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A World of Babies: Imagined Childcare Guides for Eight Societies
Should babies sleep alone in cribs, or in bed with parents? Is talking to babies useful, or a waste of time? A World of Babies provides different answers to these and countless other childrearing questions, precisely because diverse communities around the world hold drastically different beliefs about parenting. While celebrating that diversity, the book also explores the challenges that poverty, globalization and violence pose for parents. Fully updated for the twenty-first century, this edition features a new introduction and eight new or revised case studies that directly address contemporary parenting challenges, from China and Peru to Israel and the West Bank. Written as imagined advice manuals to parents, the creative format of this book brings alive a rich body of knowledge that highlights many models of baby-rearing - each shaped by deeply held values and widely varying cultural contexts. Parenthood may never again seem a matter of 'common sense'.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 18, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 2, 2024
A charming and fun anthropological survey of child-rearing practices around the world. Here's a sampling of some of the advice from these seven societies:
- Watch out for witches. Srs everyone is so worried about witches.
- Bury the placenta. This was a popular recommendation.
- If your baby is born with teeth, kill it (!).
- If your baby's first tooth is an upper tooth, sorry, kill it as well.
- Teach your baby all the proper greetings for family members; for example, teasing grandfather with lewd comments like "old saggy balls!"
- Don't let your baby touch the ground, we are not animals!!
- Make sure the ground is the first thing your baby touches, we are very connected to the land!
- Don't bother talking to your baby, they don't understand anything anyway.
- Remember to talk to your baby all the time, they understand ALL languages.
- Make sure to start teaching your baby Bible things asap... since your baby is born in original sin.
- Your baby just came from the afterlife.
- Your baby is actually a reincarnated god.
- Your baby is a reincarnated elder.
- Your baby might be eager to "reincarnate" an elder - aka, kill a grandparent.
- Definitely feed your baby tons of breastmilk.
- But not the early breastmilk.
- And only for three months.
- Or five years.
- But definitely around two years of breastmilk. Unless it's a girl. Then three years.
- Other good foods for newborns: tea, taro, millet, medicinal leaves.
- Srs watch for witches, they are the worst.
- Remember that witches are super jealous of your gorgeous baby. So cover your baby in cow dung and remark loudly, "Have you ever seen such an ugly baby?!"
In short, I loved this book. I'm going to post it on all parenting forums whenever someone says "in the old days" or "the natural way" to do something is XYZ. I will run in and scream "BUT HAVE YOU ADEQUATELY PROTECTED YOUR BABY FROM WITCHES?"
- Watch out for witches. Srs everyone is so worried about witches.
- Bury the placenta. This was a popular recommendation.
- If your baby is born with teeth, kill it (!).
- If your baby's first tooth is an upper tooth, sorry, kill it as well.
- Teach your baby all the proper greetings for family members; for example, teasing grandfather with lewd comments like "old saggy balls!"
- Don't let your baby touch the ground, we are not animals!!
- Make sure the ground is the first thing your baby touches, we are very connected to the land!
- Don't bother talking to your baby, they don't understand anything anyway.
- Remember to talk to your baby all the time, they understand ALL languages.
- Make sure to start teaching your baby Bible things asap... since your baby is born in original sin.
- Your baby just came from the afterlife.
- Your baby is actually a reincarnated god.
- Your baby is a reincarnated elder.
- Your baby might be eager to "reincarnate" an elder - aka, kill a grandparent.
- Definitely feed your baby tons of breastmilk.
- But not the early breastmilk.
- And only for three months.
- Or five years.
- But definitely around two years of breastmilk. Unless it's a girl. Then three years.
- Other good foods for newborns: tea, taro, millet, medicinal leaves.
- Srs watch for witches, they are the worst.
- Remember that witches are super jealous of your gorgeous baby. So cover your baby in cow dung and remark loudly, "Have you ever seen such an ugly baby?!"
In short, I loved this book. I'm going to post it on all parenting forums whenever someone says "in the old days" or "the natural way" to do something is XYZ. I will run in and scream "BUT HAVE YOU ADEQUATELY PROTECTED YOUR BABY FROM WITCHES?"
December 11, 2013
This book encapsulates anthropological research on conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing practices for seven societies. To make the research accessible to a Western audience, the information is presented in the form of a childcare guide.
I enjoyed learning about other cultures I otherwise have had little exposure to, like the Walpiri aborigonees or the village-dwelling Muslims of Turkey. There was also a section on (historical) Puritan child-rearing practices, which have influenced some current Western practices, like keeping the child on a strict schedule.
I think I would have liked a little more analysis at the conclusion of the book. Mothers love their babies everywhere in the world, and their beliefs about the world lead them to express this love in different ways.
I enjoyed learning about other cultures I otherwise have had little exposure to, like the Walpiri aborigonees or the village-dwelling Muslims of Turkey. There was also a section on (historical) Puritan child-rearing practices, which have influenced some current Western practices, like keeping the child on a strict schedule.
