Here is a series of photographs from the Nelson archive (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED) that feature Gen-X babies and 1970s baby equipment. They underscore for me the work of the the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and how much products for infants have improved over the last four or five decades.
In 1972, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Act. The law gave the CPSC the power to develop safety standards and pursue recalls for products that presented unreasonable or substantial risks of injury or death to consumers. I’m sure it contributed significantly to our litigious society, but has also done enormous good for Americans.
Thankfully, most, if not all, of the products in these pictures would never make it to market today. They include car seats without ample harnesses and a baby bed with ridiculously wide spaces between the bars. Also, a baby changing table without a belt to secure a baby and prevent falls.
Does any of this 1970s baby equipment look familiar to you?
From what I understand, the main problem with some strollers back then was the leg openings being of such a size that a baby could scoot down into it but get his/her head entrapped in the opening. Not all strollers back then had the issue. A test was developed which I believe was called the “bowling ball test”. If a bowling ball could pass through the opening it was of sufficient size so that a baby wouldn’t get their head entrapped if scooting through it. It’s been several years since I read up on that issue, so maybe another blog reader could verify the accuracy of my reply. Being in my 70s now, I remember all these vintage baby gear items pictured when still in use. Enjoyed this article.
Hello Jenn, why didn’t you post my comment?! I was just asking a question!
Hi Sue – I’ve been away from the blog. My apologies for the delay. It’s posted now. =)
I was born in 1984. I used a 1970’s stroller as a hand me down from my older brother (born in 1979).
My question is: Are a lot of your photos from the early 1970’s?! I think you should have some from the mid to late 70’s too so that it would be more accurate.
Also, I could have sworn I saw an 80’s car seat that looked EXACTLY like the last picture.
Anyway, cool article.
That post was written five years ago so it’s definitely time for an update. If I can ever find time to get back to the blog I’ll see what I can dig up. The 80s were now 40 years ago. Hard to believe…
I had a swing IDENTICAL to the one shown here! Born in early 1969.
The first two pictures show a bathinet. You lifted the top part and underneath was a bathtub.
and that was more 60’s than 70’s
My mom got one of those for her 5 th baby in 1967. I thought it was so cool. I got a doll version of it for Christmas. I was 9.
I picked up a doll version of a changing table at a flea market when my firstborn was a little girl. So sweet and fun! Thanks for stopping by, Linda!
I didn’t start wearing a seat belt until I was 18!
Wow! How wonderful. I’d love to see a picture!
I had a similar stroller, it was brown and white. I was born in 1980. I also had the same swing and hard shelled car seat. It had a thin layer of foam for padding. So neat to see these items now.
Oh, so familiar !
All my kids born in the 70’s
The crank up swing was a favorite
The table top feeding seat really was not very safe but it was what they had
Lots of memories
Will have to get out those old pics
Yep they called them Pumpkin seats. Basically just a place to sit while mom was busy
It isn’t a matter of safety.we were just as safe as kids are today.it’s a matter of common sense, which too many younger parents are lacking today.
agreed
Picture #6 was a feeding seat not a car seat.
My parents used thatd for a car seat.
Yes it was
Yep a Pumpkin seat
I had one for my first born. 1976 and yes it was not a car seat.
Most people back in the 70s had commonsense and read the box that said this is NOT a carseat. As a parent of 3 children I made those baby items safe for my children to ride in or sleep in.
What you are referring to as a bouncy seat, didn’t bounce at all. It had a handle that you could raise up to carry infant. Bottom of chair was about 6 to 12 inches from the floor depending on how tall you were. I used it for my son (born 72) when I went mall shopping as it was lightweight and he loved it! Got a gopher’s view of everything going on. Granted the latch wasn’t the most secure but if it didn’t latch in properly he didn’t have fall to crash. You knew it on first lift. Just jarred his eye teeth a little. Oh, wait he didn’t have any yet! Baby in the photo would have been too large to carry this way. I did get the “tch tch” looks from Grandmas!
I would be interested in that car seat
Which one? The actual car seat, or the little plastic baby seat she referred to as a baby seat?
I would be interested in the little plastic seat the baby is sitting in on the shopping cart
Picture #4 Shopping Cart and #6 are not Car seats !
