Baby products from the past that look bizarre
Modern parents don’t know how good they have it. Baby products today are cute, innovative, and most importantly safe. Expecting parents can create a baby registry filled with the latest and greatest products and not have a second thought other than ensuring that their choices match the nursery decor. But, things weren’t always this way.
In the past, some baby products were quirky, bizarre, and straight-up dangerous. Let’s take a look at some of the strangest infant gadgets that would definitely not pass today’s safety standards.
Baby Cages Were A Real Thing
In the 1920s and 1930s, baby cages were a common sight in urban centers like New York City and London, England. The idea behind them was to provide a safe contraption that allowed babies to get some sunshine and fresh air – nevermind that babies were essentially dangling out of windows in high-rise buildings.
Baby Cages Were Popular At The Time
During this era, baby cages were popular because many medical professionals advised mothers to expose their babies to as much fresh air as possible. They believed that breathing in lots of cold air was an excellent way to build up the infant’s immune system.
As You Can Imagine, They Weren’t The Safest
Baby cages faded from public use over safety concerns… because, you know, babies shouldn’t play in rickety cages that are suspended out of apartment windows. World War II also affected the popularity of these devices, and by the 1950s, they stopped being used for good.
A Far Cry From Today’s Strollers
Baby prams, strollers, and carriages of the past took many forms. One thing is for sure, though: parents across generations have always needed an efficient way to walk with their baby. While some baby carriages resemble today’s modern ones, with others, you just have to wonder what the designer was thinking.
Baby Boxing? Sure, Why Not?
If you can believe it, baby boxing matches were a thing in the past. We’re not sure who thought that it would be funny to have two infants with almost no motor skills fight each other, but times were different back then. We will admit that their tiny gloves are adorable.
Let’s Not Forget Diaper Derbys
Here’s another sporting event involving babies (for some odd reason). Diaper derbies were lighthearted events where infants would compete against each other in a race. The concept was pretty simple: the babies would crawl toward the finish line, and whoever got there first was the winner. Often, these events were sponsored by popular baby brands that also provided the prizes.
7-Up Was Marketed To The Whole Family
Many sodas of the past played up their wholesome family image for advertisements. Specifically, 7-Up marketed itself as a safe option for the whole family – including young children – because of its history of being used to cure tummy aches and other ailments. However, we now know that soda is terrible for everyone, especially children, because of its high sugar content.
Can You Guess What This Is?
It definitely doesn’t look like its modern counterpart, but this is a teething toy from the 1700s. It was likely given as a christening present, and also has a whistle and bells to entertain a little one. The red stone is actually coral, which was believed to relieve teething pain.
Not Suitable For Babies… At All
With a name like “Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup,” how could this medicine be harmful in any way to babies? Well, for starters, the syrup was primarily made from morphine and alcohol, two substances that are definitely not safe for infants. Sadly, this medicine contributed to the deaths of numerous infants before it was discontinued.
Maternity Clothes Have Come A Long Way
Up until very recently, maternity clothes were essentially long, shapeless pieces of clothing intended to hide the mother’s body from view during her “delicate” condition. This sketch of maternity wear during the Middle Ages confirms that. We’re sure expecting mothers were really comfortable wearing long, heavy cloaks and gowns every day.
They Even Had Baby Walkers Back Then
This is an example of a wooden baby walker from the 1700s. These were created to assist babies who were just learning to walk, but still needed some support. The baby was placed in the middle ring, and as they walked, the wooden frame on wheels would travel with them.
Baby Walkers Are Still Used In Some Places Today
The popularity of baby walkers is still apparent in some countries. However, others have banned these devices over safety concerns. Because baby walkers contributed to some serious injuries – especially in cases where babies fell down stairways while using the product – some countries straight-up banned the products, making it illegal to manufacture and sell them.
A Trio Of Historical Baby Products
On the far right is a traditional birthing chair, an invention that has been used around the world for centuries to assist women in labor. This photo also contains a wooden infant cradle and a wooden high chair. All of these objects were essential to women and children of the past, but it’s hard to picture using them in today’s modern society.
