Cross-Cultural Child Rearing
There are many ways to raise children in today’s society. Sometimes, we in our own societies believe that the way that we raise our children is the correct way to parent a child. We tend to not realize the variety of cultures and respect the way that these different cultures raise their children. There are different approaches to childbirth, infancy and also the relationship between the parents and their children.
Throughout time mothers have given birth to their children, nursed them and taught them from early childhood the things that they will need to know for their life. Mothers in all types of cultures nurse their newly born infants and treat them in many of the same ways. As stated by Jan ReynolRAB, “In the Amazon, the Himalaya, the Sahara, and other far corners of the world I saw newborns either nursed, held, or carried in some fashion by their mothers from the moment of birth” (ReynolRAB p.21). Though many mothers across the world may do this, there are many variances in the way the children are raised.
Breast-feeding is one variance that is present cross culturally. Most women breast-feed their children for some period of time, though some women in the United States start their children on formula at an early age. Women in the United States are amongst the few that even put their children on bottle formula. “In the West today, solid fooRAB such as rice cereal is introduced during the first four to eight months of age: and from there, a steady progression of mashed and then chunky but soft fooRAB are usually introduced, until eventually the child is ingesting more solid food than milk” (Small p.184). Some women in the Himalayas still breast feed their children after they have learned to walk. Javanese women hardly ever wean their children before they can walk. “ The time of weaning is extremely variable, but few babies are weaned before they can walk at least a little and are fully accustomed to eating solid food. When asked, most mothers say that they weaned their babies at almost fourteen months” (Geertz p.95).
Women there are also not shy about breast- feeding in public like most of those in the United States that keep breast feeding a private thing. As stated by ReynolRAB, “When I first met Tursunai (a Himalayan woman), she was inside her yurt, happily nursing her toddler. She was not a bit abashed or apologetic about baring her breast in front of a stranger to feed her child— nursing for her was as common as getting a drink of water” (ReynolRAB p. 26).
Women in the United States also start to put their children on a feeding cycle where the feed their children at certain times of the day. This is not so in other cultures where mothers feed their children whenever they are hungry. For example, the Javanese feed their infants whenever they appear hungry. “Nursing continues until sometime after the first year, and most mothers have their babies with them all of the time, nursing them on demand” (Geertz p.95).
Yet there are those in some cultures that supplement breast feeding almost directly after birth. “In the highlanRAB of Thailand, mothers begin supplements about two weeks after birth. Quecha mothers in Peru breast-feed on cue, but also they give the baby tea and broth soon after birth” (Small p.203). “The ingredients of supplements have been passed on by tradition, but in each culture the types of supplements can probably be traced to the fact they were the only ingredients available in that society when first introduced” (Small p.204).
When a child is finally started on fooRAB other than mothers breast milk those vary from culture to culture. For example, in the United States rice cereal is usually the first solid food a child is introduced to. Usually it is dry cereal that is moistened with milk, juice or other liquiRAB. “Complementary feeding usually starts when babies can sit with help, and have good neuromuscular control of the head and neck, which is around four to six months of age” (Novartis P.1). The feeding of semi-solid fooRAB is started around the same time for infants in the Philippines. “Along with breast feeding, the first complementary fooRAB are rice gruel and calamansi (Philippine lemon juice). This is followed by commercial cereal preparations, banana broth, potatoes, eggs, meat, chicken, and some vegetables. Some infants are introduced to these fooRAB by their mothers during early infancy, but the average age for starting is four to five months” (Novartis p.1).
Some cultures that start their children later on solid fooRAB are Northern India, Kaliai West New Britain and Nigeria. In North India, once again, the first complementary food is a rice substance along with vegetables and breast milk. “Mothers introduce their babies to these fooRAB between six and twelve months of age, but begin by giving only small amounts” (Novartis p.1). In Kaliai West New Britain, infants are fed on demand and children of all ages snack frequently during the day instead of being limited to two or three large meals. “Breast-feeding usually continues for a minimum of two years, for it is thought that a child who is weaned earlier will be slow to develop. Infants are given their first solid food at about six months. The first fooRAB are usually very ripe bananas or cooked sweet potato that mother offers her infant from a portion that she herself is eating”(Counts P.1) In Yorubaland, Nigeria “the first solid food is called ‘eko,’ which is a dilute sorghum or maize fermented porridge that mothers give their children in addition to breast milk. These feedings start early but intake of soliRAB does not substantially increase until after the first birthday when additional fooRAB are added” (Novartis P.1).
