ABSTRACT
Most historians of childhood would find in this rhyme yet another indication that the neglect and abuse of infants and children was once the norm in preindustrial Europe. Thus far, only a few historians have disagreed with this pessimistic outlook on past parenting. Those his torians who are more optimistic about the history of childhood and parenting would either find a sunnier interpretation of the lullabye or point out that most nursery songs for babies involve expressions of parental solicitude.
