Holy Cats!! I almost didn’t believe it when I watched this video. It makes the back of my legs hurt just watching her put that baby into that cage {and then when the older child climbs in, I was sure it wouldn’t hold}. According to this article on treehugger.com, though, baby cages were all the rage in London in the 1930’s. People that didn’t have access to outdoor space took note out of the wildly popular parenting manual, The Care and Feeding of Children, and “aired out” their babies in cages suspended from their apartment windows.
Dr. Holt, the author of The Care and Feeding of Children, felt that kids do better when they are exposed to cooler temperatures. He suggested that allowing babies to acclimate to the weather in a “bonnet and light coat” for short periods {gradually working their way up to 5 hours a day} in the cages provided a defense against them getting sick. He even offered a temperature guideline for the nursery at night: Not below 65 degrees for the first 2-3 months, after that, drop as low as 55 degrees.
After a year of age, you can go between 45-50 degrees. {Ummm, obviously my kids have been spoiled, I could have saved a fortune over the years if I set our thermostat to 45!}
The idea is not all that crazy according to the same article, because years later, Dr. Spock {the childcare guru} agreed with the sentiment that children are healthier when exposed to the elements. Even I can totally get behind a little vitamin D and cool air, but jeez-o, I don’t know if I would trust the structural integrity of those cages?
What do you think, any apartment dwellers out there ready to trade in their playpens for a baby cage?
~Mavis
Beks says
Um, I think you could probably get a similar result by just taking them to the park, or for a walk. And it would lessen the chances of mom’s heart attack! 😉
Stacey says
I’m with you, Beks! I suppose they didn’t have a park to walk to, but thankfully we have outdoor spaces that work better and more safely.
Wendy Steele says
No WAY would I put my kids in that…OMG!!–it’s a nightmare waiting to happen!
Susan says
I think Child Protective Services would be at your door pretty fast!
Mrs. H says
That’s funny! They could’ve just opened the window! Don’t think I would use one of those.
Jess says
This from the same era of twilight sleep. No freaking way.
Libby says
I lock my kids in a cage outside all the time, doesn’t everyone? J/k
Libby says
I lock my kids in a cage outside all the time, doesn’t everyone? J/k
sakura says
The good ole days!
Butterflyweed says
In the late 50’s early 60’s in Montreal Canada, my mother in law would bundle up her babies and put them outside on the porch to nap-year round! No matter the temperature! It would be sub-zero and there were the babies napping. Needless to say I ignored all of her crazy parenting advice.
Jen says
When we were in Denmark over a Christmas holiday, we were surprised to see prams left on the sidewalk while the parents dined. The bundled little babes just napped while outside in the cooler temps.
carolyn says
In winter, my Russian MIL used to bundle my son up in his snowsuit, wrap him in a huge blanket and walk him outside in the backyard in his stroller. He got so used to it that almost as soon as he got into the stroller, he’d fall asleep and stay asleep much better than in his crib. There’s something about cold air, worked like a charm.