Usually described as being the offspring of a fairy, troll or elf that has been left in the place of a human
child. The theme of swapped children is common among medieval literature and reflects the concern over infants thought to be afflicted with unexplained diseases, disorders or developmental disabilities.
A child might be taken due to a lot of factors such as to act as a servant or malice. A lot of the times it is said that the fairies exchanged he children.
In rare cases, the elderly of the fairy people would be exchanged for the human baby which results in the fairy being cuddled by its human parents living in comfort.
To warn the changelings off, simple charms are used such as inverted coat or open iron scissors left where the human child sleeps. Larger extremes such as constantly watching the child are done also.
Beauty in young children and women, particularly with blonde hair attracts the fairies the easiest.
In Scottish folklore, a child with a caul across their face is a changeling.
Since most things from Scandinavian folklore are said to be afriad of iron, Scandinavian parents used to
hang iron items above the unbaptized childs cot.
It was believed that if a child was taken even if these measures were taken, that the parents can treat the changeling cruelly, in ways such as whipping or even inseting it into an oven. In at least one cast,
a woman was taken to court for killing her child in an oven.
Changelings are known all over the world, each country with different tales. But generally, Changelings
are often mischevious growing up but as they grow up they tend to calm down and become more helpful, but because of their
devious ways during their young period, they are thought to be evil and sent by the devil.
But, in some cases, the Changeling grows up being very caring and loyal to family and friends, often caring for their loved ones more than themselves.
Some say that the Changeling was put in place of a sick or dying child just so the mother would never receive the heartache of losing their child and the changeling parents look after the sick child and
watch it grow, helping them along the way.