– Definition of Sugar Tit:
– Folk name for baby pacifier
– Made with sugar/honey in cloth
– Common in North America and Britain
– Saliva dissolves sugar in the bulb
– Fabric can resemble a flower in baby’s mouth
– History of Sugar Tit:
– Described as revolting by a German physician in 1802
– Commonly used in the past
– Similar homemade pacifiers in different cultures
– Evolution of baby accessories over time
– Cultural significance in different regions
– Cultural Variations:
– Different names for similar pacifiers
– Varied materials used in different cultures
– Impact on child development debated
– Folk remedies for teething
– Influence of socio-economic factors on baby accessories
– Health Concerns:
– Risk of mold formation in homemade pacifiers
– Effect of sugar consumption on infants
– Hygiene issues with homemade baby products
– Comparison with modern pacifiers
– Medical opinions on traditional baby care practices
– Research and References:
– Studies on homemade pacifiers
– Historical documentation of baby accessories
– Academic discussions on traditional child-rearing practices
– Comparison of homemade and commercial pacifiers
– Evolution of baby care products over time
Sugar tit is a folk name for a baby pacifier, or dummy, that was once commonly made and used in North America and Britain. It was made by placing a spoonful of sugar, or honey, in a small patch of clean cloth, then gathering the cloth around the sugar and twisting it to form a bulb. The bulb was then secured by twine or a rubber band. The baby's saliva would slowly dissolve the sugar in the bulb.
In use the exposed outfolded fabric could give the appearance of a flower in the baby's mouth. David Ransel quotes a Russian study by Dr. N. E. Kushev while discussing a similar home-made cloth-and-food pacifier called a soska (со́ска); there, the term "flower", as used colloquially by mothers, refers to a bloom of mold in the child's mouth caused by decay of the contents.
As early as 1802 a German physician, Christian Struve, described the sugar tit as "one of the most revolting customs".