Quote Originally Posted by ReDSanchous
kalinka, is a kid inanimate, lifeless? Are you sure that the noun 'child' can be described by the pronoun 'it'?

ReD - yes, it can.
Both "child" and "baby" can be referred to as "it" when the statement is generalizing, and it's not clear whether it is a little boy or a little girl that is being talked about.

BUT in that case, you have to stick to it, within the same sentence, i.e.:

If a child is too young to be adult, IT must do what its parents tell IT to do. (-> general observation)

If THE child is too young to be adult, HE/SHE must do what HIS/HER parents tell HIM/HER to do. (-> about a specific child)