1
00:00:04,613 --> 00:00:08,224
Remember back when
saying a dirty word got you a
2
00:00:08,225 --> 00:00:09,878
good, clean punishment?
3
00:00:11,141 --> 00:00:12,707
I have never seen
him move as quickly
4
00:00:12,708 --> 00:00:16,624
as he did than when
he shoved a full bar
5
00:00:16,625 --> 00:00:19,105
of Irish Spring into my mouth,
6
00:00:19,106 --> 00:00:22,064
like putting a VHS
tape into the machine.
7
00:00:22,065 --> 00:00:23,022
It was just.
8
00:00:24,459 --> 00:00:28,331
Or when drinking while
pregnant was your doctor's idea?
9
00:00:28,332 --> 00:00:31,291
Doctors say that pregnant
women should have a half pint
10
00:00:31,292 --> 00:00:32,857
of beer every night.
11
00:00:32,858 --> 00:00:35,164
It got to the point where
they would actually be handing
12
00:00:35,165 --> 00:00:37,775
out these beers to
women in the hospital.
13
00:00:39,256 --> 00:00:41,518
Or when a kid's balanced
breakfast required
14
00:00:41,519 --> 00:00:44,347
heaping piles of sugar?
15
00:00:44,348 --> 00:00:46,567
Every day started with
a bowl of fruit loops
16
00:00:46,568 --> 00:00:48,743
and eight scoops of sugar.
17
00:00:48,744 --> 00:00:50,745
And my mom would be like,
"How's your breakfast?"
18
00:00:50,746 --> 00:00:53,487
And I'd be like, "Everything's
great over here, mom."
19
00:00:53,488 --> 00:00:56,533
It was the golden
age for being a kid.
20
00:00:56,534 --> 00:00:58,361
Just sugar.
21
00:00:58,362 --> 00:01:00,059
Enjoy.
22
00:01:00,060 --> 00:01:04,889
These are the things we
used to do for fun, for money,
23
00:01:04,890 --> 00:01:09,329
or maybe out of boredom
that we'll never see again.
24
00:01:09,330 --> 00:01:10,895
Were they dangerous?
25
00:01:10,896 --> 00:01:12,158
Certainly.
26
00:01:12,159 --> 00:01:13,159
Deadly?
27
00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:14,247
Occasionally.
28
00:01:14,248 --> 00:01:16,772
But boy, wasn't it exciting?
29
00:01:27,261 --> 00:01:30,045
Every generation swears
their parenting style
30
00:01:30,046 --> 00:01:32,003
is the right one.
31
00:01:32,004 --> 00:01:35,703
Today, that means buying
sunscreen with an SPF higher
32
00:01:35,704 --> 00:01:37,313
than your credit score.
33
00:01:37,314 --> 00:01:41,056
But 100 years ago, parents were
given very different advice
34
00:01:41,057 --> 00:01:44,103
about kids and the sun.
35
00:01:44,104 --> 00:01:45,452
At the beginning
of the 20th century,
36
00:01:45,453 --> 00:01:48,150
many children develop
something called Rickets,
37
00:01:48,151 --> 00:01:50,283
which is a bone disease
that stunts growth.
38
00:01:50,284 --> 00:01:53,199
It leaves them with
bent, wobbly legs.
39
00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:55,288
Scientists and
doctors don't quite know
40
00:01:55,289 --> 00:01:56,898
what's causing Rickets,
41
00:01:56,899 --> 00:01:59,118
but kids in cities are
getting Rickets way more
42
00:01:59,119 --> 00:02:00,684
than kids in the country.
43
00:02:00,685 --> 00:02:03,339
Plus, once a kid gets Rickets,
44
00:02:03,340 --> 00:02:04,732
if they spend a lot
of time outside,
45
00:02:04,733 --> 00:02:06,647
they get better a lot faster.
46
00:02:06,648 --> 00:02:09,563
They believe it's
because these kids
47
00:02:09,564 --> 00:02:12,479
that are in cities aren't
getting the same amount
48
00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:13,741
of sunlight exposure.
49
00:02:13,742 --> 00:02:16,526
So maybe sun is
the big difference.
50
00:02:16,527 --> 00:02:19,661
Physicians come up
with a cheap and easy solution.
51
00:02:20,488 --> 00:02:23,707
Put your baby in the sun.
52
00:02:23,708 --> 00:02:27,668
Today, parents
travel with everything to block
53
00:02:27,669 --> 00:02:31,193
the sun, but in the '20's, they
were just like, no.
54
00:02:31,194 --> 00:02:34,022
No, just get 'em out there
right out in the sun.
55
00:02:34,023 --> 00:02:36,938
Everybody's so worried
about the lack of sun for babies
56
00:02:36,939 --> 00:02:39,941
that the US government
dedicates an entire chapter
57
00:02:39,942 --> 00:02:42,900
to sunbathing your baby
in its official guide
58
00:02:42,901 --> 00:02:43,902
to infant care.
59
00:02:45,861 --> 00:02:48,776
Naked as the day
they were born,
60
00:02:48,777 --> 00:02:52,215
just out there soaking
up rays on everything.
61
00:02:53,434 --> 00:02:56,176
I can smell this kid's
skin burning from here.
62
00:02:57,568 --> 00:02:59,352
This manual is sent
out to new parents,
63
00:02:59,353 --> 00:03:00,527
and it's written by some
64
00:03:00,528 --> 00:03:02,006
of the government's
best physicians.
65
00:03:02,007 --> 00:03:04,444
It gives you a list of do's
and don'ts for sun care,
66
00:03:04,445 --> 00:03:07,316
and among the do's is to
start putting your baby
67
00:03:07,317 --> 00:03:11,233
out in the sun at the
age of just three weeks.
68
00:03:11,234 --> 00:03:13,975
Doctors even
suggest putting your baby
69
00:03:13,976 --> 00:03:17,283
outside midday when
the sun is hottest.
