teething-toys-msg - 1/5/00

Period and SCA teething toys for infants.

NOTE: See also these files: babies-msg, baby-gifts-msg, pregnancy-msg, toys-msg, 
child-wagons-msg, child-gam-msg, child-clothes-msg.

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    Mark S. Harris                  AKA:  THLord Stefan li Rous
                                          Stefan at florilegium.org
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Date: Thu, 21 May 1998 14:33:27 -0500
From: "I. Marc Carlson" <LIB_IMC at centum.utulsa.edu>
Subject: Teething (was re: Renaissance chompie toys)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

<Bryan J. Maloney>
> Here's one for the obscure question file.  However, we've got a teething
> 5-month-old.  Are there any actual known examples of "chompie toys" extant
> from the Renaissance, or pictures or descriptions, thereof?  He's far too
> young to give a good hard biscuit to.

Yes, but you're going to give me that look.

Bone (See I told you -- "There Marc goes again...").  You might check to
see if your pediatrician will start screaming at the idea of Bone 
teething rings.   If you are feeling eager, try to find a copy of the
Sandal Castle excavations, where they found a bone teething thing that
looks for all the world like pacifier:  Long thin knob on one side, 
shorter knob on the other, and between them a disk to keep the child
from swallowing it - all turned from bone (and I think dated to before
the ECW).

Marc/Diarmaid O'Duinn
lib_imc at centum.utulsa.edu


From: schuldy at abel.harvard.edu (Mark Schuldenfrei)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Date: 20 May 1998 18:16:46 GMT

Bryan J. Maloney <bjm10 at cornell.edu> wrote:
    Are there any actual known examples of "chompie toys" extant from
    the Renaissance, or pictures or descriptions, thereof?  He's far
    too young to give a good hard biscuit to.

Not having anything to do with research.... but we gave my daughter stale
pieces of bread crust, and wooden toys and she was quite contented  As
contented as you can be while teething, anyway.  As long as the bread was
stale as a board, it was safe.  (At home we freeze bagel pieces, and use
them, as well as the usual plastic and water filled toys.  We also use ice
and numbing medicines.  But so much for period at home.  :-)

Five months and teething, eh?  I'd be shocked, except one of the children in
my daughter's day care was born with two teeth.  Worst, they were opposing.
Ouch.

        Tibor
-- 
Mark Schuldenfrei (schuldy at math.harvard.edu)


From: shawnjoh at uoguelph.ca (Shawn Johnson)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Date: 20 May 1998 19:48:05 GMT
Organization: University of Guelph

I apologize for the lack of documentation... but i remember a, nameless 
to my mind, play where an alcoholic beverage rubbed on teething gums was 
used ... and also, as a joke in a few bawdy poems/songs (I might be able 
to find these).  I certainlyt wouldnt recommend using alcohol on an 
infant or child, but it's evidence for numbing medication of some sort.

-Robyn Whystler 


From: savaskan <savaskan at sd.znet.com>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 16:26:17 -0800

I don't have any period documentation for teething devices and I've
looked into that subject fairly heavily.  I used large hardwood beads of
various shapes on a short cord, finished with non-toxic paint. The beads
are not all round, but some square and odd shapes with ridges. I also
used a fabric doll, but my son didn't teeth hard. You could wet and
freeze the fabric doll... Freezing bagels is a good answer too. They
really can't get much bread off a frozen bagel anyway. I suppose you
could tie a few layers of linen cloth around an ice cube too. A friend
of mine in a 16th c Irish group saws up a horn into rings and the babies
chew the horn and it also works as a rattle.   I think you could also
carve bone so that there are textures to it...

In general, my best antedote is to use Highlands teething tablets and
ambisol to offset the worst of it, with baby tylenol if its really a bad
day, then the lighter teething items work.

Don't feel bad, a friend of mine's son had 6 teeth at 4 mos old... Their
furniture all has chew marks from when he was crawling...

Juliana


From: "David Dendy" <ddendy at silk.net>
Subject: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Date: 21 May 98 05:48:47 GMT

The usual thing was what was known as a "coral", one of the meanings of
which (in my Concise Oxford) is "toy of polished coral for children cutting
teeth". I've seen pictures of period examples; they are pieces of that
beautiful Mediterranean coral (pinky salmon colour), with silver mounts for
the child to hold. The one I remember had a rattle in the mounting. (An
English friend has a family heirloom one which is at least 200 years old.)

