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Story: Parenting

The Plunket clock

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The Plunket clock

The Plunket clock symbolised that organisation's emphasis on strict routine when parenting. Young babies were supposed to be fed every four hours between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., with sleep, exercise and bathing in between. Women did try to follow this routine, but most (by necessity) took a somewhat more relaxed approach than the clock dictated.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Reference: F. Truby King, Feeding and care of baby. Auckland: Whitcombe & Tombs, 1942, p. 74

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How to cite this page

Lesley Patterson, Parenting – Mothers, fathers and parenting, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/diagram/26331/the-plunket-clock (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Lesley Patterson, published 22 March 2011.