70
00:03:17,284 --> 00:03:19,067
Just be sure to
flip them halfway
71
00:03:19,068 --> 00:03:22,157
through their tanning
session, like a hamburger.
72
00:03:22,158 --> 00:03:25,421
Parents are told,
you'll know that it's working
73
00:03:25,422 --> 00:03:29,730
if your child
turns slightly red.
74
00:03:29,731 --> 00:03:32,820
Or in other words, if they're
still just a little pink,
75
00:03:32,821 --> 00:03:34,953
leave them in the
oven a little longer.
76
00:03:36,390 --> 00:03:39,000
Of course, sun
baths only work when it's sunny
77
00:03:39,001 --> 00:03:41,089
and your child is outside.
78
00:03:41,090 --> 00:03:43,396
So inventors have an idea.
79
00:03:43,397 --> 00:03:46,965
Why not bring the sun indoors?
80
00:03:48,271 --> 00:03:50,794
A few years earlier, German
researchers had invented
81
00:03:50,795 --> 00:03:53,710
a new kind of lamp
that runs electricity
82
00:03:53,711 --> 00:03:55,582
through mercury vapors.
83
00:03:55,583 --> 00:03:58,628
It's brighter and more efficient
than traditional bulbs,
84
00:03:58,629 --> 00:04:00,108
but there's a catch.
85
00:04:00,109 --> 00:04:03,633
It gives off a huge amount
of ultraviolet radiation.
86
00:04:03,634 --> 00:04:05,548
That's when somebody
realizes, maybe instead
87
00:04:05,549 --> 00:04:07,681
of selling these as
lamps, we could sell them
88
00:04:07,682 --> 00:04:09,509
as artificial sunshine.
89
00:04:09,510 --> 00:04:12,903
And just like that, artificial
sun tanning was born.
90
00:04:14,515 --> 00:04:16,733
Doctors start
prescribing UV lamps for all
91
00:04:16,734 --> 00:04:18,431
sorts of stuff, acne, sunlamp.
92
00:04:18,432 --> 00:04:20,520
I've got a bad back, sun lamp.
93
00:04:20,521 --> 00:04:22,913
UV light feels like the future.
94
00:04:22,914 --> 00:04:25,699
It's something that's
really gonna help people.
95
00:04:25,700 --> 00:04:27,309
Parents routinely
send their kids
96
00:04:27,310 --> 00:04:29,833
for treatment at these
helio therapy wards.
97
00:04:29,834 --> 00:04:33,489
Helios is just Greek
for sun, so sun therapy.
98
00:04:33,490 --> 00:04:35,839
They basically just
load the kids into this room,
99
00:04:35,840 --> 00:04:39,495
where they turn on this
incredibly bright UV light,
100
00:04:39,496 --> 00:04:41,149
put some black goggles
over their eyes
101
00:04:41,150 --> 00:04:43,934
so it doesn't blind them, and
you just let your kids fry
102
00:04:43,935 --> 00:04:45,154
like french fries.
103
00:04:46,242 --> 00:04:48,200
You know, for their health.
104
00:04:49,463 --> 00:04:50,985
It looks like an illegal
science experiment.
105
00:04:50,986 --> 00:04:52,726
It looks like something
that would not be happening
106
00:04:52,727 --> 00:04:54,771
in the United States of America.
107
00:04:54,772 --> 00:04:57,557
And you've got these
parents who genuinely believe
108
00:04:57,558 --> 00:05:00,473
that they're giving
their kids the best care
109
00:05:00,474 --> 00:05:02,170
they possibly can.
110
00:05:02,171 --> 00:05:03,563
Doctors even found
111
00:05:03,564 --> 00:05:06,348
a non-therapeutic
use for these lamps.
112
00:05:06,349 --> 00:05:09,699
At a hospital in Brooklyn,
they started taking newborns,
113
00:05:09,700 --> 00:05:11,875
and they would put
their name on them,
114
00:05:11,876 --> 00:05:16,619
and then use the UV light to
basically brand their name
115
00:05:16,620 --> 00:05:17,968
on the baby.
116
00:05:17,969 --> 00:05:21,494
In their defense, it
seemed like a great way
117
00:05:21,495 --> 00:05:24,193
to make sure there
wasn't these baby mixups.
118
00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:29,153
Before long, UV
therapy moves from the hospital
119
00:05:29,154 --> 00:05:31,025
to the home.
120
00:05:31,026 --> 00:05:34,768
By the 1930's, home UV
lamps are being marketed to
121
00:05:34,769 --> 00:05:36,857
parents as health
essentials for kids.
122
00:05:36,858 --> 00:05:41,122
Brush your teeth, comb your
hair, sit under your lamp.
123
00:05:41,123 --> 00:05:42,558
When an advertisement brags
124
00:05:42,559 --> 00:05:46,301
that a model can turn the
skin red in one minute,
125
00:05:46,302 --> 00:05:48,390
this is about one 12th
the time it would take you
126
00:05:48,391 --> 00:05:52,220
if you were sitting on the
beach in the middle of summer.
127
00:05:52,221 --> 00:05:54,004
Another one claims
to use a filter
128
00:05:54,005 --> 00:05:57,138
that removes the harmful
rays so that your kid can sit
129
00:05:57,139 --> 00:05:59,923
or sleep under it for
as long as they want.
130
00:05:59,924 --> 00:06:02,622
While these
lamps have a few bright spots,
131
00:06:02,623 --> 00:06:05,581
it turns out these modern
miracles can do more harm
132
00:06:05,582 --> 00:06:07,061
than good.
133
00:06:07,062 --> 00:06:10,717
These lamps are
way too powerful.
134
00:06:10,718 --> 00:06:13,807
10 seconds of over-exposure
could cause a serious burn
135
00:06:13,808 --> 00:06:16,592
with blistering and
permanent skin damage,
136
00:06:16,593 --> 00:06:19,421
not to mention upping the
odds of getting skin cancer
137
00:06:19,422 --> 00:06:20,988
in the long term.
