The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

"HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN ANYTHING?"

THE BELIEF THAT A WET DIAPER LEFT AT SOMEONE'S HOME WILL BRING A
BABY TO THE FAMILY LIVING IN THAT HOUSE WITHIN A YEAR OR SO IS FAR
MORE WIDESPREAD THAN I BELIEVED IT WOULD BE. SEVERAL INSTANCES
FOLLOW.
AFTER ADOPTION OF OUR BABY LAST YEAR (1) MY SISTER-IN-LAW TOLD ME
THAT MY MOTHER HAD TOLD HER ON REPEATED OCCASIONS TO LEAVE A WET
DIAPER FROM ONE OF HER BABIES AT OUR HOME AFTER THEY VISITED US.
(2) A COUSIN WHOM WE VISITED IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH WAS QUITE CON-
CERNED THAT I REMEMBER TO TAKE ALL THE WET DIAPERS BECAUSE SHE WAS
TOO OLD TO HAVE ANY MORE BABIES, AND BESIDES HER YOUNGEST WAS 7
YEARS OLD. HER MOTHER TOLD HER THAT, AS DID HER MOTHER-IN-LAW
(ABOUT THE WET DIAPERS). (3) DEARBORN FRIENDS OF OURS WHO HAD OUR
BABY AT THEIR HOME LAST WEEK (MAY 20, 1965) MADE SURE THAT EVERY
LAST WET DIAPER WAS RETURNED TO US BEFORE WE LEFT. "WE DON'T
WANT ANY LITTLE STRANGERS AROUND HERE," THE LADY OF THE HOUSE
SAID.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 05-00-1965