If you need documentation, I can look up the details in the book next time
I go to the college library (the title, as I recall, was "The Secular
Spirit", and it was the catalogue of an exhibition of late medieval
artifacts at the Metropolitan Museum in New York). Another place that would
give documentation would be the complete Oxford English Dictionary, as they
give dated examples of the uses of words.
-- 
David Dendy / ddendy at silk.net
partner in Francesco Sirene, Spicer / sirene at silk.net
http://www.silk.net/sirene/


From: jen_guy at mindspring.com
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Date: Thu, 21 May 1998 14:15:58 GMT

On Wed, 20 May 1998 13:02:22 -0400, bjm10 at cornell.edu (Bryan J.
Maloney) wrote:

:Here's one for the obscure question file.  We have recently acquired a
:station wagon, which means that (once we finish tags, title, and repairs)
:we will be mobile enough to play more.  However, we've got a teething
:5-month-old.  Are there any actual known examples of "chompie toys" extant
:from the Renaissance, or pictures or descriptions, thereof?  He's far too
:young to give a good hard biscuit to.
:
:Yes, he's 5 months old and teething.  His brother started earlier than that.

Period-looking would be amber. Mom's necklace works if it's got big
enough chunks. Otherwise, a shorter string of large-ish beads is
better, because there's little or no strangulation hazard.

I know an amber merchant who tells tales of amber he's seen which (cut
and worn) date from the Victorian times. Not period, but neat, huh?


From: jen_guy at mindspring.com
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Date: Thu, 21 May 1998 14:27:26 GMT

:Period-looking would be amber. Mom's necklace works if it's got big
:enough chunks. Otherwise, a shorter string of large-ish beads is
:better, because there's little or no strangulation hazard.
:
:I know an amber merchant who tells tales of amber he's seen which (cut
:and worn) date from the Victorian times. Not period, but neat, huh?

Duh, I meant to say Victorian amber with *baby teeth marks*. Makes
more sense, hey?


From: Gretchen M Beck <grm+ at andrew.cmu.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Date: Thu, 21 May 1998 12:19:43 -0400
Organization: Computer Operations, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

Excerpts from netnews.rec.org.sca: 20-May-98 Re: Renaissance chompie
toys Shawn Johnson at uoguelph.c (974)

> I apologize for the lack of documentation... but i remember a, nameless 
> to my mind, play where an alcoholic beverage rubbed on teething gums was 
> used ... and also, as a joke in a few bawdy poems/songs (I might be able 
> to find these).  I certainlyt wouldnt recommend using alcohol on an 
> infant or child, but it's evidence for numbing medication of some sort.

Coral--you can find lots of pictures of babies wearing coral necklaces. 
I've seen (but can't locate names for) several sources that describe
coral as a traditional teething item.

toodles, margarert


From: priest at NOSPAMvassar.edu (Carolyn Priest-Dorman)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Date: 21 May 1998 17:19:30 GMT
Organization: Vassar College

(jen_guy at mindspring.com) wrote:

>Period-looking would be amber. Mom's necklace works if it's got big
>enough chunks. Otherwise, a shorter string of large-ish beads is
>better, because there's little or no strangulation hazard.

Amber flakes, chips, and shatters if your child is vigorous.  Accordingly, 
last Pennsic I bought a great strand of indestructible plastic beads for my 
daughter (she'd just turned one) to wear that looked just like amber.  We 
called it her "teething amber."

My husband made our daughter a rattle on the lathe (several rings loose around 
a central stalk) which both amused her and served as a teething implement.  
But she liked plain wooden curtain rings almost as much.

Is it too weird to suggest some kind of toy made out of thin vegetable-tanned 
leather?
*******************************************************************
Carolyn Priest-Dorman                Thora Sharptooth
capriest at cs.vassar.edu               Frostahlid, Austrrik
         http://www.cs.vassar.edu/~capriest/vikresource.html
*******************************************************************


From: Larry Johnson <ljohnsn1 at idt.net>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Date: Thu, 21 May 1998 10:20:59 -0700
Organization: IDT

Bryan,  This is just conjecture, but what about a piece of leather cut into a
ring? the baby can chew on that.  Of course, you could go to the pet store and
get a rawhide dog chew.  Just soak it in water until it is limber, untie the
knots on the ends so it doesn't look like a bone, and let it dry out again in
another shape.  Give to baby.