138
00:06:20,989 --> 00:06:23,382
The bulbs themselves
are also a disaster waiting
139
00:06:23,383 --> 00:06:24,644
to happen.
140
00:06:24,645 --> 00:06:27,516
They burn incredibly
hot, up to 1300 degrees,
141
00:06:27,517 --> 00:06:30,432
and they contain
pressurized mercury vapor.
142
00:06:30,433 --> 00:06:34,044
If one overheats, it can
shatter, sending glass fragments
143
00:06:34,045 --> 00:06:36,395
and mercury flying
all over the room.
144
00:06:37,484 --> 00:06:40,138
Not ideal from a
safety perspective.
145
00:06:41,270 --> 00:06:43,184
Eventually, people
start to figure out
146
00:06:43,185 --> 00:06:45,578
it's not the sun
itself that is curing
147
00:06:45,579 --> 00:06:48,102
or preventing Rickets, it's
the vitamin D that is derived
148
00:06:48,103 --> 00:06:50,713
from being in the sun,
and so they come up
149
00:06:50,714 --> 00:06:52,672
with a much simpler solution.
150
00:06:52,673 --> 00:06:55,022
They just start fortifying
food with vitamin D.
151
00:06:55,023 --> 00:06:58,329
The strategy is so
effective that by 1945,
152
00:06:58,330 --> 00:07:01,855
Rickets is essentially
eliminated in the United States.
153
00:07:01,856 --> 00:07:03,291
Rickets wasn't
the only disease
154
00:07:03,292 --> 00:07:05,859
that kept parents up at night.
155
00:07:05,860 --> 00:07:09,558
In the fight against
tuberculosis in the early 1900s,
156
00:07:09,559 --> 00:07:13,170
some parents literally
went out on a limb.
157
00:07:13,171 --> 00:07:16,652
In tenements, in the earliest
part of the 20th century,
158
00:07:16,653 --> 00:07:19,133
people are living on
top of other people,
159
00:07:19,134 --> 00:07:23,790
and you have a
perfect environment
160
00:07:23,791 --> 00:07:28,796
for a deadly infection like
TB to spread and kill people.
161
00:07:30,362 --> 00:07:32,538
Children are particularly
susceptible to tuberculosis,
162
00:07:32,539 --> 00:07:35,541
and so doctors begin to
advocate, get fresh air
163
00:07:35,542 --> 00:07:37,673
into these little lungs
as much as possible.
164
00:07:37,674 --> 00:07:40,981
They say go in your
yard, or go on the porch,
165
00:07:40,982 --> 00:07:43,462
but if you live on
the fourth floor
166
00:07:43,463 --> 00:07:48,379
of a crowded city apartment or
tenement, that doesn't exist.
167
00:07:48,380 --> 00:07:51,426
So inventors come
up with a creative solution
168
00:07:51,427 --> 00:07:55,909
that gives kids fresh
air at high altitudes.
169
00:07:55,910 --> 00:08:00,871
You can turn your window into
a balcony with a baby cage.
170
00:08:02,307 --> 00:08:04,700
A baby cage.
171
00:08:04,701 --> 00:08:08,704
It's essentially this
wire mesh cube that sits
172
00:08:08,705 --> 00:08:11,881
outside your window,
hangs over the street,
173
00:08:11,882 --> 00:08:14,884
and the idea is, you throw your
baby in there with a blanket
174
00:08:14,885 --> 00:08:18,366
and some toys, and you say,
hey, enjoy getting fresh air
175
00:08:18,367 --> 00:08:20,237
for the next hour or two.
176
00:08:20,238 --> 00:08:22,413
In the 1910s '20s,
177
00:08:22,414 --> 00:08:25,808
these health window
cribs are really popular.
178
00:08:25,809 --> 00:08:28,943
They're considered the
cutting edge of child safety.
179
00:08:30,161 --> 00:08:33,686
I have a kid in New
York City,
180
00:08:33,687 --> 00:08:36,079
and there are so
many protections
181
00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:40,431
so that the child does not
come anywhere near falling
182
00:08:40,432 --> 00:08:41,911
outside of a window.
183
00:08:41,912 --> 00:08:44,479
The idea that at the time
they would just be like,
184
00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:48,484
throw your kid on this
makeshift chicken coop,
185
00:08:49,311 --> 00:08:51,617
which is crazy.
186
00:08:51,618 --> 00:08:53,793
Surely there
must have been some rules
187
00:08:53,794 --> 00:08:56,579
and regulations
about this, right?
188
00:08:58,276 --> 00:08:59,668
Today, installing
anything,
189
00:08:59,669 --> 00:09:02,584
even like a simple air
conditioner, requires all sorts
190
00:09:02,585 --> 00:09:04,978
of special equipment,
regulations,
191
00:09:04,979 --> 00:09:06,719
brackets, weight limits.
192
00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,460
100 years ago, completely
different story.
193
00:09:09,461 --> 00:09:11,638
There was really kind
of no regulations.
194
00:09:12,943 --> 00:09:14,378
So do
you spring for the top
195
00:09:14,379 --> 00:09:16,946
of the line baby cage model?
196
00:09:16,947 --> 00:09:20,036
Or go a different,
cheaper direction?
197
00:09:20,037 --> 00:09:22,430
If you bought a
pre-made baby cage,
198
00:09:22,431 --> 00:09:27,567
it would be the modern
equivalent of $600.
199
00:09:27,915 --> 00:09:31,178
People who live in tenements
can't possibly afford that,
200
00:09:31,179 --> 00:09:34,094
and they need the
baby cages the most.
201
00:09:34,095 --> 00:09:38,446
So they end up going
DIY, and they find a way
202
00:09:38,447 --> 00:09:41,231
to make their own baby cages.
203
00:09:41,232 --> 00:09:44,583
Crafting their own
baby cage with stuff they picked
204
00:09:44,584 --> 00:09:45,758
up at the hardware store.
205
00:09:45,759 --> 00:09:50,632
This is DIY
parenting 1915 style.
