This is an illustrated social history of babies and a celebration of infancy through the ages, showing how adults have viewed the arrival of a baby in the family. The author describes changing patterns of child care from royal to peasant babies, ancient fertility rites, the mystique of childbirth, theories of feeding and the rise and fall of the wet nurse, nannies, christenings and all customs and culture of babyhood. Babies' equipment is also covered - what they wore, ate, where they slept, cots, cradles, walkers, prams and baby clothes. The author has worked as a journalist for Woman and as Associate Editor for Woman's Journal. She has published Moneywoman and Encyclopedia of Fashion.