14 Outrageous Parenting Tips from the Past That Would Be Illegal Today
Here's a wild look at outdated parenting advice that would land someone in serious trouble if used today.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Parenting used to be a whole different ball game—where common sense often took a backseat to questionable trends. From bizarre medical recommendations to outright dangerous discipline tactics, the “advice” from decades past can be shocking by today’s standards. These 14 parenting tips might have been mainstream then, but they’d spark outrage (and legal action) now.
1. Giving Babies Whiskey for Teething Pain
Pixabay on Pexels
A drop of whiskey on the gums was a go-to “remedy” for fussy babies in teething distress. While meant to soothe, it exposed infants to alcohol at a dangerously young age.
2. Letting Kids Ride in the Car Without Seatbelts
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For decades, kids bounced around the backseat—or even stood up in the front—without a second thought. Seatbelts weren’t mandatory, and car seats were optional, if not nonexistent.
3. Leaving Babies Unattended Outdoors for Naps
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In the early 20th century, it was trendy to let babies nap outside—even in winter—to “build immunity.” Parents parked prams on balconies or in yards, sometimes for hours.
4. Smoking Around Children—Even While Pregnant
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Cigarettes were everywhere, even in nurseries. Moms were told smoking kept their weight down during pregnancy, and doctors didn’t bat an eye.
5. Using Lard or Kerosene to Treat Head Lice
mike warren on Flickr
Before modern shampoos, people turned to home remedies—including smearing grease or flammable substances on children’s scalps. These methods were toxic and highly dangerous. Risking chemical burns or worse, parents often had no better options.
6. Threatening “Orphanages” as Discipline
Frederick Noronha on Wikimedia Commons
It wasn’t uncommon to hear parents say, “If you don’t behave, I’ll send you away.” This emotional manipulation was used to instill fear and compliance.
7. Letting Toddlers Play with Sharp Tools or Knives
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Kids on farms or households were often handed real tools to “learn responsibility.” Toddlers chopping vegetables or “helping” with repairs wasn’t rare.
8. Using Corporal Punishment in Schools (and at Home)
Joel Bradshaw on Wikimedia Commons
Teachers and parents freely used paddles, belts, or rulers as discipline tools. Physical punishment was not only legal but encouraged in many areas.
9. Giving Coca-Cola or Sweet Tea in Baby Bottles
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Some parents filled bottles with sugary drinks to quiet a crying infant or as a treat. Caffeine and sugar didn’t raise many eyebrows back then.
10. Encouraging Kids to Hitchhike Alone
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Before “stranger danger” entered public consciousness, kids stuck out their thumbs to get home or visit friends. Parents saw it as a rite of passage, not a red flag.
11. Ignoring Emotional Needs—“Big Boys Don’t Cry”
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Tough love reigned supreme. Emotional expression was discouraged, especially for boys, who were told to “man up” and suppress feelings.
12. Feeding Infants Solid Food at a Few Weeks Old
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It was once common to spoon-feed mashed potatoes or cereals to babies barely a month old. Doctors advised starting solids early to “bulk them up.”
13. Letting Kids Ride in Pickup Beds
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It was a fun summer memory for some and a nightmare scenario for others. Kids piled into open truck beds for joyrides—no seatbelts, no protection—just wind in their hair.
14. Using Sleep Medication or “Soothing Syrups” on Babies
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Parents once relied on concoctions containing morphine, alcohol, or barbiturates to help babies sleep. Sold over the counter as “soothing syrups,” these potions knocked kids out for hours.