Bringing Up Baby (Part 1) - Channel 4

[Octavius]

Any thoughts and opinions?

1950's - My wife was nearly in tears watching the 1950's method - especially leaving the baby alone in the garden for 3 hours a day and letting it cry all night in a dark room.

1970's - Probably the most namby pamby one but didn't really get the ethos other than 'just do your best'.

Anthropological - Wouldn't this make a baby too 'clingy' and I couldn't imagine keeping the baby in the bed for 6 months.

It was all a bit disconcerting really. Perhaps the best way is a combination of all three, which for most people would seem the most natural anyway.

[LoftyLottie]

Would agree with you entirely Octaviius. Besides, babies are just small human beings all behaving individually. What suits one won't suit another. The best advice I think is to not have any hard and fast rules and adapt to what suits both baby and parents and be very flexible.

The old 50's method was diabolical and totally rules out any maternal/paternal instincts. Personally the anthropological one is the nearest to being the best, but probably not practical in our society.

[B00]

the 1950's woman was a monster, i too was really upset with the whole leaving outside for hours and putting them to bed from 7 til 7 really upsetting. The no eye contact and lack of cuddling particularly upset me as well.

And like you, I thought the 1970's one was too OTT, I didn't like the "baby attached to you 24/7" idea.

From what i've seen so far, the 1960's one had it spot on.

[4getmenot]

Oh bums I missed it

[Pippa68]

I missed it too.

From conversations I had with my 2 mothers in law, whose babies were born in 1965, they followed the 1950's method as described.

They learned their parenting from their own mothers, and the books given to them printed in the 50's! when my first child was born in 1990 my first mother in law was appalled that I wouldn't leave my daughter outside in the pram all day ~ and equally appalled that I didn't feed her every 4 hours whether baby liked it or not, or put her to bed at 7.00pm.

I was given the same book she read ~ it beggars belief!

[Octavius]

Have I got my decades muddled?

1950's - Monstrous regiment
1960's - lots of free love and cuddles
1970's - tribal/anthropoligical constant attachment

1950's - It looked a bit like owning an animal didn't it?! No touching at all between feeding? No bonding. Just a regimental boot camp!

Do you think it has a lot to do with the woman - who apparently charges up to �1,000 perday for baby mentoring - having no children of her own?

1970's - Conversely I couldn't imagine having the baby constantly attached to you in a sling - fine if you are in the jungle I guess, so Lofty is spot on there.

[mountainboo]

I totally agree with you all. You can tell that 50's dragon lady hasn't ever had children. She has no maternal instinct at all. Isn't what she's doing neglect? I'm having a baby in March and every book I have read so far has said 'never leave a new born to cry for long periods'. Surely the only reason why a very small baby would cry would be either out of hunger, pooy nappy, illness or lonliness? She is going against everything that a mother instinctivly wants to do for her baby. With all that said I didn't really think much to the other ladies regimes. Plus, isn't it a bad idea to sleep with the baby in the bed the parents sleep in, at such an early age?

[Octavius]

I said to my wife that if our neighbours� baby was sitting out on the patio alone for a few hours crying every day, we would be inclined to phone social services!

[LoftyLottie]

I honestly didn't read any books at all and didn't get any advice from mother or anyone else for that matter. I had some 1950's advice from the elderly and well-meaning health visitor, which I totally ignored. I was an 'elderly' mum and used common sense and instinct and talked things through with other mothers and fortunately had a very happy, healthy baby who I enjoyed immensely.

[mountainboo]

Octavius, thats exactly what I said.
Lofty, that sounds like the best way to do it - common sense and instinct.

[nannon]

i dont have children but watching that witch really upset me - i cant imagine leaving a child outside - esp not with all the child snatching and god knows what else thathappens! I know it must have happened back them but its different now....what about animals?? What if next door flea bitten mangy cat thought it would be a comfy place to sleep???!!!! And to close the door as well? I imagine it may be quite nice on a warm day to park the buggy by the back door whilst you were in the kitchen for example - baby gets fresh air but can see you and more importantly you can see it!!!
The one wit hthe sling etc - i think that was a little too much -what about when you want the baby to sleep alone etc - would it not be very hard to settle it???
Like i said - i have no kids but i'd rather muddle through the way i though was right than follow these rules!!!!!

[brionon]

I know plenty of mums from that age who did nothing of the sort, it's just the usual TV hogwash.

[beejaybee]

I was a 50`s baby. My mum used to put me outside in the pram, not ALL day though, & to be honest it did me more good than harm, as I had plenty of fresh air. I was never ill as a baby or a child. We did n`t know what it was to have colds. I did the same with my own babies in the 70`s & they were never ill.

[Pippa68]

Mine were never ill and were 90's/00's babies ~ mind you they were breastfed which apparently makes a difference..yet there are countless bottlefed babies who are/were never ill either ;o)

[Ethel]

I too was raised in a regime similar to the 50s. Put on the pot whilst feeding to save nappies - washing was a very hard job when mum had to boil the water to do the washing by hand, and no drying facilities.

In the pram in the garden between feeds, with a hot water bottle during the winter.

Needless to say, I can't remember it. :) Didn't do me any harm, nor my siblings.

[B00]

Not disputing that Ethel, I myself used to put both teen Boo and mini Boo outside in the pram, well wrapped up if it wasn't too cold. What I did think was barbaric though was when they did they shut the door (something I never did) and ignore the baby if they cried. I would also never leave them for the time they did either. Wasn't it for a full 4 hours?

Also the whole, no eye contact and no cuddling is plain cruel in my view.