Wow! 10 vintage baby snaps that give a precious glimpse into the past

It’s good to remember simpler days, but let’s be grateful for the heath and happiness-improving advances we now have the benefit of, too!

While icy scales, chilly stethescopes and splinter-ridden playpens are hopefully a thing of the past, a mother’s love, caring health professionals and joyful chubby cheeks are as familiar as ever.

Here are some wonderful images from days gone by that allow us to catch a glimpse of giant nappies, perfectly combed baby curls and the most adorable Peter Pan collars we ever did see!

Nurse with mother and baby circa 1950
Photographer: Alexandra Studio
Source: Toronto History

Musical comedy star Dorothy Brunton with five small children, St Margaret’s Hospital, Darlinghurst, Sydney – circa 1930
Photographer: Sam Hood
Source: State Library of New South Wales

Baby Clinic, circa 1950 
Photographer: Alexandra Studio
Source: City of Toronto Archives

“The box was used as a playpen while mother was helping with the milking” 
Eungai Creek, NSW, C.R. Jarvis
Source: State Library of NSW

Boy in pedal car with baby in ‘rumble seat’ 
Sydney, circa 1935
Photographer: Sam Hood
Source: State Library of New South Wales

A mother feeds her infant using Farina purchased with food stamps. 
November 1969
Source: US Department of Agriculture

Baby Clinic circa 1950 
Photographer: Alexandra Studio
Source: City of Toronto Archives

Baby being spoon fed circa 1947 
Photographer: Howard MacDonald
Source: City of Toronto Archives

Dutch immigrant man with baby at Union Station 
September 1948
Source: City of Toronto Archives

Preschool child is weighed by African American nurse at an improvised baby station and child health clinic set up in a church. 
Source: Children’s Bureau Centennial

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Thanks to these various government bodies for making these beautiful images available to us.