5 Old-School Parenting Trends That Will Make Modern Mothers Scream

In the ever-evolving landscape of parenting, where advice is as abundant as sleep is elusive, it’s hard to imagine a time when raising children didn’t involve heated debates over the latest parenting trends. Yet, buried in the annals of time are some old-school parenting techniques that might make modern mothers gasp in disbelief.

These time-honored practices, once considered the gold standard of child-rearing, have fallen out of favor in the wake of contemporary philosophies and scientific insights. As we embark on a nostalgic journey through the pages of parenting history, be prepared to cringe, chuckle, and perhaps even scream in horror as we unveil five vintage parenting techniques that would make any modern mom question their sanity.

Fasten your seatbelts, because we’re about to take a rollercoaster ride through the quirks and quagmires of parenting practices that time forgot.

Smoking While Pregnant

To many moms today, even the thought of smoking while pregnant is unbelievable. However, that wasn’t always the case. Smoking during pregnancy used to be a fairly common practice and some women even continued to smoke while nursing.

Putting Babies to Sleep Facedown

Once upon a time, in the not-so-distant past, placing babies facedown to sleep was the norm, embraced by generations of parents without a second thought. It was a practice deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric, handed down through the ages as the tried-and-true method for a good night’s sleep. Little did they know, however, that this seemingly innocent tradition would be challenged by the relentless pursuit of child safety.

As our understanding of infant health and well-being evolved, so too did our approach to bedtime rituals. The once widely accepted practice of placing babies on their stomachs to sleep has now been deemed perilous by pediatric experts.

Bathing Babies in Lard

Once considered a norm, bathing babies in lard was an old-school practice rooted in the belief that it rendered skin baby-soft. Today, this odd tradition is dismissed as outdated and potentially risky.

Modern parenting opts for gentle, specialized skincare products, leaving the lard days as a quirky footnote in the evolution of childcare practices.

Using Opium to Soothe Teething Babies

In the past, teething babies were often given opium for relief. This once-common practice is now widely recognized as outdated and unsafe. Modern parents, informed by a better understanding of child health, opt for safer alternatives like teething toys.

Drinking Guinness During Pregnancy

These days, it’s common knowledge that drinking alcohol while pregnant can be detrimental to the baby’s health. However, that wasn’t always understood. During the mid-1900s, it was fairly common for doctors to prescribe Guinness to pregnant women as it was considered a good source of iron. Interestingly enough, Guinness only has 0.3 milligrams of iron per beer.