This thorough collection of notes on the care of mammalian children were printed for public circulation, but on the water-resistant, well-sized paper found in tomes of highest quality in Lockhinge City, with the binding meant to withstand rough handling and damp conditions. These books were then distributed by the author to Lizardfolk and Tortle communities, as well as sold in the major kingdom-sanctioned settlements of Greymantle. Copies can be found in both Common and Draconic (Lizardfolk dialect). The following are excerpts from the most important chapters in the book.
Introduction to Life with Mammals
Whether you find yourself taking in a foundling, are pursuing adoption, or will be otherwise watching over and caring for the children of others, it is a worthwhile endeavor to thoroughly understand the particulars of mammal children. With this guide, some dedication, and the boundless patience necessary to care for children of any sort, the young ones in your care will have the greatest opportunity to thrive (and you will find some much-deserved peace of mind).
While there are wide differences worth noting between the various mammal species, there are important commonalities that will apply to most, (which is what this book focuses on,) especially for those children who have not been influenced much by their original culture. For those children who have not been separated from their culture at an early age, it is worth going the extra step to learn about relevant cultural norms and habits. There will be short sections in this book for some of the more common mammal cultures, but it is suggested to speak with actual members of the child's culture, especially when caring for the children of others. Even for those children who had not been old enough to remember their origins, you may decide that it's worthwhile to include elements of it in your raising of them. They will of course be adapting to the culture of their new family, but mammals can be deeply sentimental, (see chapter on the mammal mind,) so the effort will be appreciated when the child becomes old enough to understand.
The Joys of Mammal Children
There are some who see the natural differences between reptiles and mammals too extensive to deal with, but I firmly believe many minds would change if they could be made aware of the unique joys that mammal children bring to any family unit.
The numerous differences will seem strange at first, and can even be unsettling in the first days of experiencing mammal children up close, but those same things will be what draw you in after a little acclimation. In speaking with new parents of adopted mammals, the most common thing I hear spoken about with wonder is how
soft their new offspring are. It may sound unsettling to touch something scaleless, or hold something that seems so unnaturally warm, but I promise you it becomes addicting.
Expend a little bit of patience, and soon you will also be commenting on their cute, round faces, petting their hair, and playing with their their tiny, clawless fingers. Even while young, they display the vivid facial expressions that adult mammals are known for. The aspect that is my personal favorite is their extremely transparent affection. It was startling to be hugged by the exuberant little creatures, at first, but now I can't get enough of it.
The Varied Diet
According to most new carers I speak to, the most daunting prospect of caring for mammals is tackling their unique diet. While dietary preferences vary between each of our societies, no one would argue that we could stick to whatever it is that our particular culture enjoys the most and hardly miss any other option. My
S'sillaiah friend could eat only salt lettuce for the rest of their life without complaint, while I personally would hardly notice a lack of varied game if I had only the aged bones that my family is so fond of. On the other hand, mammals not only thrive with a varied diet, but absolutely require it.
Never fear, however! There are several shortcuts and methods that simplify this intimidating concept.
Bread
The first point (and one that is rarely believed by most parents when I first mention it,) is that bread is easy! This mysterious, seemingly-alchemized food that is at the core of so many mammal societies is not as formidable as it seems. The basic concept is to simply grind up whatever plentiful grain is around, (separating the chaff can be complicated and ultimately unnecessary, so feel free to skip it,) add a liquid such as water, and bake until solid. That's really all there is to it. If the child is used to a specific kind of bread, or dislikes the texture or taste, it's likely a cultural matter--so, you can either attempt to cater to it, or honestly just season it a little. (See section on seasoning below.)
Vegetable Matter
Consuming a wide variety of plant foods are very important to the mammal diet, but for some reason, it can be notoriously difficult to get the young ones to eat them. Learn what edible plants are available in your area, either consult members of your child's species or the appendices at the back of the book to ensure which ones can be consumed by the child under your care, and then provide as many of them as possible. (For those your child refuses to eat, see the section on seasoning below.)
Seasoning
There are a million different types and methods of seasoning--individual not only to each mammal culture but sometimes varying by family unit--but this is another one of those topics that is not nearly as confusing as it may seem. While you can attempt to learn the seasoning methods native to your child's culture, but you can also just try combinations of the main four until it works. It may take some time to discover which combination will tempt your mammal child to eat each food that they are having difficulty with, but I assure you that it will eventually work.
The easiest method of altering food is the easiest to try and has the lowest risk of ruining whatever food you are providing. As we will learn later, despite mammals being able to adapt to a wide range of temperatures, they can be quite finicky about how deeply temperature can impact their comfort (see the section, Temperature and Comfort). So, it is a shock to many reptile caretakers that sometimes a mammal's refusal to eat food comes down to a matter of temperature. Before other methods are attempted, first simply try warming up or chilling a piece of food without otherwise changing it, and see if your child changes their mind on it.
Fats are one of those things that reptiles and mammals both understand the appeal of, so another simple method to try first is to add a little of whatever kind of edible fat or oil you have on hand into their food. Add only a small amount, however, as the mammal digestive system is not nearly as robust as our own, and you can end up with an upset child and a mess on your hands if you add too much at a time.
