Changelings

Changelings are figures in European folklore, typically described as human infants believed to have been secretly swapped by fairies, trolls, or other supernatural beings for a fairy child. In many traditions the practice is said to explain a variety of early childhood illnesses, developmental differences, or seemingly inexplicable changes in temperament or appearance.

Geographic variations cluster around Ireland, Scotland, parts of Britain, and continental Europe, with different communities offering slightly different explanations for how the swap occurred and what the consequences would be. In some tales the changeling is a fairy baby left in exchange for the human infant; in others the human child is taken while a fairy infant takes its place. The exchanged child is often described as being sickly, unusually strong, intelligent, or obstinate, and parents might attribute a range of inexplicable or alarming behaviors to the presence of a changeling.

Folklore typically presents a set of familiar motifs: signs that a child is not their true offspring, attempts to identify the impostor, and remedies that range from care and observation to drastic actions within the moral framework of the tale. Common elements include the belief that the changeling’s true nature can be revealed by certain tests, or that the fairy or troll will return the real child if angered or tricked. Scholars interpret these tales as reflections on child illness, disability, or the stresses of caregiving in historical communities.

In modern times, changelings appear in literature, folklore studies, and fantasy media, often reimagined as shapeshifters or as symbolic allegories for difference and belonging.