5 Weird Historical Baby Care Facts You’ll Be Glad Are Outdated

Baby care today can feel overwhelming, but it helps to remember how far we’ve come. From opium syrups to bacon-wrapped babies, here are five historical baby care facts that are more strange than sweet.

Swaddled in Bacon Fat and Honey

In some ancient cultures, newborns were wrapped in cloth soaked in animal fat or honey. It was thought to protect their skin, keep them warm, and ward off evil spirits. Soft? Maybe. Sticky? Definitely.

Bathing Was Rare and Feared

During the medieval period, it was widely believed that bathing opened the body up to disease. Babies were wiped with cloths or dusted with herbal powders, but a proper bath? Possibly once a year, if that. No rubber ducks required.

Baby Corsets Were a Thing

In Georgian England, babies were dressed in stiff gowns and bound tightly in wrapping bands to encourage good posture. Comfort came a very distant second to appearances. Sitting up straight was serious business.

Opium for Teething

Before Calpol, there was opium. In the 19th century, teething syrups routinely contained morphine or laudanum. Mrs Winslow’s Soothing Syrup promised quiet nights and delivered them, sometimes permanently. It’s no wonder it was eventually banned.

Victorian Prams with Whips and Brakes

Wealthy Victorian families pushed their babies around in prams styled like miniature horse-drawn carriages, complete with reins and brakes. Because nothing says relaxing afternoon stroll like being driven around like a Shetland pony.

Fancy Something a Little More Comfortable?

Thankfully, modern baby sessions involve none of the above. Just you, your little one, and a warm studio in Crawley Down where nobody is getting wrapped in anything unusual.