It’s no wonder breastfeeding had to literally make a comeback among American mothers in the 1960s and 70s. If this picture is indicative of the baby prep classes taught throughout the country in the 1940s, it is truly remarkable that breastfeeding ever made a resurgence in this country.
Here is a photograph from October 1943 of a Washington, DC home economics class at Woodrow Wilson High School. Notice the baby bottles!
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA-OWI Collection, [reproduction number,LC-USW3-039779-D DLC ] Photographer: Ester Bubley
© 2009 Mothering Magazine
My dad was born in 1942, and for years I remember my grandmother saying, “she spoiled that baby! (insert any baby’s name that she witnessed here) always picking it up! She needs to put it down, prop up a bottle and leave it alone!” Well, the detached mothering lessons sure worked on my grandmother!! She had a clear distain of breastfeeding for her whole life, so there were some definate judgements taught as well.