When you become a parent, there is no shortage of parenting advice. Whether it’s coming from your family, friends, or complete strangers, almost every person you encounter is going to try to impart some parenting wisdom. And while some of that advice may be useful, a lot of it is the kind of stuff you can take or leave, and could even be downright harmful.
A writer and new mom recently found an old parenting book from 1926, and what she found in the book would likely shock most modern parents. By 2024 standards, most of the advice is outdated or even dangerous, but it’s a good example of how we’ve evolved as parents.
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It is interesting to see what people believed almost 100 years ago.
Audrey Engvalson, a writer for BuzzFeed and first-time mom, found the 1926 book How to Raise the Baby, and decided to write about the “bad” advice the book gave.
Honestly, “bad” might not be the most accurate word choice, given that the world was so different in 1926 — people had a different experience, and things like medicine were completely different. The advice given in the book is likely the same advice our great-grandparents were raised with, and to a lesser degree our grandparents. We can now understand that much of what they learned back then has a potential for danger of course, but every generation does the best with what knowledge they have. That’s how things continue to improve. But still, some of this stuff has us shaking our heads.
Who's giving fish oil to their newborns?
“It is now considered advisable to give cod liver oil, a preventative of rickets in proper amount to all infants before the end of the first month, preferably by the end of the second week.”
As the Mayo Clinic notes, rickets is “the softening and weakening of bones in children, usually because of an extreme and prolonged vitamin D deficiency. Rare inherited problems also can cause rickets.”
Making sure that your baby is getting sufficient vitamin D and calcium is enough to ensure that they won’t get rickets, no cod liver oil required. Infant formula or breast milk should do the trick.
We've all been trained on better baby sleep practices.
“The little one’s best position during sleeping or waking hours is on his abdomen, with head turned so the cheek rests on the pillow, though there is no special objection to lying on his side.”
By now we all know that babies should sleep on their backs in an unobstructed crib to prevent suffocation and SIDS. And the safest sleep space for babies is devoid of pillows, sleep positioners, and even blankets.
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Regular bowel movements will do what?
“One sure way to build up the vital resistance and overcome the tendency to contract smallpox, or any other contagious or infectious disease, is to train the child to have regular daily movements of the bowels.”
Having regular bowel movements is great, but regular varies by child and their diet. The best way to avoid contracting diseases is to have your child vaccinated against communicable illnesses, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Maybe this is why some older adults don't show physical affection ...
“Babies do not need to be cuddled, and should not be; and it is best to keep them from an upright position as much as possible.”
Cuddle your babies! Skin-to-skin contact is important for regulating little bodies and emotions. You can’t spoil your child by holding them too much.
This one says a lot about what they believed mothers were capable of ...
“Rules for the mother preceding birth: She should not attend plays, read books or frequent company which may destroy the peace of her mind or get her in an over-excited condition.”
It is a real head-scratcher as to why reading would make a woman “over-excited,” but the thought that women should just sit quietly in the house until they gave birth feels more like society not wanting to deal with pregnant women than anything else. Most things are perfectly fine to enjoy during your pregnancy.
*Disclaimer: The advice on Cafemom is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
