ABSTRACT
Bedtime and wakefulness Mothers of different social classes also seem to diverge in their opinions of how far soothing the child to sleep is permissible before he is in danger of becoming spoilt. There seems to be a strong middle-class feeling that babies should learn early to go to sleep at a 'reasonable' hour without help and without making
a fuss. Ideally, the baby is tucked up in his cot at the appropriate time, and left without distraction or social companionship to get on with the business of going to sleep. In line with their general tendency to discourage sucking at this age, middle-class mothers are much less likely than working-class mothers to allow their children the solace of a bottle or dummy with whtch to fall asleep. Table XIX shows the proportions of mothers in
differentsocialclasseswhogivethebottleordummyinbedat bedtimeandifthechildwakesinthenight;thesefiguressubstantiateourpreviousfindingsonoralpermissivenessandits relationtoclass.I
Thecomfortofsomethingmorethanathumbtosuckinbed isnottheonlyformofsoothingwhichworking-classbabiesin Nottinghamaremorelikelytoreceivethanthoseofthemiddle class.WhenweexcludeallthebabieswhoappearinTableXIX, westillfindthatworking-classmothersarefarlessreluctantto givethechildsomesortofactivehelpingettingtosleep-holdingorrockinghim,sittingwithhim,lyingdownbesidehimand soon-whilethemiddle-classmothersinoursampletriedto avoidsuchmethodsandclearlythoughtitimportantthattheir childrenshouldbecomeaccustomedtogoingtosleepwithout assistanceofanysort.2