206
00:09:50,633 --> 00:09:53,374
A homemade cage
suspended dozens of feet
207
00:09:53,375 --> 00:09:57,508
in the air, held a loft
by only a few screws.
208
00:09:57,509 --> 00:09:58,989
What could go wrong?
209
00:10:01,165 --> 00:10:04,690
If that toddler starts
playing and rolling around,
210
00:10:04,691 --> 00:10:07,257
well, that's putting more
stress and more strain,
211
00:10:07,258 --> 00:10:08,998
not on the cage itself,
212
00:10:08,999 --> 00:10:10,652
but on the things
that are holding it
213
00:10:10,653 --> 00:10:12,393
to the side of the building.
214
00:10:12,394 --> 00:10:17,224
So that window frame
breaks, that wood gives way,
215
00:10:17,225 --> 00:10:20,531
that wire warps or
bends, a screw pops,
216
00:10:20,532 --> 00:10:24,536
and down comes baby,
baby cage and all.
217
00:10:26,277 --> 00:10:28,583
Believe it or not,
baby cages stick around
218
00:10:28,584 --> 00:10:32,065
until the 1950s, and the
reason that they go away is not
219
00:10:32,066 --> 00:10:34,633
because of safety concerns
about the cages themselves,
220
00:10:34,634 --> 00:10:36,678
but because the TB
vaccine shows up,
221
00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:39,116
so people have another
way to protect their kids.
222
00:10:40,509 --> 00:10:43,119
Today, we still want
our kids to get fresh air,
223
00:10:43,120 --> 00:10:45,905
but it's mostly to get
them off the screens.
224
00:10:45,906 --> 00:10:48,648
And we also prefer to
keep them at ground level.
225
00:10:52,782 --> 00:10:54,870
Today, car seats are a
billion dollar industry,
226
00:10:54,871 --> 00:10:58,047
and they're required until
your kids are almost old enough
227
00:10:58,048 --> 00:10:59,353
to drive.
228
00:10:59,354 --> 00:11:01,790
But back in the day,
we weren't concerned
229
00:11:01,791 --> 00:11:03,444
about keeping kids safe.
230
00:11:03,445 --> 00:11:06,577
We wanted to keep
them out of our hair.
231
00:11:06,578 --> 00:11:07,883
As a child, driving in the car
232
00:11:07,884 --> 00:11:09,363
with your parents on a
road trip is something
233
00:11:09,364 --> 00:11:10,886
that every family experiences,
234
00:11:10,887 --> 00:11:14,194
and in the 1930s, there
are big questions about
235
00:11:14,195 --> 00:11:16,196
what do you do with
the kids in the car?
236
00:11:16,197 --> 00:11:17,676
There's no safety
standards yet.
237
00:11:17,677 --> 00:11:21,375
So the basic seatbelt
was just a mom's arm.
238
00:11:21,376 --> 00:11:22,942
Just, okay, hold on.
239
00:11:22,943 --> 00:11:24,160
We're slowing down.
240
00:11:25,728 --> 00:11:26,685
You wanted your kids
where you could see them,
241
00:11:26,686 --> 00:11:28,251
where you could keep them safe.
242
00:11:28,252 --> 00:11:31,907
For families with babies,
the answer was simple.
243
00:11:31,908 --> 00:11:34,954
You're upfront on mom's lap,
or wedged between mom and dad
244
00:11:34,955 --> 00:11:35,825
on the bench seat.
245
00:11:36,957 --> 00:11:38,479
Toddlers though are
a little bit tricky,
246
00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:40,829
because they're in
that space and time
247
00:11:40,830 --> 00:11:42,744
where they just wanna
to explore constantly.
248
00:11:42,745 --> 00:11:45,573
They're gonna get into
something all the time.
249
00:11:45,574 --> 00:11:49,577
For a toddler, a car
is like a jungle gym on wheels,
250
00:11:49,578 --> 00:11:51,579
so they're gonna be
grabbing the steering wheel,
251
00:11:51,580 --> 00:11:53,537
probably grabbing that
cigarette lighter,
252
00:11:53,538 --> 00:11:58,325
just generally wreaking havoc
in a very high risk space.
253
00:11:58,326 --> 00:12:00,544
In the
1930s, a new product
254
00:12:00,545 --> 00:12:02,851
offers the ideal solution not
255
00:12:02,852 --> 00:12:04,984
to safely secure your
roaming toddlers,
256
00:12:04,985 --> 00:12:07,552
but to restrain them.
257
00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:10,903
In 1933, a company
called Bunny Bear
258
00:12:10,904 --> 00:12:14,210
introduces a child
restraint system.
259
00:12:14,211 --> 00:12:18,040
The first model is basically
a folding lawn chair
260
00:12:18,041 --> 00:12:20,434
with some straps to
hold the child into it.
261
00:12:20,435 --> 00:12:22,915
Parents love this
because for the first time,
262
00:12:22,916 --> 00:12:26,266
kids are restrained just
like the ads promised.
263
00:12:26,267 --> 00:12:28,007
Some of these little
chairs actually come
264
00:12:28,008 --> 00:12:30,574
with a little steering
wheel so the kid can pretend
265
00:12:30,575 --> 00:12:31,880
like they're driving.
266
00:12:31,881 --> 00:12:34,013
It creates almost
like a game out of it.
267
00:12:34,014 --> 00:12:35,188
It even had a little
horn in the middle
268
00:12:36,581 --> 00:12:37,930
where you could beep,
beep and honk at traffic.
269
00:12:37,931 --> 00:12:39,409
It was a company's way
of figuring out how
270
00:12:39,410 --> 00:12:42,499
to make toddlers more annoying.
271
00:12:42,500 --> 00:12:44,414
Early car
seats are a delight
272
00:12:44,415 --> 00:12:49,464
for kids and parents until you
have to make a sudden stop.
273
00:12:51,031 --> 00:12:52,422
It's not latched into the car,
274
00:12:52,423 --> 00:12:55,077
there are no seat
belts to attach it to.
