Episode 34: The Baby Cage

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In this episode, we are joined by friend of the show Rachel Kuberry, who tells us all about the history of the baby cage and the historical importance of airing out babies. Why did these devices ever seem like a good idea and why did they fall out of fashion? And what are we still doing today that is essentially the modern equivalent?

Episode 28: Spit

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Spit has seemingly endless examples of cultural significance throughout the world. It’s with that in mind, that Jen travelled down the spit in parenting rabbit hole. At times shocking and gross (especially in our Pandemic World), these traditions also have a primal, earthy beauty to them. Jen makes the case for the poetry and intimacy of spit.

Episode 26: The Baby Zoo

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In order to celebrate the end of this truly miserable year, we are sharing a story that is similarly upsetting. Jen presents her findings on the Dionne Quintuplets and the absolutely unbelievable series of events that befell them. From a wicker basket in a farm house in Ontario, to a clinical facility with a tourist viewing platform, all the way to Hollywood, these girls never caught a break. We’re sharing their story here because there is a lot to be learned from their lives especially in our modern world and the age of Kidfluencers. Children should not be commodified and few stories illustrate that as well as the Dionne Quintuplets.

Episode 21: Pacifiers

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Every new mom can attest to the fact that babies, especially newborns, love to suck. Their fingers, their toes, a bottle, a breast, and for some babies even a pacifier. So today, we explore the history of that infamous object. Who invented the pacifier, when did it become popular, and why is it such a controversial soothing technique even to this day? This was a topic that led us down quite the rabbit hole. A very…ahem…”interesting” rabbit hole, to say the least! *Parents, we suggest listening to this episode when the kiddos aren’t around, because there is some content some may consider to be adult. Use your discretion.

Episode 18: Mailing Babies

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2020 might not be the craziest year for the US Postal Service after all. Back in 1913, parcel post was introduced and in no time at all, people had started shipping all kinds of unexpected packages, including their children! Tune in to learn all about the children who traveled anywhere from 5 to over 700 miles across America through the USPS.

Episode 17: Mom Shaming

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We’ve all heard the term “mom shaming,” but what does it really mean? And when did it begin? In reality, we are all probably guilty of playing a part in the mom shame game, often unintentionally. Let’s dive into the origins of this troubling trend, and how things like the Internet and parenting forums play an important role in perpetuating mom shaming.

Episode 14: The Fabulous Patricia Carter

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Come join us for a side-splitting episode that looks at the life and times of Mrs. Patricia Carter, the original Free Birthing guru! Pat is a riot and we definitely wish she was still around for us to go out for drinks with. Although neither of us would hire her to be a doula or midwife for any future deliveries.

Episode 13: Baby Names

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This week, we have our very first guest host, Whitney from the How She Moms podcast! Whitney joins us to share her fascinating research into the history of baby names in America. She described some of the naming trends over time and some of the most bizarre names given to children here in the US.

Episode 12: The Baby Thief

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Ok everybody – buckle up. On this week’s episode we explore something a little sinister: babies being stolen from their mothers and sold on the black market by a woman you’ve probably never heard of. Until now. Cue today’s topic, the woman of the hour: Georgia Tann. Who is this woman, and how did she get away with this horrible scheme for so long? You’ll have to tune in to find out.

Episode 11: The Little Albert Experiment

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John B. Watson and his infamous Little Albert Experiment may be little more than a footnote in the history of parenting and childrearing. But they are a fascinating and important one. Jen presents her research into the psychologist she most loves to hate and the occasional silver linings of his very disturbing legacy.

Episode 10: Parenting Advice

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Have you ever tried to find the perfect book to help you cope with the shear terror that is parenthood. Yeah, we’ve been there, too! In this episode, Diane takes us through the many different eras and styles of parenting advice books. We’re pretty sure there isn’t a perfect book out there with advice to suit any child, but we can say with some certainty that we found a few candidates for the worst parenting advice books!

Bonus Episode: OPDW Live – Fairy Tale Cannibals

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It’s our first ever live episode! Listen in as Jen and Diane host this special bonus episode on Instagram Live. The ladies go over some of the most famous and beloved fairytales from their childhood, specifically the ones that feature cannibalism. Yum!

Episode 9: Nickelodeon

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Ah, the sweet memories of running home after school to catch your favorite cartoon on what may be the most iconic children’s television network of all time: Nickelodeon. In today’s episode, Jen & Diane dig into the history of non-educational children’s entertainment to find out where it all started. Come relive your childhood (or your children’s childhoods) on an exciting adventure exploring all things Nickelodeon, from Rugrats to All That to Doug!

Episode 8: Pox Parties

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This week, we’re taking a look at a slightly more recent practice: the pox party! There are plenty of people alive today who have been to one. Jen gives some history on pox parties, their modern day equivalents, and some unintended “pox parties” happening during the coronavirus pandemic!

Episode 7: The Incubator Babies of Coney Island

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It’s hard to imagine there was ever a time in our history when we lacked the tiny incubators designed for premature babies that we see in the NICU nowadays. We have a man named Dr. Couney and his turn of the century amusement park side-shows to thank for these life-saving machines. But who was Dr. Couney, and was he actually even a doctor? In this episode we explore the man behind the modern-day NICU staple, and how he saved thousands of babies from certain death.

Episode 6: Knucklebones

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Jen set out to provide a brief history into children’s toys, but quick discovered what a foolish plan that had been. The wealth of information on any one toy is astounding! So Jen dug into one of the most foundational children’s games – knucklebones. Listen in to learn about this game and where the name comes from. And in our listener story segment, “Your Parents Did What?!” we share some sweet, fascinating, and creepy tales from some of our favorite listeners.

Episode 5: The Tooth Fairy

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Of all the mythical figures we know and love, the Tooth Fairy seems to have the most elusive backstory. Where did she come from, and why the heck do we put our teeth under our pillows for her to find?! Thankfully, a woman named Rosemary Wells made it her mission to track the source of all things related to the Tooth Fairy. And surprisingly, it all started with a French mouse. Intrigued?? We were, too.