Have an extra one for sale on etsy right now.
I am obsessed with all these wonderful images! I collect vintage baby items – mostly late 50’s to early 80’s.
What a cool thing to collect!
Thank you!
Hi, you have one listed on Etsy? I’m interested
I love the pictures oh, I think I had all of those baby items, as my oldest was born in 1968. I’m not sure what the silent generation is? Probably before me? I walked in an Anti-Viet Nam protest when I was pregnant with my second son and my first was two and in a stroller like the first one!
How awesome. This old baby equipment brings back such wonderful memories for me.
I loooovvvee the stroller i was born in 68!!
I was Born in June 1970 and have a old pic standing in one those old Baby Beds..Thanks for Sharing all the good old days gone by🤗
The pictures take us back like nothing else. I love the old baby equipment. Thanks for stopping by, Sharon.
I was born in 1962. I love the trip down memory lane, thank you. I don’t know if you realized but the thing hanging under the changing table is a bath tub. It had a hose to drain the water. That way you could stand up and bathe your baby. Everyone acts as though all the old equipment is a horrible danger. With the exception of car seats not all upgrades were an improvement. People “survived” because they used common sense something truly lacking these days. You have no idea how much freedom you have had taken from you in the name of saftey.
That is probably true about freedom, Julie. Thanks for pointing out the tub. I remember seeing them as a kid – in church nurseries. I still love these pictures so much.
Amen to that Julie!
It’s funny, I’m turning 25 and I agree with that bit on common sense. I think it’s because I work in retail where you see all the horrors of human stupidity.
I was born in 70. My parents were born in 48&49. I love these pictures and I have SOOOOO many pics that my mother took when I was born
Hello, Caryn: Would you be willing to share any of those pics with our readers? Thank you!
My MIL held on to the car seat she used for my wife, who was born in 1970. I asked her to throw it out, saying that we would never use it (nor should anyone else), but she refused…
Oh my goodness, I totally get it. It’s so hard for me to throw out stuff. I still have so many things – both cribs, bassinet, etc. I did let go of the car seats. They wore them out. And, the sippy cup spills didn’t help. LOL.
Does she still have it?
Those parents are likely “baby boomers” not the “silent generation.”
I checked them out personally. They are Silents.
I was born in 1969 and my parents were born in 1947. My maternal grandparents were born in 1925 and 1928. The “Silent Generation” were people born from the 1920’s-early 1940’s. “Baby Boomers” were born mid 1940’s-1964 and my generation, “Generation X” is people born 1965-1980. The people in the pictures were my parents age, “Baby Boomers” and I was the age of the babies in the pictures, “Generation X.”
I was born in 1967. My parents were born in 1930 and 1934. I know the identity of the parents in the pictures and they were born in the early 1940s, prior to the start of the Boomer Generation, 1946. They are late-wave Silents, not first-wave Silents, like my parents or first-wave Boomers like your parents, born in 1947. It is a bit of splitting hairs, but important to note just the same. Many Gen-Xers — about half – had Silent Generation parents.
Ah, ok. I did not take into account that some people do have children later in life and not always in their 20’s. I enjoyed the pictures. Thank you!
The 6th picture down, that you said is a 1970’s car seat, is incorrect. That is not a car seat, but the 70’s equivalent to a bouncy seat. It was designed to be used as a table top seat, or on the floor. But not a car seat.
Thank you for letting me know!
Hi
I was born in 1967 to “Silent Generation” parents, as were many of my peers. You are absolutely right about the time frame.
My Mum used that bouncy seat for us and it also acted as a car seat. A lap belt strapped across it secured it in the car. Even though my Dad’s Buick had safety belts (that were detachable), it was my parents arms that flew out every time to hold us back during a quick stop!
Great memory about the quick stop, Andrea! Thank you for stopping by. I feel a connection to everyone born in 1967 to Silent Generation parents. Without even knowing you, I know we have things in common. Coming into the world at the same time to parents who came into the world at the same time. I’m sure we heard the same stories growing up. Have a great day, and do stop by again sometime!
Do you know I still do that..with the arm flying out
That’s so funny, Leah!
Yeah!! I’m still here!!
It’s a miracle I survived.
Me, too! LOL!!!