I see you have no sleep now.  (Grin)  I now have a 2 yr old granddaughter that
is living here at home, with her father (messy divorce).  We are going through
the night terrors.(SIGH)

Labhruinn MacIain an Mor


From: savaskan <savaskan at sd.znet.com>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Date: Thu, 21 May 1998 11:59:29 -0800

David Friedman wrote:
>How about rawhide? It works for dogs.
> 
> David/Cariadoc

I was told to stay away from Rawhide as it is usually processed with
chemicals that are not safe for humans... probably not for dogs either,
but they have a much shorter lifespan and few restrictions on things
sold for them to eat.  It might have been formaldahyde that was used, I
can't recall.

Juliana


From: Eric & Lissa McCollum <ericmc at primenet.com>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Date: 21 May 1998 13:31:01 -0700

Gretchen M Beck wrote:
> Coral--you can find lots of pictures of babies wearing coral necklaces.
> I've seen (but can't locate names for) several sources that describe
> coral as a traditional teething item.
> 
> toodles, margarert

If you do come across those sources, would you please post
them? I haven't heard that suggestion before, and would be
interested in adding it to my collection of bead info.

'The History of Beads' suggests that coral in the Middle ages
was thought to have protective powers, specifically to 
strengthen the heart and prevent ailments of the blood. In
many Medieval paintings the Christ Child is shown with a
coral rosary (those strings of beads). Early rosaries were
a kind of amulet string as well as being a counting tool.

The coral of Southern Italy and the Tunisian coast was
a very popular material for making rosary beads out of. When
the rosaries were introduced, one general term for beads was
in fact 'krallen' "a designation derived from one frequently 
used material for beads, i.e. coral." (1) (After rosaries were
introduced, the word gradually changed to 'bede', from the word 
'biddan' which means 'to pray'.) Along with other materials, 
coral was also a source of controversy: "As early as 1261 
the Dominicans were forbidding lay brothers to 'give themselves 
airs by using excessively grand beads.' In the middle of the 
fourteenth century, an Augstinian canon of Onasbruck outlawed 
the wearing of coral rosaries around the neck." (2)

I do have a picture from the 1897 of a young girl
with a coral necklace, suggesting it was a common gift
to children at that time to conjure health. However
my personal suspicion is that the coral necklaces shown 
in Medieval paintings relate more to the prevelence of 
rosaries as a devotional item at the time, and less to 
do with teething--though I also know that babies will 
put anything in their mouth that they have in their
hands. :) 

If the original poster goes this route, do be careful 
of the choking hazard.

Gwendolen Wold

References:

(1) "Glass Beads from Europe" by Sibylle Jargstorf. 
Schiffer Publishing Ltd. Atglen, Pa. 1995.

(2) "The History of Beads, from 30,000 BC to the Present"
 by Lois Sherr Dubin. Harry N. Abrams, Inc. New York.
1987.


From: Vicki Hyde <nzsm at spis.co.nz>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 17:48:14 +1200
Organization: South Pacific Information Services Ltd

A firm piece of fruit (pear or apple or frozen banana) tied inside a
square of clean muslin is a good one. It will give them a little bit of
liquid as well as provide an interesting chomping surface. You'll need a
coule as they should really be discarded when dropped (depending on the
surface and your attitude to the natural accumulation of antibodies that
is :-)

Sorry, no documentation, just practical use. At least it beats plastic
teething rings!

katherine kerr, whose children all teethed quietly for the most part,
and who is extremely grateful for it 
====================================================================
     South Pacific Information Services Ltd, Christchurch, NZ


From: "M. Shirley Chong" <eithne at avalon.net>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 01:12:11 -0700

savaskan wrote:
> David Friedman wrote:
> >How about rawhide? It works for dogs.
> >
> > David/Cariadoc
> 
> I was told to stay away from Rawhide as it is usually processed with
> chemicals that are not safe for humans... probably not for dogs either,
> but they have a much shorter lifespan and few restrictions on things
> sold for them to eat.  It might have been formaldahyde that was used, I
> can't recall.

   Some of the imported rawhide dog chewies have been processed with
formaldehyde and/or arsenic. There are domestic (USAmerican) rawhide
chewies that are guarateed not to have any toxic substances.

Shirley


From: "Maire Aislinge" <mblack2 at primenet.com>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Date: 22 May 1998 00:50:00 -0700

Don't think anyone mentioned the old Southern Mountains teething chompie--a
piece of raw bacon.  According to my Scottish grandmother, it's an idea
brought over with the early Scottish settlers.  And another, which my
grandmother actually used on me when I was teething (back in the Dark Ages)
was a chicken leg bone, cleaned of all loose pieces.  