275
00:12:55,078 --> 00:12:57,993
In a screeching halt, the
kid will hit something.
276
00:12:57,994 --> 00:13:00,822
What if this had been Nancy?
277
00:13:00,823 --> 00:13:02,824
God forbid, you
should stop short at some point.
278
00:13:02,825 --> 00:13:05,261
Ah, but wait, you've got
your father's right arm
279
00:13:05,262 --> 00:13:06,176
to save the day.
280
00:13:07,656 --> 00:13:10,484
By the 1940s, a new
model comes out with these
281
00:13:10,485 --> 00:13:12,486
clamps that hook
onto the seat back.
282
00:13:12,487 --> 00:13:16,142
It's basically a
small basket with two holes cut
283
00:13:16,143 --> 00:13:18,927
out for legs that's then
hooked to the seat.
284
00:13:18,928 --> 00:13:21,538
So if there's any
sort of impact like,
285
00:13:21,539 --> 00:13:23,453
that thing's just
gonna go flying.
286
00:13:23,454 --> 00:13:26,108
As time goes
by, some entrepreneurs think,
287
00:13:26,109 --> 00:13:30,373
"Hey, maybe we get rid of
the seat part all together."
288
00:13:30,374 --> 00:13:32,854
In 1961, you get
the auto strap,
289
00:13:32,855 --> 00:13:35,117
and that's almost like
a harness leash thing
290
00:13:35,118 --> 00:13:38,991
that attaches the kid to the
seat, but they're not seated.
291
00:13:38,992 --> 00:13:40,514
They can just run around.
292
00:13:40,515 --> 00:13:42,124
It's just short enough that
they can't get in the way
293
00:13:42,125 --> 00:13:43,778
of the driver.
294
00:13:43,779 --> 00:13:46,781
Imagine you have a
tether ball set up
295
00:13:46,782 --> 00:13:48,348
in the backseat.
296
00:13:48,349 --> 00:13:51,873
of your car with like four foot
of rope, and just the ball.
297
00:13:51,874 --> 00:13:53,527
So if you hit something,
298
00:13:53,528 --> 00:13:56,095
it's still gonna bounce all
over the place.
299
00:13:56,096 --> 00:13:58,533
But you'll at least be
like, oh, there's Tommy.
300
00:13:59,664 --> 00:14:01,013
Then there's the baby
hammock,
301
00:14:01,014 --> 00:14:02,492
which is exactly
what it sounds like.
302
00:14:02,493 --> 00:14:06,888
A basket with a mesh
suspended from the car ceiling
303
00:14:06,889 --> 00:14:10,500
that will gently rock with
the automobile's motion.
304
00:14:10,501 --> 00:14:13,852
It'll also violently
bang the kid back
305
00:14:13,853 --> 00:14:16,333
and forth if there
is a sudden stop.
306
00:14:17,334 --> 00:14:19,553
Finally, in 1971,
307
00:14:19,554 --> 00:14:22,556
the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration sets
308
00:14:22,557 --> 00:14:25,646
the first federal standards
for child restraints.
309
00:14:25,647 --> 00:14:29,041
Folding chairs and
ceiling hammocks are out.
310
00:14:29,042 --> 00:14:32,871
Hard plastic shells, seat
belts, anchoring car seats
311
00:14:32,872 --> 00:14:35,786
and harnesses within
car seats are in.
312
00:14:35,787 --> 00:14:37,397
In a real short
amount of time,
313
00:14:37,398 --> 00:14:41,227
we went from zero child
safety standards in a car,
314
00:14:41,228 --> 00:14:43,229
to now you gotta
replace a kid's seat
315
00:14:43,230 --> 00:14:44,970
like every three years.
316
00:14:44,971 --> 00:14:46,233
That's pretty wild.
317
00:14:47,538 --> 00:14:51,019
Just when American cars
started to strap down the kids,
318
00:14:51,020 --> 00:14:55,546
another vehicle rolled in and
said, hey, what if we didn't?
319
00:14:57,026 --> 00:14:59,854
When you picture the
ultimate 20th century
320
00:14:59,855 --> 00:15:01,377
family car,
321
00:15:01,378 --> 00:15:04,206
you probably picture a station
wagon, or maybe a minivan.
322
00:15:04,207 --> 00:15:07,427
But in the 1970s,
another type of car
323
00:15:07,428 --> 00:15:11,344
quietly becomes a favorite
with American parents.
324
00:15:11,345 --> 00:15:13,041
The pickup truck.
325
00:15:13,042 --> 00:15:16,436
From
1970 to 1978, sales
326
00:15:16,437 --> 00:15:18,612
of pickup trucks nearly double,
327
00:15:18,613 --> 00:15:22,268
and the pickup truck becomes
the hottest selling vehicle
328
00:15:22,269 --> 00:15:23,661
in America.
329
00:15:25,576 --> 00:15:28,143
The problem with the pickup
truck as a family vehicle is
330
00:15:28,144 --> 00:15:31,103
that the cab only has space
for three people in the front,
331
00:15:31,104 --> 00:15:32,365
two adults and a kid maybe.
332
00:15:32,366 --> 00:15:34,497
So what are you gonna do
if you have a big family
333
00:15:34,498 --> 00:15:35,629
with multiple kids?
334
00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:40,068
Fortunately, the pickup truck
has an entire other section
335
00:15:40,069 --> 00:15:43,420
that's even bigger than the
cab, and that is the bed.
336
00:15:44,639 --> 00:15:46,292
Technically, that
truck bed is designed
337
00:15:46,293 --> 00:15:50,644
for hauling things like lumber
and gravel, but in the 1970s,
338
00:15:50,645 --> 00:15:52,472
there are virtually
no laws whatsoever
339
00:15:52,473 --> 00:15:55,518
about putting your kids in
the truck bed and taking off
340
00:15:55,519 --> 00:15:56,911
down the highway.