I think I would have liked a little more analysis at the conclusion of the book. Mothers love their babies everywhere in the world, and their beliefs about the world lead them to express this love in different ways.
July 14, 2018
Strongly recommend.
I bought it to get an idea of how much variations there is in expectations of early learning.
Instead I got schooled on the history, politics and culture of countries I thought I knew & countries I didn't know.
The book is not perfect - my main complaint is that it's mostly white women talking how they imagine other people would talk. I wish they would have let local people write what they wanted. But still greatly exceeded my expectations.
It's still based off actual studies and things that real people said. An easy and surprisingly gripping read - high praise coming from someone like me who doesn't enjoy interacting with babies.
I bought it to get an idea of how much variations there is in expectations of early learning.
Instead I got schooled on the history, politics and culture of countries I thought I knew & countries I didn't know.
The book is not perfect - my main complaint is that it's mostly white women talking how they imagine other people would talk. I wish they would have let local people write what they wanted. But still greatly exceeded my expectations.
It's still based off actual studies and things that real people said. An easy and surprisingly gripping read - high praise coming from someone like me who doesn't enjoy interacting with babies.
Read
November 16, 2016A World of Babies is unlike most other books we have ever read. We believe it is probably meant to be a supplemental text for an anthropology course. However, it is an interesting read just by itself.
The idea is that the book contains different case studies that are reported via fictional childcare manuals.
We found most of these to be very interesting and informative. The book goes into a great deal of detail in some cases and the stories that are told are very believable and fun. However, it appeared to us that the last manual had an agenda the author was attempting to communicate to the reader.
Each section starts out with a little background information regarding the region and some of its history. Then, sometimes we are given a fictitious biography of the alleged manual writer. Finally the writer, or in some cases writers, of the manual will write as if giving childcare advice.
We can see that those wishing to learn more about cultures in other areas of the world will find this book very helpful. With the exception of the last section, the book appears to be written in a very neutral tone recording everyday life in the area.
If you wish to learn more about different cultures, some you may have never heard of, this is a good source of information.
FTC Required Notice:
We, Suzanne and David, were given a review copy of this book by the publisher without cost or obligation. Our policy on all reviews is to give our honest opinion of the book. Neither one of us is an anthropologist, so we cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information contained in this book.
The idea is that the book contains different case studies that are reported via fictional childcare manuals.
We found most of these to be very interesting and informative. The book goes into a great deal of detail in some cases and the stories that are told are very believable and fun. However, it appeared to us that the last manual had an agenda the author was attempting to communicate to the reader.
Each section starts out with a little background information regarding the region and some of its history. Then, sometimes we are given a fictitious biography of the alleged manual writer. Finally the writer, or in some cases writers, of the manual will write as if giving childcare advice.
We can see that those wishing to learn more about cultures in other areas of the world will find this book very helpful. With the exception of the last section, the book appears to be written in a very neutral tone recording everyday life in the area.
If you wish to learn more about different cultures, some you may have never heard of, this is a good source of information.
FTC Required Notice:
We, Suzanne and David, were given a review copy of this book by the publisher without cost or obligation. Our policy on all reviews is to give our honest opinion of the book. Neither one of us is an anthropologist, so we cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information contained in this book.
May 6, 2013
This book is written as a fictional childcare guide from the perspective of 7 societies around the world.
I really enjoyed reading about the varied ways in which different cultures approached birth and breastfeeding. I was really surprised how many cultures routinely did not have newborns drink colostrum, yet managed to maintain success with breastfeeding long term. Often the natural birth community and researchers make it seem as if breastfeeding is likely to fail if the first hour and/or first few days don't go well with breastfeeding. I think the fact that so many cultures shun colostrum, yet have good breastfeeding success is worth sharing with others. It was also interesting to really see how long most cultures breastfeed, from a full year for the puritans to several years in other cultures.
I also think that the varied perspectives on child rearing practices were really interesting. But, the novelty of the book wore off after the first four cultures and it became a bit boring. Although written for a lay audience, it is still a book that requires an interest in anthropology or child development.
I really enjoyed reading about the varied ways in which different cultures approached birth and breastfeeding. I was really surprised how many cultures routinely did not have newborns drink colostrum, yet managed to maintain success with breastfeeding long term. Often the natural birth community and researchers make it seem as if breastfeeding is likely to fail if the first hour and/or first few days don't go well with breastfeeding. I think the fact that so many cultures shun colostrum, yet have good breastfeeding success is worth sharing with others. It was also interesting to really see how long most cultures breastfeed, from a full year for the puritans to several years in other cultures.
I also think that the varied perspectives on child rearing practices were really interesting. But, the novelty of the book wore off after the first four cultures and it became a bit boring. Although written for a lay audience, it is still a book that requires an interest in anthropology or child development.