War Leads To Some Bizarre Inventions
Many of us are lucky to have no firsthand experiences with war, but decades ago, that wasn’t the case. During World War II and the Cold War, the threat of toxic gases was real, and everyday citizens had to prepare. This included making gas masks for women and children to wear for safety, as well as gas-proof infant prams.
Like Something Out Of A Movie
For the babies of the era, they needed to be protected, too. This led to the invention of numerous devices for babies that would keep them safe in the event of a gas attack. It’s hard to believe this is a historical photo and not a scene from a sci-fi movie.
Bottles Have Come A Long Way, Too
This photo, taken in the 1800s, shows a baby boy drinking milk from a common device of the time period. Unfortunately, these bottles became known as “murder bottles” because it was extremely difficult to clean the long tube that carried the milk to the baby’s mouth. Frequently, bacteria would build up in the tube, leading to fatal consequences.
Another Bottle Design That Looks Questionable
This is another bottle from the 1800s made from an unidentified metal. While it probably wasn’t as dangerous as the “murder bottles”, it looks more like a surgical tool than something used to feed infants milk.
Is This Bottle Design Any Better?
It really seems that humans struggled to design baby bottles that were safe and effective. This one is completely made from glass, and we’re struggling to imagine a baby using it comfortably.
A Strange Ad From Gillette
We don’t think Gillette was encouraging babies to shave with this ad. They were trying to say that their safety razors are so gentle that even a baby could use one. It’s just that most people don’t usually associate babies with razor blades… or are we missing something here?
Baby Bath Tubs Took Many Forms
When it came to washing babies in the past, parents used what they had on hand: metal tubs, small basins, the kitchen sink – really anything that would hold water and a baby. This photo shows an old-fashioned baby bath tub, and while it doesn’t look terrible, it sure is different compared to the ones used by modern parents.
Toy Guns Were Common And Popular
You could argue that toy guns are still popular in the form of Nerf guns and similar products, but toy guns from the past looked like real guns. Some of them even fired caps or pellets, and little boys were encouraged to play cowboy with them. Besides looking real, some of them did cause injuries. Never forget Ralphie’s parents in A Christmas Story warning him that he was going to shoot his eye out with a BB gun.
Dolls Were Also Popular… And Creepy
Nearly every person on the planet has had an encounter with a creepy vintage doll. Unfortunately, that’s just how they looked back then. While they are eerie by today’s standards, back then, little girls loved these toys so they deserve some appreciation.
Teddy Bears Also Had A Distinct Look
While not as creepy as vintage dolls, old-fashioned teddy bears weren’t exactly cute by today’s definition. In fact, they look like they are about to teach a math lesson or scold us for being late. But, like dolls, teddy bears, and other plush animals were popular gifts for children and still are to this day.
Even This Baby Isn’t Too Sure About This Swing
Baby swings are another product that seem to have been around forever and have taken many forms over the years. This one looks like a basket tied to some string, so we’re not sure how safe or comfortable it was. Even the baby looks a little panicked about this whole situation.
Playpens Looked Like Tiny Jails
Surprisingly, playpens have also been around a lot longer than most people realize. Today, they are usually padded with soft mesh walls, but back in the day, wooden play pens were more common. They look sturdy, that’s for sure, but we can’t get past the fact that they also have a certain jail aesthetic.
Baby Powder Is A Thing Of The Past
Baby powder was once a standard product for new parents, even up until fairly recently. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics now advises against using baby powder made from talc and other substances because it poses severe respiratory risks.
Remember Rubber Diapers?
Most people know that diapers used to be made out of cloth, but few realize that rubber diapers, intended to be placed over the cloth ones to prevent leaks, were popular, too. Rubber diapers were replaced by plastic diapers, and eventually both were made obsolete with the invention of disposable diapers in the 1960s.
