Museum Explorer
Daily life in
the Americas
Model cradle
From: North America/Canada (Cree)
Date: before AD 1743
In the north and east of North America, many native peoples carried their babies in cradles like this one. The baby would be wrapped into the skin pouch and tied in safely. The pouch is decorated with a fringe, and the back with glass beads.
Moss was used instead of nappies, ash instead of powder, and deer grease instead of nappy cream. A Dream Catcher might be tied to the cradle to stop nightmares.