341
00:15:56,912 --> 00:15:58,478
Being a kid,
riding in the back
342
00:15:58,479 --> 00:16:00,610
of the pickup truck
was a load of fun.
343
00:16:00,611 --> 00:16:02,308
Just think how fun it
is to just put your hand
344
00:16:02,309 --> 00:16:03,700
out the window
and feel the wind.
345
00:16:03,701 --> 00:16:07,008
Your whole body is
out of the cab now!
346
00:16:07,009 --> 00:16:09,968
During these times, there
are child restraint laws,
347
00:16:09,969 --> 00:16:13,841
but they only apply to seats.
348
00:16:13,842 --> 00:16:16,713
And because there's no seats
in the back of pickup trucks,
349
00:16:16,714 --> 00:16:18,454
there's a loophole.
350
00:16:18,455 --> 00:16:19,674
You can ride back there.
351
00:16:21,154 --> 00:16:23,982
Soon the truck
bed becomes the mass transit
352
00:16:23,983 --> 00:16:25,461
of country living.
353
00:16:25,462 --> 00:16:27,507
Growing up in rural
America,
354
00:16:27,508 --> 00:16:29,161
I did a lot of truck bed riding.
355
00:16:29,162 --> 00:16:31,511
Every community had a
softball and baseball team.
356
00:16:31,512 --> 00:16:33,687
So how are you gonna move
a team worth of people?
357
00:16:33,688 --> 00:16:35,254
Everybody piled up in the
back of the pickup truck.
358
00:16:35,255 --> 00:16:37,691
And you know what was really
fun when everybody was
359
00:16:37,692 --> 00:16:38,953
in the back of the pickup truck?
360
00:16:38,954 --> 00:16:40,607
Driving crazy.
361
00:16:40,608 --> 00:16:42,523
And you were just held on, woo!
362
00:16:44,003 --> 00:16:47,657
We were just left in
the back of a pickup truck
363
00:16:47,658 --> 00:16:50,660
rolling down the highway when I
was three or four years old,
364
00:16:50,661 --> 00:16:52,488
nobody supervising us.
365
00:16:52,489 --> 00:16:55,013
At this time, drunk
driving wasn't thought of
366
00:16:55,014 --> 00:16:56,492
the way it is right now.
367
00:16:56,493 --> 00:16:58,494
You know what else was
often in the back with you?
368
00:16:58,495 --> 00:16:59,974
The cooler of beer.
369
00:16:59,975 --> 00:17:03,847
So it was not unusual to
pass your dad a cold beer
370
00:17:03,848 --> 00:17:05,153
from the back.
371
00:17:05,154 --> 00:17:07,764
And many
even turn their trucks
372
00:17:07,765 --> 00:17:09,245
into bucking broncos.
373
00:17:10,333 --> 00:17:11,812
There's a thing
that people used
374
00:17:11,813 --> 00:17:14,032
to do called tailgate surfing,
where they attach a rope
375
00:17:14,033 --> 00:17:16,556
to the cab, and they stand
back there in the bed
376
00:17:16,557 --> 00:17:18,732
of the truck kind
of surfing around.
377
00:17:18,733 --> 00:17:21,648
While the person's driving,
you're being slung around,
378
00:17:21,649 --> 00:17:25,435
and you've got to hold on for
dear life, or get thrown over.
379
00:17:26,784 --> 00:17:28,350
So here's the catch.
380
00:17:28,351 --> 00:17:31,614
These vehicles were designed
for cargo, not for people.
381
00:17:31,615 --> 00:17:35,357
One sudden swerve or a
bad pothole, a hard break,
382
00:17:35,358 --> 00:17:37,752
and those passengers
are sent airborne.
383
00:17:39,188 --> 00:17:43,104
As traffic and roads
get busier, in the 1970s and
384
00:17:43,105 --> 00:17:45,759
1980s, accidents involving
people in the truck bed start
385
00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,284
to get much more common,
especially among teenagers.
386
00:17:49,503 --> 00:17:52,896
One of the worst
incidents is in 1979.
387
00:17:52,897 --> 00:17:56,900
A pickup carrying 12 teens,
eight in the back, is on its way
388
00:17:56,901 --> 00:18:00,034
to a party in Maryland
and gets into an accident.
389
00:18:00,035 --> 00:18:02,646
10 of those kids do not survive.
390
00:18:03,995 --> 00:18:05,344
Because
of these accidents,
391
00:18:05,345 --> 00:18:07,520
about half the states
placed restrictions
392
00:18:07,521 --> 00:18:12,134
on truck bed riding, and a
few ban it almost entirely.
393
00:18:13,396 --> 00:18:15,310
On one hand, you
understand the safety
394
00:18:15,311 --> 00:18:17,051
requirements, but on the other
hand, the freedom and the
395
00:18:17,052 --> 00:18:19,053
feeling of danger
was part of it,
396
00:18:19,054 --> 00:18:21,883
and that exhilaration
was irreplaceable.
397
00:18:24,059 --> 00:18:27,496
These days, if you wanna
feel the wind in your hair out
398
00:18:27,497 --> 00:18:29,804
on the road, you have
to roll down the window.
399
00:18:33,938 --> 00:18:35,504
A lot of us know that
the most delicate phase
400
00:18:35,505 --> 00:18:38,551
of parenting happens
before a baby is born.
401
00:18:38,552 --> 00:18:42,772
But in the 1950s, doctors
had some relaxed ideas
402
00:18:42,773 --> 00:18:45,384
about what to do
during pregnancy.
403
00:18:45,385 --> 00:18:49,388
In the 1950s,
cigarette smoking isn't
404
00:18:49,389 --> 00:18:50,519
rebellious or even disgusting.
405
00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:52,869
It's classy, it's refined.
406
00:18:52,870 --> 00:18:55,611
Nearly half of
American adults smoke,
407
00:18:55,612 --> 00:18:59,137
and cigarettes are
endorsed in magazine ads
408
00:18:59,138 --> 00:19:02,531
and on television
by actual doctors.
