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

[themaltesecat]

This thread is making me nostalgic for those large, flat-mattressed, old-fashioned prams... can you still buy them?

[juule]

"She would nod off watching the leaves move in the breeze, "
:) mine did this too and also would nod off watching the washing blowing on the line.

[DesperatelySeekingSedatives]

My gran loves to brag about how "good" her babies were- never cried between their 4 hourly feeds, and yes, they did sleep in the pram on the front step while Gran "got things done". All the other babies in the block were out in their prams on their doorsteps. No harm came to any it seems. This was the 50's.

Having said that, my gran has told me many times that she wishes she hadn't done that and that she wishes she kept her babies by her side the whole time because "it goes by far too quickly dear". But on the otherhand she pointed out she'd have got nothing done as she's have sat watching them the whole time because to her mind they were all so beautiful

[Jenny70]

I think this may be a combination of 2 common parenting techniques, but not sure how many people did them at the same time - but possibly some did:

1. feed 4hrly not on demand - very common in 70's (maybe earlier), seen to be spoiling the child to feed on demand, but caused lots of milk supply issues (and many unhappy babies too, I'm sure). Formula was becoming popular and many health care providers recommended shifting to bottles if bf didn't work in this strict structure, they didn't value breastfeeding so if it didn't work, no big deal (formula was seen as more advanced than primitive breastmilk). My aunt said the ?2 weeks she HAD to stay in after her natural births were horrid, as the midwives wouldn't let her demand feed, but as soon as she got home and demand fed it was better for all.
   
   
2. Babies napping in fresh air, very common, but not sure how many were left to cry and cry. Sometimes an overtired child would settle better outside, watching the leaves etc and calm themselves, but not completely ignored.

[IneedAsockamnesty]

Google historical images of pre 1980's residential streets you should see plenty of rows of houses with prams lined up outside the doors.

And just to really blow your dh's mind it may amuse you to inform him that in the early 1990's if you used baby led weaning and your health visitor either saw you or you told her then you would have been reported to social services for child abuse. And several child protection care plans from that time contained the words "mother lacks insight into safe feeding practices and the importance of blending" this was a catch all phrase about nothing other than what we now call BLW.

[sherbetpips]

yep mine went in the garden but only at nap time, slept way better out in the garden than in the house. didnt ever leave DS crying though.

[Habbibu]

Yes, maltese - I've got one to sell!

[thegreylady]

Yes it is true and it was done on medical advice as 'fresh air' was good for babies.If it was ver cold the baby was 'well wrapped up' if it was sunny there was a sunshade for the pram.Only in heavy rain, wind or snow as the baby brought in.Feeding was meant to be every 3 hours from birth to 8 weeks and every 4 hours thereafter.
In the 30's Truby-King advocated not picking up the baby between feeds but by the 50's it was more relaxed.
In the 70's I was advised that dc would sleep better in the pram outside :)

[Habbibu]

Both dd and ds slept in our big silver cross pram outside the back door, or in the porch. They always slept better in the fresh air.

[juule]

"Only in heavy rain, wind or snow as the baby brought in."
Not the advice I was given so mine were out in everything except fog.

[ComposHat]

I was left out in the garden in a pram a lot as an infant. That was in the 80s.

I thought the 'free to a good home' sticker my mum put on the pram was a step too far.

[Lilymaid]

In the 1990s my HV recommended putting DS2 in his pram out in the garden for a while - but not all day and not the end of the garden. As has been said many times, fresh air is fine - but leaving them at bottom of the garden until the 4 hours is up isn't!

[NinaJade666]

Sockreturningpixie - We do baby led weaning lol

[gotthemoononastick]

Pagwatch has described it all beautifully...yes even the ladies with empty sore arms.Note the empathy her mother had,to be able to share a little.

[Flobbadobs]

themaltesecat you can still get the flat silver cross coach style prams, the last one I saw for sale was nearly £1000!

[skinoncustard]

Not the crying or strict 4 hour feeds but put my Dd's out in the garden in Silver Cross pram ( my pride & joy) in 1980 & 86 . Fresh air won't do your child any harm ! Don't understand keeping babies like little hot house plants. If you have a safe garden and the weather is fine - get them out .

[ImTooHecsyForYourParty]

on a related note, all this HAD to stay in for X days - how was that enforced? I assume there was no law in place that meant that you were legally required to remain in hospital for that time? What would happen if you said no, actually, I will not stay in hospital. Or no, actually, I will not feed to your schedule...

[ComposHat]

I was wondering that too party I can't imagine they cpuld enforce any of it, but it was probably a more deferential age, without alternative source s of information.

A friend of mine had a stand up tow with a nurse as she told her that she couldn't leave hospital unless her child was in a car seat. They didn't own a car and they lived two streets away so her husband could walk home with their baby.


The nurse was adamant until my friend asked if they could keep her and her child in hospital against their will unyil he turned 16.

[Lilymaid]

As far as I recall my mother had to "lie in" for 10 days at hospital after I was born. She also had to be shaved and to take castor oil as she went into labour! I think a week to 10 days was standard then and I suspect most women would have stayed.

[Pigsmummy]

I was born in 1975 and my mum put me outside the front door for hours in the pram, this is despite having a private back garden, when she told me I was shocked and asked why outside the front door, she replied that "it was just what you did back then".

[AmberLeaf]

Hec I imagine that was adhered to because it was during the time when you didn't question what 'Doctor' said?

I was born in the early 70s and my Dad had to argue his right to be at my birth with hospital staff!

[Eyesunderarock]

'on a related note, all this HAD to stay in for X days - how was that enforced?'

It wasn't enforced by law Hec, but by the pressure of expectations from the hospital the medical professionals, the community (Lots of teeth-sucking and knowing nods as to what sort of mother would be so wilful)
From discussions with my mother and grandmother, most first-time mothers weren't confident enough and most second time mothers enjoyed the rest!

[ImTooHecsyForYourParty]

I wonder if the medical profession is glad people do not blindly follow or if it looks back wistfully to the Good Old Days

[gotthemoononastick]

Hecsy,a time when one did as told,especially by anyone in a white coat or uniform.' Discharging yourself' had the the real,or perceived threat of never being allowed back in a hospital. Also prosecution if things went wrong. Many were educated to a tertiary level,but did not dream of questioning.