Wooden Cradle
DimensionsOverall: 42 × 61.5 × 99 cm (0.42 × 0.62 × 0.99 m)
Credit LineGift of the Fredin family, 1979
Object number1979.030.001
Label TextThis handcrafted cradle was used by the Fredin family of London. It was common in the 19th-century to craft furniture from leftover materials from other projects. Cradles like this, made of boards with rockers attached to the bottom, had existed since the Middle Ages. As with many such cradles, this one was small and light enough to be carried short distances. This meant the baby could be kept close to the family. As the 19th century unfolded, medical authorities developed new ideas about the importance of fresh air and exercise. Enclosed cradles began to give way to cradles and cribs made of slats or spindles, which allowed the free flow of air. The rockers also came into question. In the early to mid-19th century, experts believed rocking mimicked the movement the baby experienced in the womb. From the mid-19th century on, experts feared that babies could be injured through excessive rocking. They advocated fixed beds instead. Cradles gave way to cribs, which have remained dominant ever since.
NameCradle