409
00:19:02,532 --> 00:19:04,054
Stress, you feeling stressed?
410
00:19:04,055 --> 00:19:05,055
have a cigarette.
411
00:19:05,056 --> 00:19:06,144
Weight gain?
412
00:19:06,145 --> 00:19:07,754
Have a cigarette,
you'll eat less.
413
00:19:07,755 --> 00:19:08,885
You're feeling anxiety?
414
00:19:08,886 --> 00:19:10,322
Have a cigarette.
415
00:19:10,323 --> 00:19:14,283
And that advice extends
to pregnant women.
416
00:19:15,763 --> 00:19:18,895
If you wanna avoid cravings,
if you're a little bit anxious
417
00:19:18,896 --> 00:19:21,682
about what's growing inside
you, just have a cigarette!
418
00:19:22,987 --> 00:19:24,814
Pregnancy leads to
hormonal changes, which leads
419
00:19:24,815 --> 00:19:26,686
to weird food cravings.
420
00:19:26,687 --> 00:19:30,168
And doctors were like,
dude, have a cigarette.
421
00:19:30,169 --> 00:19:31,908
Nicotine is an
appetite suppressant,
422
00:19:31,909 --> 00:19:34,389
and doctors were
basically prescribing
423
00:19:34,390 --> 00:19:38,088
their pregnant patients to
light up, you know?
424
00:19:38,089 --> 00:19:39,655
Just suppress that appetite.
425
00:19:39,656 --> 00:19:41,570
They were just like,
it's undignified
426
00:19:41,571 --> 00:19:44,399
to gain so much
weight in pregnancy.
427
00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:46,314
In 1966, "Williams
Obstetrics",
428
00:19:46,315 --> 00:19:47,881
the leading textbook
429
00:19:47,882 --> 00:19:51,537
for OBGYN doctors says
that it's okay for a woman
430
00:19:51,538 --> 00:19:55,280
to smoke up to 10 cigarettes
a day, which is half a pack.
431
00:19:55,281 --> 00:19:58,631
At this point, 10 cigarettes
per day was seen as,
432
00:19:58,632 --> 00:20:02,635
quote, innocuous for
a pregnant woman.
433
00:20:02,636 --> 00:20:06,465
Just to see it in print,
is like a different level
434
00:20:06,466 --> 00:20:08,118
of reality.
435
00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:10,686
I know for a fact
that my mother smoked while
436
00:20:10,687 --> 00:20:13,472
pregnant with me, and in fact,
I was told stories of
437
00:20:13,473 --> 00:20:16,301
how my mother was pumping
gas pregnant with me
438
00:20:16,302 --> 00:20:18,172
while smoking a cigarette.
439
00:20:18,173 --> 00:20:20,435
Not only do doctors
condone smoking,
440
00:20:20,436 --> 00:20:22,916
but also when they're taking
the cart around the hospital
441
00:20:22,917 --> 00:20:25,397
with the snacks, and
the sandwiches where,
442
00:20:25,398 --> 00:20:27,050
there's also packs of
cigarettes on there
443
00:20:27,051 --> 00:20:28,138
if you wanna buy some.
444
00:20:28,139 --> 00:20:30,706
Just light up in the hospital.
445
00:20:32,013 --> 00:20:33,492
Only a few
years later, doctors
446
00:20:33,493 --> 00:20:36,887
and hospitals changed
their tune on lighting up.
447
00:20:37,975 --> 00:20:41,064
By the 1970s, the
research is undeniable.
448
00:20:41,065 --> 00:20:44,416
The harmful effects of tobacco
smoke cross the placenta
449
00:20:44,417 --> 00:20:46,156
and affect the child.
450
00:20:46,157 --> 00:20:49,290
Babies of smokers
face higher risks
451
00:20:49,291 --> 00:20:50,857
across the board.
452
00:20:50,858 --> 00:20:55,863
So by the 1980s, US law requires
a Surgeon General's warning
453
00:20:57,125 --> 00:20:59,474
against the dangers of
smoking while pregnant.
454
00:20:59,475 --> 00:21:02,477
We're not smoking cigarettes
now when we're giving birth,
455
00:21:02,478 --> 00:21:05,350
we're not even
eating soft cheeses.
456
00:21:05,351 --> 00:21:09,092
That's how much the medical
establishment has changed
457
00:21:09,093 --> 00:21:11,051
on this issue.
458
00:21:11,052 --> 00:21:14,228
Smoking wasn't the only advice
doctors gave pregnant women
459
00:21:14,229 --> 00:21:16,317
that would raise eyebrows today.
460
00:21:16,318 --> 00:21:20,016
They also had a few other ideas.
461
00:21:20,017 --> 00:21:22,715
As hard as pregnancy
is today, it's especially
462
00:21:22,716 --> 00:21:24,238
grueling in the early 1900s.
463
00:21:24,239 --> 00:21:26,022
It's a time when medical options
464
00:21:26,023 --> 00:21:28,329
and nutritional supplements
are pretty limited.
465
00:21:28,330 --> 00:21:30,810
Doctors start to look
for a nutritional supplement
466
00:21:30,811 --> 00:21:34,466
for pregnant women, and they
find it from a strange source.
467
00:21:34,467 --> 00:21:35,467
Beer.
468
00:21:35,468 --> 00:21:37,556
Especially dark beer.
469
00:21:37,557 --> 00:21:39,514
Dark beer is a
particular favorite,
470
00:21:39,515 --> 00:21:41,516
because it actually
has things like iron,
471
00:21:41,517 --> 00:21:43,170
and also it's made
with a lot of barley.
472
00:21:43,171 --> 00:21:46,086
So there is nutritional value
that comes out of dark beer,
473
00:21:46,087 --> 00:21:49,089
leading people to actually
refer to beer as liquid bread.
474
00:21:49,090 --> 00:21:50,351
I mean, that's a bit
of an exaggeration,
475
00:21:50,352 --> 00:21:51,961
but only by a little bit.
