Mom and Her Gear: 1954 and Today

In honor of "Early Show" co-anchor Julie Chen's first appearance since the birth or her baby, Charlie, six weeks ago, our "Time Machine" series featured products for mothers from 1954.

What was motherhood like in the 1950s?

Blast to the Past, 1954, with "The Early Show"
Photos: Remember 1954
Pieces of 1954's Past
Recalling 1954
Miss America Revisited
The Platters Still Serving Up Hits

"Early Show" substitute co-anchor Debbye Turner Bell said it's doubtful if motherhood in the fifties was any less difficult than today, but there were no shortage of happy, wholesome television moms who made it look easy -- programs such as "The Donna Reed Show."

Then, as now, Mom was the prime target for advertisers who wanted to get their products into the home, from baby bottles to strollers.

However, over the years, families have changed, and so have mothers, as depicted in television shows such as "Murphy Brown," the satire "Married with Children," and "Friends."

Products have also changed. "The Early Show" featured products from 1954 and today on the broadcast, including strollers, play pens, high chairs, rocking horses and diapers.

The following product descriptions were prepared using information provided by the manufacturers.

STROLLERS

1954: A "baby carriage" (in North American English) "perambulator" or "pram" (in British English) or "carrycot" is generally used for newborn babies and have the infant lying down facing the pusher.

2009: A "stroller" has the child (generally up to three years old) in a sitting position, usually facing forwards, instead of facing the pusher.

Graco MetroLite Stroller:
This lightweight stroller with full-on features is made for life on the move. The strong lightweight aluminum frame has height adjustable handles that lets Mom and Dad push comfortably, "never flat" high performance tires, and folds with one hand so it won't slow you down. Other features include a multiple position seat recline to keep baby comfy, a sun blocking canopy and a parent storage tray with two cup holders.

History: As the 1920s began, modern baby carriages were available to all families. They were also becoming safer, as new features like larger wheels, brakes, deeper prams, and lower, sturdier frames began to appear. Since the 1980s, the stroller industry has developed with new features, safer construction and more accessories.

PLAY PENS

1954: Playpens were traditionally made of wood, and consisted of a flat rectangular platform, usually square in shape, with vertical bars on four sides, so that the child can see out.

2009: Modern playpens are also called playards. A playard should be foldable and lightweight, with attached wheels. Many playards come with storage bags and shoulder straps so that they are easy to carry. It typically consists of a basic metal and plastic support system and mesh, soft plastic or nylon sides. An optional removable bassinet can be attached at the top for the child to sleep in or be changed in until four months of age. Some models have attachments such as mobiles, side pockets for supplies and toys, and clip-on adapter for CD player for the child to listen to music while sleeping or playing. Portable playpens/playards come in different sizes, but most are expected to be collapsed into a small roll for easy storage and transport.

History & What to Look for Today:
The earliest use of the word playpen cited in the Oxford English Dictionary is 1902. More recently they have also been called "playards."

Remembering 1990
Reflections on 1979
Blasting Back in Time to 1983

Safety:
Sturdiness -- Give the playard a shake to get a sense for how strong it is. It should feel well-constructed. Listen for loose parts and strange rattling noises.
Mesh Sides -- The sides should be made of tightly woven mesh to avoid small fingers or clothing getting caught.
Wheel locks -- Prevent the playards from shifting when the baby begins to become more active and energetic.
All-Around Safety -- Make sure there aren't any sharp edges or corners with wires poking through the cloth.

HIGH CHAIRS

1954: Wooden high chairs were the most popular style of that year, we have one in the studio that we will show.

2009: Graco Blossom 4-in-1 Eating System

This four-in-one modular seating system is designed to adjust to your growing child's seating needs and to accommodate more than one child in your growing family. It transforms seamlessly from an extremely functional highchair to an infant feeding booster, a toddler booster, and finally a youth chair. It has a six-position height adjustment to assure a front row seat for baby at any family table. Additionally, it has a three-position removable footrest and a three-position one-hand reclining seat to ensure your growing child stays comfortable at mealtime.

ROCKING HORSES

1954: Wooden rocking horses were extremely popular with toddlers during this period.

2009: Rocking horses have since evolved from 1954. While some are still mounted on solid wood, the horse is no longer wooden but plush like a stuffed animal. Toy companies have also substituted the horse for other animals such as a bear.

History: Predecessors of the rocking horse may be seen in the rocking cradle, the tilting seats used during the Middle Ages for jousting practice as well as the wheeled hobby horse. The toy in its current form did not appear before the 17th century. From the 1800s onward, rocking horses became more commonly considered as child's toy. Mostly built by hobby woodcrafters, and ranging from relatively crude to finely ornamented and the toys of future kings, it was not until the late 19th century that the production became industrialized.

DIAPERS

1954: Cloth diapers -- These diapers traditionally consisted of a folded square or rectangle of cloth, fastened with safety pins.

2009: Disposable Diapers -- Since their introduction several decades ago, product innovations include the use of super-absorbent polymers, re-sealable tapes, and elasticized waist bands. They are now much thinner and much more absorbent. The product range has more recently been extended into children's toilet training phase with the introduction of training pants and pant diapers.

History: In 1947, a man named George M. Schroder invented the first diaper with disposable non-woven fabric. Disposable diapers were introduced to the U.S. in 1949 by Johnson & Johnson. During the 1950s, companies such as Kendall, Parke-Davis, Playtex, and Molnlycke entered the disposable diaper market. In 1956, Procter & Gamble began researching disposable diapers. Victor Mills, along with his project group including William Dehaas,, both men who worked for the company, invented what would be trademarked "Pampers" -- the diapers themselves weren't introduced until 1961.