WAR-TIME BABIES HAVE GROWN UP TOUGH

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5321, 6 February 1947, Page 3

WAR-TIME BABIES HAVE GROWN UP TOUGH

NOT PAMPEltBD OR OVERPED. The subject of how the war babies are growing np in Britain was reeently discussed by Sylvia Duncan in the B.B.C.'s overseas service. She lierself has two children; a son. born at the time of Dunkirk and a daughter whose birth coineided with the Italian armistiee. 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 rearcd 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 rnost of what I've been told a'bout iio •draug'htsi, proper temperatures, and just the right food at the right time. T've got to bring my haby up so that he will thrive under any conditions." Her mother was horrified at what she called her daughter's earelessness about the right amo'unt of blankets, and the same thickness of elothing every day— but they were living in wartime Bristol. Air raids started w'hen the baby was five weeks old, and from then urtil he was eight months they had po 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 to-day 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 epidemies, rickets and tuberculosis of cther 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 milkpudding" graces the birthday tahle— though, of eounse, it is a gala clay. when the greengroe'er produces bananas, grapefruit, oranges and even lemons. Many a cllild has reached the age of six without having a bilious attack simply because he has never had the ehace to over-eat. It is certain that pre ehancc t0 over-eat. Understanding the shortages and difficulties, they have an unusual amount of control and selfdiscipline. Perhaps these war-time babies will make • good husbands and wivcs. The laek of domestie help and the realisation that mummy aiid daddy can't. c!o everything has taught them not only self-reliance, but heipfulness. Through not having their mother at he.ine all day, many of them have beeome very independent for their age and ean ihink and reason well for thomsclves.