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.