The final method I will suggest here is the most costly, but has the most powerful impact on the food you serve your child. If you haven't grown up in kingdom settlements, you likely don't have much of a taste for salt and sugar, but mammals universally love the stuff. Try adding one (or both!) to a food item if either other methods have proven ineffective, or if you need a quick remedy to fickle eating. However, keep in mind that mammals love them so much that they can become addicted, so don't add too much, and try to wean them off as much as possible when you can.
With these easy tips, you can take any foodstuff and make tweaks until you find success. I'm sure you will impress your fellow reptiles with your newfound edible wizardry!
Health and Hygiene
I know this will not come as a surprise, but skin is much different than scales. In addition to the obvious lack of protection that scaleless hides have, mammals are also unique in their penchant for secretions. Therefor, regular cleaning is key--paying extra attention to folds and creases--to avoid a buildup of smells. We are all aware of how pungent mammals are, but with diligent upkeep, you will become used to the smell of a properly-cleaned mammal, and many even come to enjoy it.
While cleaning your child, be mindful that the abrasives that are so good for our scales will be too much for delicate mammal skin. Even everyday elements of the environment that we wouldn't make us flinch can damage the skin of your child. I can promise you that you will be shocked at how often mammal children bleed from normal play and minor mishaps, and will quickly feel like a student of the medical arts with how often you will be patching up the young ones you care for. (See the appendices at the back of the book for medical answers and shortcuts.)
Mammal skin--especially those that lack a robust coat of hair--can become too dry. Luckily, there are simple methods to moisturize mammal skin, (see appendices,) as foreign as the concept may be for most of us. Likewise, too much prolonged wetness can cause problems for mammals. As complicated as it can be, learning the types and functions of mammal clothing is important, so I'm sorry to say that this is one area that you will likely be putting much time into understanding.
Hair and nails can also be complicated, but need to not be overlooked. Flat nails require more regular trimming than our claws, and should be cleaned under regularly. Hair is easily the most perplexing element of caring for mammals, but unlike clothing, there is nothing wrong with keeping hair trimmed short until you either learn how to keep it untangled and managed, or the child becomes old enough to manage their own hair. I highly suggest speaking with members of the child's original culture for advice on how to care for their hair.
In all facets, mammal hygiene is extremely important for good health, and it will give our peace of mind to teach your child good habits early on, so they can take over their own hygiene upkeep with only double-checking needed on your part.
Temperature and Comfort
Though their blood is "warmer" than that of us reptile folk, mammals are surprisingly susceptible to temperature. Despite being able to survive in a wide variety of environments, temperature disproportionately impacts their comfort, and comfort is of underestimated importance to the wellbeing of mammals.
Mammals greatly enjoy being warm (sometimes even more than we do) and gravitate toward soft textures. My theory is that this is due to the way in which mammals care for their young, by keeping them close, sometimes in almost constant contact with their bodies. Emulating this sensation seems to put them at ease.
Therefor, I highly suggest to try and take complaints of discomfort seriously, even when about seemingly trivial matters. Though it is difficult for us to understand, even rough textures of clothes and bedding are enough to cause many mammals discomfort (see section on the mammal mind).
Since we naturally lack much of the warmth that mammals do, there are a few easy things you can do to increase bonding with your mammal child. When holding or embracing them, I suggest that soft texture be involved, and ensure that your skin is warm, if possible. Also, watch to see if your child becomes attached to any comfort items. Often, these come in the form of soft, stuffed animals and figures such as dolls. And when arranging the child's sleeping area, keep in mind that mammals enjoy burrowing like rodents to sleep.
The Mammal Mind
It is commonly said that reptile and mammal emotions are entirely different from one another, but I see it much more as being a matter of how those emotions are expressed. We often view mammals as being erratic and irrational, but they just as often see us as being cold and unfeeling. While there certainly are differences in how our emotions function, (which will be covered below,) we are more similar than either side is aware of. So, while it is good to understand how your mammal child's thoughts and behaviors work, always keep in mind that they are not so different as they may sometimes seem.
Each mammal species has its own mental quirks, but much of what we have come to associate with them are more due to differences in culture, than biology. Generally speaking, understanding the mammal mind in a broad sense will be enough.
Reptiles and mammals experience similar depths of emotions, but it does seem that many mammals experience them vividly, and--since expression is such a key part of mammal society--they tend to share them more dramatically than most reptiles do. They can seem more reactive and sensitive, at least in ways that we sometimes don't expect. A little patience goes a long way, and taking the time to listen and sympathize with your child's perhaps peculiar displays of emotion will greatly increase their trust in you.
The mind must be tended to as much as any other aspect of child-rearing, and mental stimulation that is best for mammals is not always what we are most used to. The play-hunts, tests of skill, and ambush practices of our youth are great fun for any child, but try to intersperse these with quieter games, puzzles, and sessions of socially-themed imagination.
Your own mental state is important as well. Mammals react to the mental states of others even more than reptiles do, so ensure that you are taking care of yourself. Also, being that mammals are accustomed to a much different style of expression than what reptiles tend to provide, keep in mind that your child may miss or entirely misinterpret many of your cues. It may feel strange at first, but I highly suggest to go the extra mile in making your thoughts and emotions overly apparent for your child's sake.
Finally, the best thing for both you and your child's mental state is an abundance of love. Learn from how openly and warmly they express their affections, and reflect it back just as hard. If you can accomplish this one point, all obstacles will seem so much smaller, and you both will quickly be rewarded with profound and abundant joy.
