BACK TO THE CRADLE.

New Zealand Listener, Volume 20, Issue 495, 17 December 1948, Page 5

BACK TO THE CRADLE.

Sir,-I have read with great interest your collegtion of interviews on "Back to the Cradle." In the’ main, ‘those interviewed point scornful fingers at Dr. Thoulless and his theories, yet I think’ that if further inquiry weré made his opinion would be found not an isolated oddity, but the opinion of a growing number of investigators in the field of pediatrics. I think it. would be unfair to Dr. Thoulless. to infer that he meant that a child should be fed every time it ¢ries. What he is trying to say is that it is wrong to wait until the clock strikes one if the baby is roaring at 12.30, The mother get’ into a state and the baby could not be in a good condition to feed after a half-hour howl. I think the attempted slavish adherence to routine has probably had much to do with the failure in, natural, feeding that characterises the present age of infant care. As one®.mother points,out, a child soon makes its! own routine if gently

persuaded but every child is different and must be treated accordingly: While the Plunket Society does excellent work, I think a tendency to gerieralise © vand make every child conform to a ‘pattern has spoiled a good deal of theit excellent work. But the Plunket. Society is progressive, and has already . ddified and adapted many of its ideas. Therefore its officials. should bea little: yey moderate in. the expression ‘of; views. I question ¥ hether Dn /Thoulleps would just tty to be different, t+! omnes if I think my baby needs tle ‘soothing ‘on odd eécasioris ‘I shalt. give-her a ‘sly’ rock "afd sat patatid ‘sneak®hér a bottle at! 4.0 a.m. if I think she’d. really like it. : +

PROSPECTIVE MOTHER

(Havelock North).