Cradleboards are objects in which babies are carried. Traditionally they have been made and used by most tribes in North America, especially nomadic tribes. Tribes in the Arctic and the southeastern United States did not use cradleboards, although these objects have been found in both places archaeologically. Though most cradleboards appear remarkably similar, they are made from local materials that differ from location to location. The back of the cradleboard, flat and oval or rectangular in shape, is often made of wooden slabs or tree branches, or woven from reeds or other materials. The child is swaddled and placed on top of the backing, tucked into a pouch made from animal skins and/or cloth. A protective arch, usually fashioned from a willow branch, reeds, or carved wood, hangs over the child's head.
Cradleboards serve several functions within a tribal group. Cradleboards were and are utilitarian; they transport babies safely and free a mother's hands for chores. Psychologically, a baby in a cradleboard feels safe and secure; he or she is swaddled and held close to the mother. Cradleboards are objects of beauty and are a personal expression of the maker. Depending on the tribe, they can be decorated with beadwork, quillwork, weaving, woodwork, and/or ribbon and cloth designs. Cradleboards may also be decorated or designed with sacred symbols, colors, or objects to bring good life and luck to the child. For this reason family members choose carefully who is to make a cradleboard for their child. In some tribes, if an infant dies, the cradleboard will not be used again.
See also
Child Rearing.
