A Changeling is a being in West European folklore and folk religion, typically described as 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, an enchanted piece of wood that would soon appear to grow sick and die. A human child might be taken due to many factors: to act as a servant, the love of a human child, or malice. Most often it was thought that fairies exchanged the children. Simple charms, such as an inverted coat, were thought to ward them off.