Case 18 - Health & Wellbeing

Case 18 - Health & Wellbeing

It was dangerous being a child in the past. From prehistory until the Victorian period, 30 - 50% of children did not survive to adulthood. Disease, germs and household accidents all took their toll. Parents tried to protect their children by following the medical advice and social customs of the time but sometimes this advice was more dangerous than doing nothing at all.

The story of some families’ attempts to prevent accidents and ensure good health for their children is preserved in some of the objects presented here.

Museum of Cambridge
c. 1790

Baby walkers like this one were used from as early as the fifteenth century until the nineteenth... [Read more...]

Cambridgeshire Archives
1837

Baby walkers like the one above were used to help a child learn to walk and to protect it from... [Read more...]

University of Cambridge Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology
Roman (AD 43 - 410)

During weaning, give the child ‘water or a little watery wine through artificial teats…... [Read more...]

University of Cambridge Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology
Roman (AD 43 - 410)

During weaning, give the child ‘water or a little watery wine through artificial teats…... [Read more...]

University of Cambridge Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology
Roman (AD 43 - 410)

During weaning, give the child ‘water or a little watery wine through artificial teats…... [Read more...]

Museum of Cambridge
c. 1870 - 1890

The [artificial] nipple need never be removed till replaced with a new one… and will last... [Read more...]

Museum of Cambridge
19th century

The [artificial] nipple need never be removed till replaced with a new one… and will last... [Read more...]

Museum of Cambridge
c.1830 - 1860

The [artificial] nipple need never be removed till replaced with a new one… and will last... [Read more...]

University of Cambridge Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology
Probably AD 1st century

Freeborn Roman boys were given a pendant called a bulla soon after birth, which... [Read more...]

Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery
Roman (AD 43 - 410)

In the Roman world, snakes were connected with healing. Perhaps the child who wore this silver... [Read more...]

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