so often by letting children
cry, as by hastening to quiet them, that we make them rupture
themselves. The proof of this is that the children most neglected are
less subject than others to this infirmity. I am far from wishing them
to be neglected, however. On the contrary, we ought to anticipate
their wants, and not wait to be notified of these by the children's
crying. Yet I would not have them misunderstand the cares we bestow on
them. Why should they consider crying a fault, when they find that it
avails so much? Knowing the value of their silence, they will be
careful not to be lavish of it. They will, at last, make it so costly
that we can no longer pay for it; and then it is that by crying without
success they strain, weaken, and kill themselves.

The long crying fits of a child who is not compressed or ill, or
allowed to want for anything, are from habit and obstinacy. They are
by no means the work of nature, but of the nurse, who, because she
cannot endure the annoyance, multiplies it, without reflecting that by
stilling the child to-day, he is induced to cry the more to-morrow.

The only way to cure or prevent this habit is to pay no attention to
it. No one, not even a child, likes to take unnecessary trouble.

They are stubborn in their attempts; but if you have more firmness than
they have obstinacy, they are discouraged, and do not repeat the
attempt. Thus we spare them some tears, and accustom them to cry only
when pain forces them to it.

Nevertheless when they do cry from caprice or stubbornness, a sure way
to prevent their continuing is, to turn their attention to some
agreeable and striking object, and so make them forget their desire to
cry. In this art most nurses excel, and when skilfully employed, it is
very effective. But it is highly important that the child should not
know of our intention to divert him, and that he should amuse himself
without at all thinking we have him in mind. In this all nurses are
unskilful.

All children are weaned too early. The proper time is indicated by
their teething. This process is usually painful and distressing. By a
mechanical instinct the child, at that time, carries to his mouth and
chews everything he holds. We think we make the operation easier by
giving him for a plaything some hard substance, such as ivory or coral.
I think we are mistaken. Far from softening the gums, these hard
bodies, when applied, render them hard and callous, a