Shopping Cart

No products in the cart.

The CRAZIEST parenting advice from the last 100 years

Every decade brings with it new parenting or pregnancy advice – often seeming crazy in hindsight!

Good Housekeeping has put together a list of some of the most out-there trends over each decade.

Here are some of the craziest parenting advice over the decades

1910s

Washing babies in lard.

Left handed babies were trained to use their right hand.

You will have a colicky baby if you feed while you are angry.

1920s

Experts encouraged parents not to kiss of hug their children.

Ignoring your child, mums were told, is the best way to build a strong character.

Vintage black and white baby photograph taken in 1966 with some grain and dust. Baby looks surprised with wild hairstyle

1930s

Parents were advised to potty train their baby soon after they were born.

Pregnant women shouldn’t travel, not even in a car.

City children were put in cages that hang out of windows in order to get fresh air and sunshine.

1940s

3 month olds were given liver soup as their first meal.

Mums were warned to stop coddling their sons.

1950s

Parents were advised not to baby proof their house. That a child should learn themselves what is safe and what isn’t.

Mothers were advised to bathe their children three times a day.

1960s

Babies were advised to drink coffee at 6 months of age as well as eat eggs and bacon at 9 weeks old.

Mums were told they could ‘safely’ smoke up to half a pack of cigarettes a day.

Parents were encouraged to let babies cry because showing love would make a baby grow up to be a socialist!

1970s

Parents were advised to wash their babies twice a week.

Pregnant women were advised to eat plenty of liver.

1980s

Pregnant women were encouraged not to watch video games, as it could distress the baby.

Formula was seen as superior to breastmilk.

Children weren’t required to sit in car seats – not even newborns.

Experts revealed that smoking around your kids would help their ‘lungs grow strong’.

1990s

Children could ride in the front of the car in a carseat.

Parents left kids in the car while they were running errands without batting an eyelid.

Young teens, some as young as 11, were allowed to babysit.

J’ADORE! 60 Beautiful French Baby Names We Love

BABY NAMES to choose if you want your child to become RICH and SUCCESSFUL – including Rose and Leo!

Are you ready to become a Healthy Mommy?

28 Day Challenge
Regain your body confidence with The Healthy Mommy’s 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge.

Our Challenge is designed by moms FOR MOMS – to help them reach their goal weight and tackle their health and fitness.

The Challenge is home to customizable meal plans, 24/7 social support and realistic exercises moms can do AT HOME.

To find out more on the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge click here.

Be part of our friendly and supportive community

Get Your Free Weight Loss Recipe eBook

Enter your email address and we will send you our Delicious 30 Weight Loss Recipes eBook delivered to your inbox.