JOHN LOCKE (1632-1704) ON THE CHILD'S BED

Abstract

In his Thoughts concerning Education, John Locke, the philosopher-physician, gave a Mr. Edward Clarke of Chipley, near Taunton, England, detailed rules for bringing up his son. Locke's advice about Mr. Clarke's son's bed follows: Let his Bed be hard, and rather Quilts than Feathers. Hard Lodging strengthens the Parts; whereas being buried every Night in Feathers, melts and dissolves the Body, is often the Cause of Weakness, and the Fore-runner of an early Grave. And, besides the Stone, which has often its Rise from this warm Wrapping of the Reins; several other Indispositions, and that which is the Root of them all, a tender weakly Constitution, is very much owing to Downe-Beds. Besides, He that is used to hard Lodging at Home, will not miss his Sleep (where he has most need of it) in his Travels abroad, for want of his soft Bed, and his Pillows laid in order. And therefore, I think it would not be amiss, to make his Bed after different Fashions, sometimes lay his Head higher, sometimes lower, that he may not feel every little Change he must be sure to meet with, who is not design'd to lie always in my young Master's Bed at home, and to have his Maid lay all Things in print, and tuck him in warm. The great Cordial of Nature is Sleep. He that misses that, will suffer by it: And he is very fortunate, who can take his Cordial only in his Mother's fine Gilt Cup, and not in a Wooden Dish.