August 12, 2011
Childcare advice guides for different societies around the world as written by fictional authors (ghost written by real anthropologists). This is full of fascinating tidbits showing how different parenting/childcare (focusing mostly on the mother's perspective) can be. For example:
-in Ifaluk (a small society in Micronesia), adoption is very common (30-60%). In fact, it's considered rude to refuse a request for adopting your baby if you already have one girl and one boy. Typically the birth mother breastfeeds and takes care of the to-be-adopted child for the first three years (!), at which point the child is adopted (but can live with either household as he wishes).
-in the Beng society of the Ivory Coast, if the baby dies before the umbilical cord falls off, she is considered not to have really left the spirit world from which she came, and there is no funeral (and if the baby dies after the umbilical cord falls off, the parents must refrain from weeping until after the chief announces the funeral to the village).
-in Ifaluk (a small society in Micronesia), adoption is very common (30-60%). In fact, it's considered rude to refuse a request for adopting your baby if you already have one girl and one boy. Typically the birth mother breastfeeds and takes care of the to-be-adopted child for the first three years (!), at which point the child is adopted (but can live with either household as he wishes).
-in the Beng society of the Ivory Coast, if the baby dies before the umbilical cord falls off, she is considered not to have really left the spirit world from which she came, and there is no funeral (and if the baby dies after the umbilical cord falls off, the parents must refrain from weeping until after the chief announces the funeral to the village).
May 15, 2015
The premise is that there is no such thing as "common sense" child care - it's all about how you and your society view babies (and pregnancy and children). So this is written as fictitious childcare manuals for 7 very different societies - 17th century Puritans in Massachusetts (the only non-contemporary one), the Fulani and the Beng of West Africa, Muslim Turkish villagers, the Balinese, the Warlpiri of the Australian outback, and Ifaluk (Polynesian islanders). Some of these believe babies are gods and treat them accordingly; some think they are inhabited by devils and you have to start very early to set them on the right path. I found the most interesting parts to be the pregnancy and childbirth parts, and taboos and restrictions (and freedoms!) set thereon. After the baby is born, most emphasize breastfeeding and 24-hour closeness and the joys and ease of getting help, advice and support from your extended family and kin around you. I skimmed a few parts, but mostly found this very enjoyable - and another quickie!
March 18, 2008
I'm halfway through this one as well and waiting to check it out again. I've read the Puritan experience and have started the next culture, which I forget what it is! It's an interesting concept: write an anthropological take on several societies' childrearing practices from the perspective of an imagined childcare guide a la Dr Spock. In practice, it reads as a little too expository, like those characters in badly written TV shows that say, "As you know, dear brother-in-law, yesterday you saw me with our mutual friend, James, who revealed he was blackmailing the maid, Marguerite." Still, I want to finish, because I do appreciate the anthropological perspective on different parenting practices.
April 2, 2011
A "child manual" for seven different cultures. Each chapter is written by an anthropologist that studies that culture.
As a mother of two young children that lives in a city with very opinionated mothers, I found this book VERY freeing. It acted as a reminder that (1) there are many different ways to raise children and (2) children around the world end up okay even if they are raised differently.
Reading this book was really interesting from a factual perspective. From a personal perspective, I feel much more free to raise my boys the way that feels right to me (society be damned!) Highly recommended to anyone who is interested in other cultures ESPECIALLY if they are a mother.
As a mother of two young children that lives in a city with very opinionated mothers, I found this book VERY freeing. It acted as a reminder that (1) there are many different ways to raise children and (2) children around the world end up okay even if they are raised differently.
Reading this book was really interesting from a factual perspective. From a personal perspective, I feel much more free to raise my boys the way that feels right to me (society be damned!) Highly recommended to anyone who is interested in other cultures ESPECIALLY if they are a mother.
July 10, 2012
I read this book for an Anthropology class on Infancy. It is a good overview of various cross-cultural "manuals" on child rearing in 7 very different societies. While the Puritan chapter was very interesting as well as a few of the others, I found the book to be rather repetitive and formulaic. This is not a book that I believe a non-anthropologist general social reader would find particularly entertaining as it still feels rather didactic. It is a book that could easily be flipped through in an hour or less to get the general sense of the authors' ideas that infancy is culturally variable.
March 6, 2012
I would never have picked this book up at the store but I had to read it for my anthropology class. It turned out to be a fun and smooth read and it even made me laugh and smile. I imagine mothers or expecting mothers would have fun reading this book.
February 28, 2013
A fascinating, assumption-shattering tour of how other cultures have taken care of children, with each chapter told in the voice of an imaginary child care guru from that society. Sounds strange; works wonderfully. An off-beat baby shower present. (Seriously!)
January 25, 2013
Loved her other work, didn't like this one.
February 28, 2013
Reminds the reader that the Western way of childcare isn't the only way and that societies have successfully raised children since the beginning of time. Interesting read!
January 6, 2015
An interesting, insightful look at imagined ChildCare manuals in 7 societies. Think I found a new baby shower gift. Fascinating!
Read
January 28, 2019Quite interesting. Learned about different societies from an angle close to my heart, childbirth and child care.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews