The Baby Cage.

I can scarcely believe it, but baby cages were a completely normal thing less than 100 years ago. From the Daily Mail:

They were designed in a more innocent age and with the best of intentions.

 

But it’s difficult to see these baby cages getting past the eye of officious council chiefs today. And it’s perhaps for the best.

These incredible pictures taken in the 1930s show babies suspended high up in flats from their parents’ window.

 

Sitting in open mesh cages, the youngsters were completely exposed to the elements outside.

 

Incredibly, the then East Poplar borough council in London proposed to fix the cages to the outside of some of their buildings so that babies could benefit from fresh air and sunshine.

 

The cages were also distributed to members of the Chelsea Baby Club who lived in high buildings and had no gardens.

The idea behind the cages was patented in America in 1922 as a means to help parents living in cities who didn’t have much space.

 

The benefits were said to be fresh air for the child, room to play with toys and another place for children to sleep.

The patent was filed in 1922 by Emma Read, from Washington, and was granted the following year.

 

Wow.