Infancy and Childhood
The few observations that were recorded suggest that the Wampanoags had a high birth rate and rather high infant mortality.453 The high number of infant deaths may have been due in part to the fact that within three days after its birth the baby was being carried about on the mother’s back in all the tasks that she went about outside.454 Moreover, the Wampanoag style of cradle board made no provision for a device to shield the infant’s face.455
A baby’s clothing consisted of a coating of grease and a beaver skin or other fur wrapping in which he was bound onto the cradle board. The child was tied so that his knees were drawn up against his stomach, then when the board was set down and leaned somewhere he would be in a sitting position.456
Babies were soothed by the lullabies of their mothers.457 It is said that they were generally very quiet infants and cried little. The Wampanoags were extremely fond of their children, giving them a great deal of indulgence and affection.458 Infants were not weaned until they were over a year old.459 Such child-rearing practices resulted in children that were “sawcie, bold, and undutifull”, according to English eyes.460