Does anyone remember Dr Hugh Jolly?

I used to listen to him on the radio at lunchtime when mine were babies, didn’t agree with all his views but he always sounded so kind and calm.

I liked him on the radio with Jimmy Young . I did not rread any books on childcare just followed my instincts.

M0nica

OldFrill

I discovered very quickly that my babies had not read the same books as me.

Both my babies read the same book, DS so he knew what he to do. DD so that she knew how to always do the exact opposite.

😂😂😂
Sounds like my first two DC, DD always Contrary Mary, DS always 'a good baby'! The third one was a text book baby but more Contrary Mary the older she got.

OldFrill

I discovered very quickly that my babies had not read the same books as me.

Both my babies read the same book, DS so he knew what he to do. DD so that she knew how to always do the exact opposite.

Dr Jolly was a Consultant paediatrician at Plymouth Hospitals years before he became famous.

Marthjolly1 my very collicky, distressed baby turned out to be coeliac. Never believe that gluten can't go through into breast milk!

Dr Spock's book was the Number 1 when mine were babies.
I do like Mriam Stoppard's advice, mumofmadboys 😃

Super Nanny was "in" when DGS was born and DD got herself into a state of anxiety over it. I told her to put the book in the bin.

Fashion change but babies don't.

I have always thought that good enough is really good enough.

My children , especially my first were brought up on Dr.Spock. First six months was baby on one arm, book in the other hand. Mind you I was only just 20 and had had no experience of babies.

I would never take any advice on child rearing from a man.
What do they know?
I remember taking a book out of the library called 'Good enough parenting', but don't remember the author.
It changed my life when I realised I didn't need to get everything right and parenting is as much about making mistakes as it is getting overwhelmed by the responsibility of it all.

I was a single mother in 1968 and Hugh Jolly was my doctor, he was the only person back then who praised me. After a hard birth and recovery period Hugh Jolly called me a good, brave and courageous girl, and I'm proud of you. I've never forgotten his kindness. My son is still doing just fine 🤗

Hiraeth

My oldest daughter had colic as a baby it was due to me eating onions and garlic when I was breast - feeding .
Wish I’d known at the time !

My SIL ( who really didn’t like me) gave me a bunch of grapes when I was in hospital having had my first child. I’m sure that’s why she cried constantly and the woman I shared a room with was really angry with me. I’m sure she did it deliberately. She also advised my husband not to buy me a tumble dryer to dry nappies in. I stayed at her house one time and asked her how I could dry my nappies to which she replied ‘ you can use my tumble dryer’ .

I seem to remember he had spent a lot of time in Africa, and I heard him say that many of our problems with babies’ sleeping and feeding just didn’t exist in developing countries, as the baby was with the mother all day, every day, and was fed on demand.

I had his Book of Childcare from 1980 - it was certainly well-thumbed! I don’t remember it being dictatorial at all, but full of sensible advice and reassurance. Though of course I’d just have ignored any bit I disagreed with.

Apparently Dr Jolly was one of the first to recognise that parents should stay with their young children in hospital if at all possible, and to implement this in his own wards.

My oldest daughter had colic as a baby it was due to me eating onions and garlic when I was breast - feeding .
Wish I’d known at the time !

Georgesgran

Miriam Stoppard (a Newcastle lady) was so glamorous. She’s 87 now. I always thought she talked sense.

I bumped into her whilst out walking. Absolutely charming and beautiful. I googled her when I got home, assuming that she came from a rich background but she didn’t; came from a working class Newcastle home. Sadly her husband, who she was with, has died since then.She still, I believe, works in the gift shop at Bamburgh Castle where she has an apartment. I’ve still got one of her books.

Never read one book on baby or child care. My mom was my inspiration and I had a bit of common sense and just did it. No scans back then, no husband with you in labour, for first baby a week in hospital which I think was the good, one hour visiting a day, second one at home which was harder as my husband only got one day off. I think it’s tougher now on new mothers, working until the day they give birth some of them, plus all the pressure of going back to work as they have big mortgages and a car to run, I didn’t have to work, no ca4, just the pram I put the shopping in. No spare money at all but those years at home until they started school were my best years. After that on the hamster wheel of juggling jobs etc.

I bought Dr Spock when I had my first baby in 1969, I read it but didn't agree with everything I read.
As a nurse I used my training and common sense.

OldFrill

Barbara Woodhouse was better than most

😂😂

At one time, parents were advised never to pick up their child, no spoiling or cuddling, strict routines

This sounds like an excellent plan. On the one occasion I was guilted into babysitting I told the mum that he cried a bit but it was ok as I turned up the TV. I was never asked again.

Weaponised incompetence is the way to go.

Oh goodness me. My one and only son refused to eat anything and always said No more, No more to any food offered to him. He just sent me a photo from Mexico where he proposed and she said yes. He’s 35; has a good job and eats absolutely everything.
I never fussed when he only wanted chicken nuggets day after day. He’s now a fully trained nutritionist from his time running a gym and slim as could be.

Barbara Woodhouse was better than most

No such thing as colic?? My dd2 had absolutely classic 3 months’ colic.

1969 , Dr.Spock for me

I used to listen to him as a guest on a lunchtime radio program, he always seemed a gentle grandfatherly figure to me. I was in my late twenties so he could have been in his forties or fifties. Seems funny now I’m seventy!

Ilovedogs22

Ah yes the beautiful Miriam Stoppard. 😊

She's 87 now, I've just read!
It seems she has an Instagram page or whatever you have on there.

I don’t think I read any books I had my first one overseas in the Far East and by second and third I don’t think I had time to read anything