20 Shocking Historical Parenting Practices That Were Once Considered “Normal”

If you’ve ever second-guessed a parenting decision or felt overwhelmed by conflicting advice, take comfort in knowing that you’re not dangling your baby out a window in a wire cage or dosing them with opium syrup (hopefully). What we consider “safe” and “normal” parenting changes dramatically over time and I was able to find quite a few eye-opening examples from parenting history. The practices below weren’t fringe ideas – they were mainstream, doctor-recommended, and often sold in major catalogs. Hold onto your bloomers! Feeding & Medication Practices 1. “Murder Bottles” Made Feeding Deadly (1860s-1920s) These long-tube feeding bottles featured rubber tubes stretching up to 18 inches from the bottle to

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