The responsibility of raising Indian children was left entirely to the
women.  At puberty, the boys were given over to their fathers to learn
hunting and the girls were prepared for marriage.  Infants spent much of
the day in cradleboards such as this one, fastened to the back of a Kiowa
mother.  The cradle board held the infant securely while freeing the
mother's hands for her many other tasks around the campsite, and it was
particularly useful when the time came for the tribe to move on.  The
exact history of the cradleboard is not know, but centuries ago South
American Indians were already using such a device.  Each one was uniquely
decorated.  The confinement did not appear to hurt or inhibit infants,
although many developed flat spots on the back of their heads from rubbing
against the surface of the cradleboard.