ormerly, Thai people did not put a newborn child in beautiful painted crib the way we do nowadays. Parents often put it on a Maw which would keep it warm, as if it was in the womb. When the baby grew a little older, he slept on Maw with his parents at night; during the day he was put in a hammock. As Thailand has a hot climate, rocking the hammock to and fro would make the baby happy and comfortable. After feeding the infant, the mother would put him into the hammock, cradling and singing him to sleep. The sweet, rhythmical melody of the lullaby was so soporific that even the singer and neighboring people would frequently doze off.
........Most lullabies are poetic and enchanting, with varying subjects, from maternal love to humorous anecdotes. They reflected nature, country life-style, and the ordinary happenings of the time.
........Singing a baby to sleep -- either by holding it or by rocking the hammock -- is an indication of strong family tie and love, given to a child by his mother. The child would feel warm and secure; he would sleep with the feeling that he had someone who was caring close at hand, and, accordingly, would sleep soundly. Nowadays we can still see people singing to their child in the upcountry..

........Cradles can be made in different ways. The simplest one is by tying a PaKaoMaa at both ends and fastening them to two poles. This is best for children who toss and turn during their sleep. Another one is a cord cradle, made of a rectangular board, each side of which is pierced and threaded. From each angle is a cord bound to a collar beam. There is a string tying to one side, making it easy to rock the cradle.