I assume that the word Child related to a Mr or Mrs Child rather than a CHILDren type child (if that makes sense?) and it is their collection of songs?
I used to think that it meant it was a song you sang to your children until I started playing folk music and realised that you certainly wouldnt sing most of them to children esp ones like Cruel Mother and S Fair, they a quite dark most of them.

I now know and have admitted my stupidity! lol

I have to admit also I have recorded S Fair and did the Carthy/Simon version in terms of verses purely because I wanted to keep the track length down and add an instrumental section. It is such a dark song, it does annoy me when you hear all these pretty and sweet version, listen to the words!