Changeling In European folklore and folk belief, a changeling is the offspring of a fairy, troll, elf or other legendary creature that has been secretly left in the place of a human child. The apparent changeling could also be a stock, a glamorized piece of wood that would soon appear to grow sick and die. The activities of the changelings are orchestrated by a "mother" changeling - who appears to be an adult woman. The changelings steal children in the neighbourhood from their beds at night, taking the real child's place in the family home. The real children are kept in cages and are kept alive for the "mother" changeling to feed off. The children-changelings feed off the human mother's synovial fluid by suckling with their round, many-toothed mouth at the back of her neck. The changelings take their place in human homes as soon as they are formed, and feed off the mother until she wastes away. Any other humans who come between the changeling child and its prey are murdered. The true nature of the changelings - their discolored, slimy skin, hollow eyes and round mouth with many teeth - can be seen only in reflection. Weakness The changelings are killed by fire. spells.com/images/503_Fire_Hell_Hound.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">spells.com/images/503_Fire_Hell_Hound.jpg" alt="image" style="max-width:100%;height:auto;" loading="lazy"> When a mother changeling is killed, the children are destroyed also.