The Difference Between Baby Care in 1926 and Today

When this article was originally published, it was a special year for the British monarchy as the country celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee to mark her 70th year on the throne. To commemorate that momentous occasion, there were all sorts of events happening across the country, including the Platinum Jubilee Central Weekend marked with a special four day bank holiday weekend. Now that we have reached 2026, we are looking back exactly one century to the birth of Queen Elizabeth in 1926. This centenary provides the perfect opportunity to see just how much baby care has evolved over the past one hundred years.

[Post updated July 2026]

In 1926, the world into which the future monarch was born looked entirely different regarding the care of our babies. For starters, most babies were born at home instead of in a hospital or a modern birthing centre. In the 1920s, there was very little that women could do to ease the pain of labour. The variety of pain relief options while giving birth was incredibly limited, often restricted to things like hot baths, simple massages, or just enduring with resilience. Today, expectant mothers and pregnant women have an extensive selection of pain relief options available to them during labour, ranging from epidurals to gas and air…thank goodness!

From Linen Squares to Everyday Convenience

The daily realities of infant care in previous generations required a tremendous amount of manual labour and physical effort. There were no disposable nappies in the 1920s, meaning that parents had to rely entirely on terry cloth squares that had to be boiled, washed by hand, and dried on lines. This alone made looking after small children a full time occupation!

Feeding practices were also vastly different. While breastfeeding was the norm, women who struggled or could not breastfeed had limited options compared to the array of modern baby products we see on supermarket shelves today. Historically, wealthy families had relied on wet nurses, but by the early twentieth century, families turning away from breastfeeding had to use early forms of artificial feeding. Making a bottle of formula in 1926 was a complicated business requiring exact measurements of cow milk, water, and added sugars or barley water. There was no commercial baby formula that you could easily pick up at a local grocery store, and without a reliable home refrigerator, keeping ingredients fresh was a constant battle.

Even everyday baby clothes were far less convenient than they are today. In 1926, infants were often dressed in long, restrictive gowns and heavy layers fastened with safety pins. Parents today often take for granted how simple it is to dress young children in a modern zipper baby grow or colour matching popper suits!

Societal roles around family life have also shifted dramatically over the century. In the 1920s, caring for babies and young children fell almost entirely to the mother or female relatives. Fathers typically had very little input in daily routines and they certainly were not present for the birth of their own children. Today, fathers and partners are fully involved from the very beginning, often staying by the side of pregnant women throughout the entire labour process.

Medical Evolution and Rising Survival Rates

The overall survival rates of babies in the 1920s were sadly much lower than they are today, which is one of the most significant achievements of modern medical science. In 1926, the country faced a high infant mortality rate, with infant mortality rates sitting at around 40 deaths per 1,000 live births. This was especially true for families living in poverty or for babies born with medical conditions that were difficult to treat with the technology of the era.

Today, that figure has been reduced drastically to around 3 deaths per 1,000 live births. This incredible progress is thanks to improved public sanitation, better nutrition, cleaner water, and sweeping advances in medical care. Throughout her long reign, Queen Elizabeth remained a strong advocate for public health and community wellbeing. She was heavily involved in supporting the development and continued support of the National Health Service, which has provided free healthcare for all British citizens since its inception in 1948. This system ensured that every family, regardless of wealth, could access the help of a midwife and proper medical equipment during childbirth.

Medical treatments have progressed to a point that people living in 1926 could never have imagined. In the early twentieth century, premature babies had very low survival chances because specialised incubators and advanced respiratory support did not exist. Today, neonatology units offer exceptional special care for vulnerable infants. Furthermore, in more recent years, we have witnessed the incredible discovery of stem cell therapy. This medical technology provides families with amazing treatment options for various blood disorders and immune conditions, safeguarding the health of future generations.

Changing Perspectives on Child Development

The philosophy behind raising human babies has also undergone a massive transformation. In the 1920s, childcare advice was often rigid and strictly scheduled. Some of the earliest books on the topic urged parents not to hold their children too much for fear of spoiling them, and left them outside to get fresh air regardless of the temperature. It was thought that rigid feeding schedules and minimal emotional indulgence built strong character.

By the middle of the century, experts introduced a revolutionary approach based on common sense and maternal instinct, encouraging parents to trust themselves and show affection. Later, the introduction of attachment theory highlighted how crucial emotional responsiveness is for healthy brain development and overall emotional development. We now understand that early interactions play a foundational role in long term child development.

The Modern Childcare Landscape

The landscape of childcare has altered just as significantly as the medical sector. A century ago, stay-at-home parents were the absolute norm, and formal daycare centers did not exist in the way we know them today. If a mother needed to work, childcare was usually managed informally by extended family or neighbors. Following World War II, as more women entered the workforce, the demand for structured childcare providers grew rapidly.

Modern parents can choose from a wide type of care depending on their work commitments and financial situation. Some families opt for an au pair or set up a nanny share with another local family to split costs. Others rely on a registered home daycare centre, an individual infant room in a commercial nursery, or a structured preschool program to help prepare small children for their transition into formal education. Finding affordable child care remains a major topic of discussion across the United Kingdom and the United States, as modern child care workers and early years educators are recognised as vital to the economy in major hubs from London to New York.

New Frontiers in Safety and Mobility

Safety standards have also been completely rewritten over the past hundred years. In 1926, the concept of transport safety for a child was non-existent. Babies were held in arms or placed in loose prams while traveling. Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics and British safety organisations enforce strict guidelines on using tested car seats from the very first trip home from the hospital.

Even the way we put babies to sleep has changed to minimise the risk of SIDS. In previous generations, babies were often placed to sleep on their stomachs in heavy blankets, whereas modern guidance stresses the importance of placing babies on their backs in a clear cot for safe sleep. Parents now also enjoy ergonomic tools like a structured baby carrier or soft stretchy wraps that keep infants close while allowing parents to remain hands-free. When looking for the best way to travel with a newborn, these modern carriers are frequently a top pick for active families.

While the survival rates and general health metrics have risen for everyone, modern health data shows that some disparities between different groups of people still exist today. These variations can even be seen when comparing different cultures and their unique approaches to infant care and parental leave. Addressing these inequalities is a continuous focus for health services and charities alike.

Looking back from 2026, it is clear that baby care has come a long way over the last century. While caring for a newborn will always involve a lot of work and sleepless nights, the modern tools, medical treatments, adjustment factors, and support systems available today make the journey safer and more manageable than ever before. We hope this look back across the generations has given you a fascinating bit of insight into the history of parenting.