Babies [Hardcover]

Béatrice Fontanel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1997

Packed with traditions, superstitions, folklore, and scientific discoveries from around the world, a colorfully illustrated volume recounts every imaginable practice relating to bringing up baby from ancient times to the present."

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

For the women who came centuries before now, having a baby was often dicey work. There were noxious potions to drink, zephyrs to credit with conception if one's husband was away from home, and some rather odd pregnancy tests. At least in 16th century Germany the whims of pregnant women were indulged: one plate in this charming, lavishly illustrated history tracing babies from antiquity to today shows a woman pelting her compliant husband with eggs. Once born, the babies created massive controversy. Breast or bottle? Limbs tightly swaddled or free? Daily baths or protective filth? It's amusing and humbling to see how often "expert" advice changes.

From School Library Journal

YAALavish illustrations and information about infant care and management as portrayed in history, folklore, and art from ancient to modern times. All aspects of a child's life are examined from teething to hygiene to nutrition as the theories of childbirth and rearing progressed (or regressed in some cases) over the centuries. The evolution of equipment such as pincers (forceps) for birthing, wicker skits for walkers, swaddling cloths and plastic diapers, buggies and playthings are described and profusely illustrated. The most interesting aspect of the book is the examination of the treatment of babies that is so often dependent upon the economic and social standing of the family and the superstitions of the time. Quotes by philosophers and physicians as well the lullabies and rhymes of the common folk punctuate the ever-changing and contradictory theories of child care. The reproductions of fine art and the journal advertisements and photos command attention, but the text is equally absorbing. This is a truly gorgeous book, wonderfully browsable and equally useful for reports on the role of women and children in society throughout the centuries. The lack of an index is compensated for by a complete table of contents.AJackie Gropman, Kings Park Library, Burke, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Hardcover: 218 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; 1st Am. ed. edition (February 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810912449
• ISBN-13: 978-0810912441
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,710,318 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars really cool book about white people, June 30, 2008

By 

wahmama (portland, or) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Babies (Hardcover)

sometimes amusing, sometimes horrifying, always fascinating, the book would more accurately be titled "white babies: history, art & folklore" because it focuses entirely on the upbringing of european, mostly french, babies. reading through this book, i came to wonder why the authors chose to detail the history of white babies & not include the traditions of other cultures, and then it came to me - because our european culture is absurdly, almost dangerously, "clever" in our devising of ways to presumably make our lives easier! one need only look into simple pieces of cloth the african bushwoman uses to tie her baby onto her back, or the split-crotch pants devised by the chinese to facilitate easier pottying by their babies or even the daily baths & massages lavished upon indigenous babies all over the world to realize that the western culture is extremely backward in it's thinking. breast milk is poisonous? well, who else but the europeans would come up with such an absurd notion?! men attending at birth? well golly, it had to be white men who decided they were so threatened by the success of midwives that they burned them at the stake! babies need fresh air? well, let's hang them from the windowsills!

all that aside, i really enjoy beatrice fontanel's thorough style of investigation & her ability to dig up the most amazing images from all points in history. this book is the complementary opposite of her other book, "babies celebrated", which remains one of my very favorite pictorial accounts of traditional cultures & their newest societal members.