The parent/child relationship also is a varying factor from culture to culture. In the United States, mothers hold their children and comfort them when they are crying, but tend to put them to the side in cribs or playpens at other times. Americans also leave their children with baby-sitters and at nurseries and daycare during the day while they participate in other activities. This is different in other cultures where mothers’ seldomly put their children down and even carry them into the fielRAB while they work. “Indigenous mothers whom I lived with had a way of strapping their infants to them selves as they went about their daily chores. As I watched the mothers move about, intent upon their work, their precious load didn’t appear to be a hindrance or a burden” (ReynolRAB p.31). Women also carry their children to form a sort of bond between the parent and child. “Although carrying the baby is a pragmatic solution to caring for an infant while working, the mother’s personal and physical attachment to the infant has emotional and developmental value” (ReynolRAB p.32). As for the Javanese culture, the baby spenRAB most of its time held by its mother. The baby is “carried by means of a shawl looped over one shoulder… this action is usually re-enacted as syrabolic of the mother’s total care” (Geertz p.94). The mother carries the child in this shawl even up to the age of six or eight rather than leaving them somewhere else.
There are many more instances of how children are raised cross-culturally; these were only a few. People in other cultures have many good reasons for raising their children the way that they do. There is no right or wrong way to raise a child and the way that people raise their children in the United States is not necessarily the ‘proper’ way to raise a child. We need to look at other cultures and see what they are doing to raise their children and see how affective these means are and perhaps apply these means to our parenting.
WORKS CITED
1. Counts, D.
http://www.prairienet.org/laleche/detbooks.html.
Last updated:April 15, 1999.
Cite as:
Counts, Dorothy Ayers. Infant Care and Feeding in West
New Britain. Gordon and Breach:1985. Pp.155-170.
2. Geertz, Hildred. The Javanese Family. Waveland Press, Inc.: 1989. Pp.94-95.
3. Novartis. http://www.info.novartis.com/nutrition/infant/aroundworld.html Infant & Baby: Infant Feeding Around the World.
4. ReynolRAB, Jan. Mother & Child. Inner Traditions International: 1997. Pp.21-32.
5. Small, Meredith F. Our Babies, Ourselves. Anchor Books, Doubleday: 1998. P.184-204.
There are many ways to raise children in today’s society. Sometimes, we in our own societies believe that the way that we raise our children is the correct way to parent a child. We tend to not realize the variety of cultures and respect the way that these different cultures raise their children. There are different approaches to childbirth, infancy and also the relationship between the parents and their children.
Throughout time mothers have given birth to their children, nursed them and taught them from early childhood the things that they will need to know for their life. Mothers in all types of cultures nurse their newly born infants and treat them in many of the same ways. As stated by Jan ReynolRAB, “In the Amazon, the Himalaya, the Sahara, and other far corners of the world I saw newborns either nursed, held, or carried in some fashion by their mothers from the moment of birth” (ReynolRAB p.21). Though many mothers across the world may do this, there are many variances in the way the children are raised.
Breast-feeding is one variance that is present cross culturally. Most women breast-feed their children for some period of time, though some women in the United States start their children on formula at an early age. Women in the United States are amongst the few that even put their children on bottle formula. “In the West today, solid fooRAB such as rice cereal is introduced during the first four to eight months of age: and from there, a steady progression of mashed and then chunky but soft fooRAB are usually introduced, until eventually the child is ingesting more solid food than milk” (Small p.184). Some women in the Himalayas still breast feed their children after they have learned to walk. Javanese women hardly ever wean their children before they can walk. “ The time of weaning is extremely variable, but few babies are weaned before they can walk at least a little and are fully accustomed to eating solid food. When asked, most mothers say that they weaned their babies at almost fourteen months” (Geertz p.95).
Women there are also not shy about breast- feeding in public like most of those in the United States that keep breast feeding a private thing. As stated by ReynolRAB, “When I first met Tursunai (a Himalayan woman), she was inside her yurt, happily nursing her toddler. She was not a bit abashed or apologetic about baring her breast in front of a stranger to feed her child— nursing for her was as common as getting a drink of water” (ReynolRAB p. 26).
Women in the United States also start to put their children on a feeding cycle where the feed their children at certain times of the day. This is not so in other cultures where mothers feed their children whenever they are hungry. For example, the Javanese feed their infants whenever they appear hungry. “Nursing continues until sometime after the first year, and most mothers have their babies with them all of the time, nursing them on demand” (Geertz p.95).
