Sometimes I catch myself wondering what it would’ve been like to have a baby in the 1950s. No apps, no internet deep-dives, no parenting influencers telling you what you’re doing wrong before you’ve even had your coffee. Just a simpler time—or so it seems. Let’s take a look at what having a baby in the ’50s was really like—and why some parts of it still feel appealing today.

In the 1950s, baby gear was minimal. You had a crib, a few glass bottles, cloth diapers, and maybe a rickety stroller that wouldn’t pass today’s safety tests. There were no endless product reviews or registries with 200 options.

What you didn’t have:

• Smart monitors
• Schedules built by algorithms
• A flood of parenting books and philosophies

And oddly enough, many babies grew up just fine.

Back then, you didn’t “Google it”—you called your mom, neighbor, or trusted friend. Family lived nearby, and communities were often tighter. New moms didn’t feel as isolated, and people simply showed up: to bring meals, rock the baby, or fold laundry without needing to be asked.

That kind of organic support is something many of us crave today.

Today, every parenting decision feels like a debate: Breast vs. formula, Co-sleeping vs. crib, Purees vs. baby-led weaning, Montessori vs. screen time etc.

In the 1950s, there were fewer options—and therefore, less guilt. You didn’t have 12 conflicting Instagram posts in your face while feeding your baby at 2 a.m. You just… did what worked. And you weren’t constantly being told you were doing it wrong.

Let’s not idealize it too much. The 1950s had some real drawbacks:

• Mental health was barely acknowledged. Postpartum depression was swept under the rug.
• Women had little agency—the expectation was to stay home, smile, and manage it all without complaint.
• Dads were often hands-off, expected only to “bring home the bacon.”
• Medical standards were different—from smoking in maternity wards to lack of informed consent.

So yes, things were simpler—but not necessarily more supportive in all the right ways.

I think there’s something beautiful about the slower, quieter way parenting was done in the 1950s. Less pressure. Fewer choices. More presence. But I also believe today’s moms have access to tools, communities, and knowledge that can be life-changing—when they’re used intentionally.

Maybe the sweet spot is somewhere in between: Taking the grounded simplicity of the past and blending it with the options and awareness we have today.

Do you ever feel like parenting used to be easier? Would you trade the chaos of now for the slower pace of the ’50s?