You can easily say that this generation is much different from the last. There are always older people telling us that we spoil our children today and that when they were little, they would get slapped for misbehaving or made fun of for being left-handed — and they would be fine with it. That attitude doesn’t fly as much today.
There are tons of vintage photos that show how growing up used to be back in the old days. These 60 photos prove that things are much different for parents and children today!
“Me Back In 1991 Just Your Typical Aussie Kid Drinking Xxxxlight Beer (I Wasn’t Aloud Heavies Back Then) And Holding A Baby Crocodile.” Just a toddler drinking beer — not cool!
“My Father And His Pet Lion Priscilla, California 1970’s.”
3. This kid is having a taste…
“13 Y/O Dad Having A Taste While The Grownups Are Busy Playing Cards; Upstate New York, August 1954.”
4. Casually smoking a cigar
“Me again, 1958, relaxing after my bath with Toby, I was never again this cool.”
“My mom showing off her parenting skills, 1978.”
“My dad showing off his parenting skills, 1985.”
7. Never too early for a cigarette
“A Photo Of Me Dressed Up As My Dad, With My Dad (1982).”
“My Hilarious Father (With The Magazine) And My Grandfather, Grandmother, And Uncle At His Bar Mitzvah In 1972.”
9. Very unsafe driving conditions
“Car Seat Safety In 1958. Not Strapped In To Anything, These Seats Relied On The Mother To Put Her Arm Out And Stop The Baby From Falling Forward.”
10. Those don’t look like fish
“The Pinnacle Of Parenting: 1930s Swimming Lesson.”
“Infant Me, My Mother & Father At A Bar Because That’s How Parents Rolled In The Early ’80s.”
12. More drinking and smoking
“Princess Yvonne And Prince Alexander In Germany, 1955.”
“My Dad And His Veterinarian Mother, With Their Pet Lion Which They Raised For Two Years, 1959.”
14. Marijuana initiative rally
“California Marijuana Initiative Rally 1972. That’s Me In The Box And My Parents In The Picture.”
“If Your Mum Didn’t Lay On The Ground Making Herself Into A Ramp For Your New BMX, Did She Even Love You? 1980’s.”
“My Mother And Grandmother Demonstrating Safety Standards In The 1960s.”
“A Couple Ice Skating With Their Baby, 1937.”
“My Mother-In-Law Riding A Bear At 2 Years Old.”
“Harley With A Baby Seat, 1962.”
20. A smoke right after giving birth
“My Mom In The Hospital After Giving Birth To My Sister. Canada 1978. Smokes And Roasted Chicken.”
“Back In The Day. 1960s To Be Exact. Checkout That Car Seat.”
“Just A Photo Of Yours Truly (At 11 Years) Petting A Full Grown Tiger. My Mom Calls It Her ‘Bad Parenting Moment.'”
This mother and her child were posing next to the Statue of Liberty… Before it was even unpacked.
Apparently, back in the old days, mothers were told not to have any bad thoughts while they were pregnant. It was believed that if they did, their child would turn out to be a nuisance.
It was also to be believed that being left-handed was a sin. To try and reverse it, they would use a cast that disabled the use of the left hand. This was obviously painful and would not fly today.
It was also believed that you shouldn’t show your kids too much affection. No cuddling, no extra loving… Thank gosh that trend is over!
Back then, you also had to choose wisely when thinking of what to name your baby. No “soft” names allowed. What even is a soft name? That would not fly today!
Um, we don’t think that tiny little toddler belongs hanging off the back of that bike.
This is not an ideal seat for a baby. She’s practically being thrown up in the air already!
31. What baby carseats used to look like
“Baby car seat from the 1950’s. This is my brother, Kenny. Born in 1956.”
32. Really promoting safety here
“Strange 1950s advertisement for cellophane. Guess child safety wasn’t an issue back then?”
No cares in the world. Pipe in hand.
35. My, how the tables have turned
“Despite what her dog might think, this lady is doing parenting wrong.”
36. Children playing in literal trash
“Children playing in ruins or in clunkers, in a part of New York City that looks like an european distric after the World War II…”
37. Taking the baby for a… bike ride?
Why not carry your toddler around in a bag…
Yes, just hand a toddler a gun. Nothing could possibly go wrong!
The baby never
did come back down…
We don’t see any safety precautions being taken here…
Is that a crib that is covered in guns? We have never been more confused.
More like one big metal bar. Seems legit.
46. At least this baby is wearing a helmet
This vintage carseat is actually kind of cute, but still! Dangerous!
What is with these carseats? Why did we think they were a good idea?!
Must be super reliable! (We’re being facetious.)
Just hanging…
out of a car. It’s fine. Everything is fine.
“What do you do when your baby wants some fresh air but you can’t leave the home? Place your bundle of joy in a cage shoddily attached to an open window of course.”
51. Soda for the average toddler
“Once upon a time, not only did manufacturers not care what we did with their product, they seemed to build entire ad campaigns around tempting us to use them to kill our children.”
“Vintage advertising — found in my mother’s basement, flea markets and various corners of the Internet — dusted off and displayed for your viewing pleasure.”
Pushing soda on toddlers right when they are born. Perfect.
55. Smoke for a “low birth weight”
“A cigarette company is trying to influence a pregnant mother to smoke their brand of cigarettes because they taste good and because it will make the baby skinnier when it is born.”
“Laudanum Ad. OMG, keep your kid quiet with laudanum. Or how to make your kid a drug addict.”
Potty training in a… cooking pot?
We know arranged marriages still happen today, but did you know that back then, parents used to promise their children to other families when they were only
infants?
59. Leave your baby alone
It was also believed that you should leave your baby alone with no time limit. You didn’t even have to check on them if you didn’t want to. Sounds like a great place to grow up.
60. More beer for the babies
It was truly believed that babies should drink beer. That’s why there were alarmingly legitimate ads like these.
These parents would definitely get locked up if these photos came out today!
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You can easily say that this generation is much different from the last. There are always older people telling us that we spoil our children today and that when they were little, they would get slapped for misbehaving or made fun of for being left-handed — and they would be fine with it. That attitude doesn’t fly as much today.
There are tons of vintage photos that show how growing up used to be back in the old days. These 60 photos prove that things are much different for parents and children today!