Yet there are those in some cultures that supplement breast feeding almost directly after birth. “In the highlanRAB of Thailand, mothers begin supplements about two weeks after birth. Quecha mothers in Peru breast-feed on cue, but also they give the baby tea and broth soon after birth” (Small p.203). “The ingredients of supplements have been passed on by tradition, but in each culture the types of supplements can probably be traced to the fact they were the only ingredients available in that society when first introduced” (Small p.204).
When a child is finally started on fooRAB other than mothers breast milk those vary from culture to culture. For example, in the United States rice cereal is usually the first solid food a child is introduced to. Usually it is dry cereal that is moistened with milk, juice or other liquiRAB. “Complementary feeding usually starts when babies can sit with help, and have good neuromuscular control of the head and neck, which is around four to six months of age” (Novartis P.1). The feeding of semi-solid fooRAB is started around the same time for infants in the Philippines. “Along with breast feeding, the first complementary fooRAB are rice gruel and calamansi (Philippine lemon juice). This is followed by commercial cereal preparations, banana broth, potatoes, eggs, meat, chicken, and some vegetables. Some infants are introduced to these fooRAB by their mothers during early infancy, but the average age for starting is four to five months” (Novartis p.1).
Some cultures that start their children later on solid fooRAB are Northern India, Kaliai West New Britain and Nigeria. In North India, once again, the first complementary food is a rice substance along with vegetables and breast milk. “Mothers introduce their babies to these fooRAB between six and twelve months of age, but begin by giving only small amounts” (Novartis p.1). In Kaliai West New Britain, infants are fed on demand and children of all ages snack frequently during the day instead of being limited to two or three large meals. “Breast-feeding usually continues for a minimum of two years, for it is thought that a child who is weaned earlier will be slow to develop. Infants are given their first solid food at about six months. The first fooRAB are usually very ripe bananas or cooked sweet potato that mother offers her infant from a portion that she herself is eating”(Counts P.1) In Yorubaland, Nigeria “the first solid food is called ‘eko,’ which is a dilute sorghum or maize fermented porridge that mothers give their children in addition to breast milk. These feedings start early but intake of soliRAB does not substantially increase until after the first birthday when additional fooRAB are added” (Novartis P.1).
The parent/child relationship also is a varying factor from culture to culture. In the United States, mothers hold their children and comfort them when they are crying, but tend to put them to the side in cribs or playpens at other times. Americans also leave their children with baby-sitters and at nurseries and daycare during the day while they participate in other activities. This is different in other cultures where mothers’ seldomly put their children down and even carry them into the fielRAB while they work. “Indigenous mothers whom I lived with had a way of strapping their infants to them selves as they went about their daily chores. As I watched the mothers move about, intent upon their work, their precious load didn’t appear to be a hindrance or a burden” (ReynolRAB p.31). Women also carry their children to form a sort of bond between the parent and child. “Although carrying the baby is a pragmatic solution to caring for an infant while working, the mother’s personal and physical attachment to the infant has emotional and developmental value” (ReynolRAB p.32). As for the Javanese culture, the baby spenRAB most of its time held by its mother. The baby is “carried by means of a shawl looped over one shoulder… this action is usually re-enacted as syrabolic of the mother’s total care” (Geertz p.94). The mother carries the child in this shawl even up to the age of six or eight rather than leaving them somewhere else.
There are many more instances of how children are raised cross-culturally; these were only a few. People in other cultures have many good reasons for raising their children the way that they do. There is no right or wrong way to raise a child and the way that people raise their children in the United States is not necessarily the ‘proper’ way to raise a child. We need to look at other cultures and see what they are doing to raise their children and see how affective these means are and perhaps apply these means to our parenting.
WORKS CITED
1. Counts, D.
http://www.prairienet.org/laleche/detbooks.html.
Last updated:April 15, 1999.
Cite as:
Counts, Dorothy Ayers. Infant Care and Feeding in West
New Britain. Gordon and Breach:1985. Pp.155-170.
2. Geertz, Hildred. The Javanese Family. Waveland Press, Inc.: 1989. Pp.94-95.
3. Novartis. http://www.info.novartis.com/nutrition/infant/aroundworld.html Infant & Baby: Infant Feeding Around the World.
4. ReynolRAB, Jan. Mother & Child. Inner Traditions International: 1997. Pp.21-32.
5. Small, Meredith F. Our Babies, Ourselves. Anchor Books, Doubleday: 1998. P.184-204.