Life, 1921-06-09 · page 15 of 38
Life — June 9, 1921 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is satirical advice about child-rearing based on Dr. Emmett Holt's influential book "The Care and Feeding of Children." The cartoon mocks the book's rigid recommendations by depicting a chaotic domestic scene where a mother wielding tools confronts a naked child in a bathtub surrounded by plants and animals—suggesting the absurdity of following Holt's prescriptive rules. The accompanying Q&A section parodies the book's format, offering increasingly ridiculous answers to parenting questions about bathing, clothing, weight, sleep, and feeding. The satire suggests Holt's advice, while popular among young mothers, often contradicts common sense and practical reality. The cartoonist implies such strict adherence to expert guidance produces confusion rather than better child care.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
pain Iman keep when from plat- ) for rters ents -ning etray Holt! Who Goes There? By ROBERT C. BENCHLEY {£ reliance of young mothers on Dr. Ti mmett Holt’s “The Care and Feed- ¢ of Children,” has become a na- J custom. Especially during the early infancy of the first baby does the son rise and set by what “ Holt says.” But there are several questions which come to mind which e not included in the handy questionnaire arranged by the noted child-specialist, and as he is probably too busy to answer them himself, we have compiled an appen- dix which he may incorporate in the next edition of his book, if he cares to. Of course, if he doesn’t care to it isn’t com- palsory BATHING should the parent wear while bath- y the child? rubber loin-cloth will usually be suffi- cient, with perhaps a pair of elbow- guards and anti-skid gloves, A bath should never be given a child until at least one hour after eating (that is, after the parent has eaten). What are the objections to face-cloths as a means of bathing children? They are too easily swallowed, and after six or seven wet face-cloths have been swallowed, the child is likely to be- come heavy and lethargic. Under at should the daily tub-bath be omitted? Almost any excuse will do. The bath- room may be too cold, or too hot, or circumstances the child may be too sleepy or too wide-awake, or the parent may have lame knees or lead poisoning, ‘And anyway, the child had a good bath yesterday, CLOTHING How should the infant be held during dressing and undressing? Any carpenter will be glad to sell you « vise which can be attached to the cdge of the table. Place the infant in the vise and turn the screw until there is a slight redness under the pressure. Re careful not to turn it too tight or e child will resent it; but on the ther hand, care should be taken not to leave it too loose, otherwise the child will be continually falling out on the floor, and you will never get it dressed that way. What are the most important items in the baby’s clothing? The safety-pins which are in the bureau in the next room, Eve: Adam: PARDONNEZ MOI, MADEMOISELLF. DJER MOI! QUELLE suRPRISE! 1 WOULD NOT HAVE CALLED HAD I REMEM- BERED IT WAS MONDAY, WEIGHT How should a child be weighed? Place the child in the scales, The father should then sit on top of the child to hold him down. Weigh father and child together. Then deduct the father’s weight from the gross tonnage, and the weight of the child is the result. FRESH.AIR What are the objections to an infant's sleeping out-of-doors? Sleeping out-of-doors in the city is all right, but children sleeping out of doors in the country are likely to be kissed by wandering cows and things. This should never be permitted under any circumstances, DEVELOPMENT When does the infant first laugh aloud? When the father tries to pin it up for the first time. If at two years the child makes no attempt to talk, what should be suspected? That it hasn't yet seen anyone worth talking to. FEEDING What should not be fed to a child? Ripe olives. How do we know how much food a healthy child needs? By listening carefully. Which parent should go and get the child’s carly morning bottle? The one least able to feign sleep. comicbooks.com