Maire Aislinge


From: "David Dendy" <ddendy at silk.net>
Subject: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Date: 22 May 98 17:59:08 GMT

Morgan E. Smith <mesmith at calcna.ab.ca> wrote:
>   I haven't been fllowing this thread (no teething babies in my house
> right now) but I seem to recall that liquorice root is used by many
> people, and I have the vague impression it is period.
> Morgan the Unknown

Just to toss in another item of trivia that has risen to the surface of my
memory. Whole orris root used to be used, and was known as "teething root".
Sorry, I can't remember where I read this; you'll just have to dig.
-- 
David Dendy / ddendy at silk.net
partner in Francesco Sirene, Spicer / sirene at silk.net
http://www.silk.net/sirene/


From: ilove2lace at aol.com (Ilove2lace)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Date: 23 May 1998 00:17:12 GMT

Brithwen wrote:
>::grins::Naw you're not that old.  My mom tells stories of when I was a baby
>they used wine, whiskey, beer to numb the gums as nothing else seemed to work. 
>Hey and I turned out fine.

According to my G'ma, the correct usage of the alcoholic beverage for teething
was "A little on the gum, then a shot for the Mum."  I guess this reduced the
stress of teething for both. <G>

I used peeled anise stalks for my babies teething, they liked the licorice
flavor and it settled their colic as well.  I hear fennel works too but I
haven't tried it.  (I had anise in the garden.)

Lara the Lacemaker


From: bkwyrm at aol.com (Bkwyrm)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Date: 24 May 1998 03:28:08 GMT

When I was growing up in a very rural 3rd-world country (name withheld to
protect friends still living there), dried corn (maize) still on the cob was
used a lot.  Hard, textured, even a little nutritional value.
   ---B


From: "Debbie and Rick Noah" <photo at redshift.com>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Date: Sun, 24 May 1998 16:54:22 -0700
Organization: DebRik

Vicki Hyde wrote:
>A firm piece of fruit (pear or apple or frozen banana) tied inside a
>square of clean muslin is a good one. It will give them a little bit of
>liquid as well as provide an interesting chomping surface. You'll need a
>coule as they should really be discarded when dropped (depending on the
>surface and your attitude to the natural accumulation of antibodies that
>is :-)

--->Or simply a clean cool wet rag or washcloth(especially in summer). Their
gums itch and the texture of the cloth helps soothe.
If using a wooden toy, you might want to cure it with olive oil.
My grand daughter is still getting her teeth. The doctor says not to give
them frozen teethers as the gums could be frostbitten.
Alchohol can sting gums. Teething pills can be put into a period pill box
and dispensed as necessary. I don't think the patrons are close enough to
distinguish them. If one asks what you are giving the baby you can always
extol the virtues of the local herbalist.
Coral can contain empitigo -- at least it did in the Pacific. A scratch
could become infected.
chain maile if it is lead free. My daughter teethed on car keys. She also
loved Tender Vittles (Not exactly period though). LOL
---of course I took the cat food away from her----  <g>


From: Shelley Howell <shelley at central.starport.com>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Date: 27 May 1998 20:06:00 -0700

The Book "The Quacks of London", a book on doctors in the 16th century,
recommends olive wood beads for "the breeding of teeth".  A strand to be worn
around the neck.  
It seems like it would work for a teething ring, however the doctors believed
in the effacacy of the olive wood.

Lady Sophia


From: Sharon Palmer <palmer.74 at osu.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Renaissance chompie toys
Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 17:41:51 -0400
Organization: The WOSU Stations

jen_guy at mindspring.com wrote:
> Duh, I meant to say Victorian amber with *baby teeth marks*. Makes
> more sense, hey?

I would not give amber to a baby, it is too soft.  As a toddler
my son bit one of my beads in half. The pieces could choke an
infant.  And the necklace needed to be re-strung.
-- 
Sharon Palmer              The WOSU Stations
palmer.74 at osu.edu          Support Public Broadcasting


Date: Sun, 1 Oct 2000 15:34:11 -0400
From: "Ron Rispoli" <rispoli at gte.net>
Subject: Re: SC - period teething

> I've not heard of any teething items that were edible, or at least
> I don't remember any. [in period]

Arrowroot biscuits by Gerber.  In my family we use anise flavored biscotti
and or rub the gums with Anisette.


Date: Mon, 02 Oct 2000 10:28:43 EDT
From: WyteRayven at aol.com
Subject: SC - Teething things

When I was a baby, we lived in france for a short time. I remember my mom 
telling me that mothers there would give their children stale crusts from french 
bread to teeth on. 

I would imagine that this is the same type of thing that was used in period.

Ilia

<the end>
Edited by Mark S. Harris	teething-toys-msg	11