in the shade. Bliss.

I wouldn't park a baby down the end of the garden and let it scream though. Urgh.

[Loveliesbleeding]

I lived in SW London in early 80s. One of the older mums had a Silver Cross pram that she loaned out to me for my babies. It was wonderful. It just rolled over high kerbs. Modern buggies are so much effort to push in comparison. Great for taking babies out to get them to sleep. I used to do that at 10 at night.

[bassetfeet]

I reminisced today in this lovely sunshine . A walk with your baby in their pram [with broderie anglaise canopy up ] Letting them gurgle and suck their toes with no restricting clothing .
Then out in the garden to nap in the shade and withing easy hearing .
baby not me .

Lovely memories .