WAR-TIME BABIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 92, 10 February 1947, Page 5

WAR-TIME BABIES

GROW UP TOUGH NOT PAMPERED OR OVERFED The subject of how the war babies are growing up in Britain was recently discussed by Sylvia Duncan in the 8.8.C.’s overseas service. She herself has two children, a son born at the time of Dunkirk and a daughter whose birth coincided with the Italian armistice.

On the whole, she is satisfied with their development, and feels, surprisingly enough, that they might not have been so healthy if they had been reared in the days of peace and plenty, although she regrets all the pleasures they have missed and now outgrown.

Her decision about the first baby was “He’s got to be tough. I’ve got to forget most of what I’ve been told about no draughts, proper temperatures, and just the right food 'at the right time. I’ve got to bring my baby up so that he will thrive under any conditions.”

Her mother was horrified at what she called her daughter’s carelessness about the right amount of blankets, and the same thickness of clothing every day—but they were living in wartime Bristol. Air raids started when the baby was five weeks old, and from then until he was eight months they had to spend nearly every night in a damp outside shelter. He never caught a cold. She thinks that there is a general sturdiness about the five and six year olds of today which comes -from a complete absence of pampering during baby days. They are reaping the benefit of never having been coddled, and seem to have missed the epidemics, rickets and tuberculosis of other countries and other days.

These wartime British children love all the things children are traditionally supposed to dislike, which seems to confirm the theory that the taste approves what the body needs. They lap up the fishiest, greasiest cod-liver oil; prunes are a real treat, and milk-pudding graces the birthday table—though, of course, it is a gala day when the greengrocer produces bananas, grapefruit, oranges and even lemons.

Many a child has reached the age of six without having a bilious attack simply because he has never had the chance to over-eat. It is certain that pre-chance, to over-eat. Understanding the shortages and difficulties, they have an unusual amount of control and self-discip-line. Perhaps these war-time babies will make good husbands and wives. The lack of domestic help and the realisation that mummy and daddy can’t do everything has taught them not only self-reliance, but helpfulness. Through not having their mother at home all day, many of them have become very independent for their age and can think and reason well for themselves.