476
00:21:51,962 --> 00:21:55,269
Doctors say that pregnant
women should have a half pint
477
00:21:55,270 --> 00:21:56,879
of beer every night.
478
00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:59,404
It got to the point
where they would actually be
479
00:21:59,405 --> 00:22:03,234
handing out these half beers to
women in the hospital.
480
00:22:04,627 --> 00:22:06,759
I'm just saying if I was a
woman, I might make the argument
481
00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:09,892
to get off my back, and let
me have the half a beer.
482
00:22:09,893 --> 00:22:13,592
It's unreal, Beer
Garden as labor ward.
483
00:22:13,593 --> 00:22:14,897
And once
the baby is born,
484
00:22:14,898 --> 00:22:18,118
it's not a last call for beer.
485
00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:20,860
Doctors deem it
even more essential.
486
00:22:20,861 --> 00:22:23,471
Barley is considered
to boost milk production for
487
00:22:23,472 --> 00:22:25,125
moms who are breastfeeding.
488
00:22:25,126 --> 00:22:27,257
So after birth, mothers are
recommended to keep drinking
489
00:22:27,258 --> 00:22:28,650
to keep the milk flowing.
490
00:22:28,651 --> 00:22:31,305
The beer industry really
leans into this idea
491
00:22:31,306 --> 00:22:32,959
that beer is healthy.
492
00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:36,397
They're advertising mothers
and babies posing with beer,
493
00:22:36,398 --> 00:22:37,703
drinking it.
494
00:22:37,704 --> 00:22:39,357
The ad I remember
suggests that,
495
00:22:39,358 --> 00:22:42,098
if you've got a mother who's
breastfeeding, keep a case
496
00:22:42,099 --> 00:22:45,058
of Blatz around the house
to help bring in the milk.
497
00:22:45,059 --> 00:22:48,104
So Blatz for your...
498
00:22:48,105 --> 00:22:49,932
For your new mother.
499
00:22:49,933 --> 00:22:52,587
And beer makers
decide, if beer is good
500
00:22:52,588 --> 00:22:56,722
for nursing mothers, it
must be great for kids.
501
00:22:56,723 --> 00:22:59,420
Now you follow that
chain of logic of beer
502
00:22:59,421 --> 00:23:00,987
being healthy.
503
00:23:00,988 --> 00:23:05,339
to let's give the children these
newborn children some beer.
504
00:23:05,340 --> 00:23:07,776
Again, it's got all the
healthy ingredients in it.
505
00:23:07,777 --> 00:23:09,387
And there's a little
bonus on it too.
506
00:23:09,388 --> 00:23:11,519
It's like the kids
would fall dead asleep.
507
00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:13,478
Now we call that passing out.
508
00:23:13,479 --> 00:23:15,915
Dark beer remains
on the menu for mothers
509
00:23:15,916 --> 00:23:18,831
and children into the 1960s,
510
00:23:18,832 --> 00:23:21,922
but eventually,
studies kill the buzz.
511
00:23:22,836 --> 00:23:24,532
By the 1970s, it's
confirmed
512
00:23:24,533 --> 00:23:26,969
that alcohol actually
does cross the placenta,
513
00:23:26,970 --> 00:23:29,102
and it affects the brain
development of children.
514
00:23:29,103 --> 00:23:30,973
So those days are over.
515
00:23:30,974 --> 00:23:32,714
In 1981, the Surgeon
General
516
00:23:32,715 --> 00:23:35,500
officially advises pregnant
women not to drink,
517
00:23:35,501 --> 00:23:36,805
and then in 1989,
518
00:23:36,806 --> 00:23:38,981
alcoholic beverages must
carry a warning label
519
00:23:38,982 --> 00:23:40,679
for pregnancy risk.
520
00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:44,204
Thank goodness today,
hospitals no longer serve beer
521
00:23:44,205 --> 00:23:48,469
to new moms, but dad can
still get his pint at the bar
522
00:23:48,470 --> 00:23:49,166
across the street.
523
00:23:53,301 --> 00:23:55,258
Parents today
obsess over everything
524
00:23:55,259 --> 00:23:58,218
that their kids eat, from
sweets to processed foods.
525
00:23:58,219 --> 00:24:00,133
But there was a
time when a spoonful
526
00:24:00,134 --> 00:24:03,310
of sugar helped the
medicine go down.
527
00:24:03,311 --> 00:24:05,007
And 10 spoonfuls?
528
00:24:05,008 --> 00:24:08,054
Well, that was just the
way you started your day.
529
00:24:09,752 --> 00:24:13,407
After World War II, Americans
become obsessed with energy,
530
00:24:13,408 --> 00:24:15,104
and there's this
widely held belief
531
00:24:15,105 --> 00:24:17,193
that breakfast is the most
important meal of the day.
532
00:24:17,194 --> 00:24:19,413
That's where you get
your energy from.
533
00:24:19,414 --> 00:24:23,025
But busy mornings, suburban
commutes, school buses, all
534
00:24:23,026 --> 00:24:26,159
of this means it has gotten
harder and harder for parents
535
00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:29,249
to give their kids the
breakfast they need.
536
00:24:29,250 --> 00:24:32,165
And scientists come up
with this brilliant solution,
537
00:24:32,166 --> 00:24:33,906
and the government
fully endorses it.
538
00:24:33,907 --> 00:24:36,604
Let's give these kids sugar.
539
00:24:37,998 --> 00:24:39,215
Sugar helped in war.
540
00:24:39,216 --> 00:24:42,349
Sugar now plays
its part in peace.
541
00:24:42,350 --> 00:24:44,220
Keep sharing it.
542
00:24:44,221 --> 00:24:46,396
If sugar can bring strength
and energy to soldiers
543
00:24:46,397 --> 00:24:48,921
in the battlefield,
it must be good enough
544
00:24:48,922 --> 00:24:50,400
for growing children.
545
00:24:50,401 --> 00:24:53,708
And that is where breakfast
cereal companies come in.
546
00:24:53,709 --> 00:24:55,623
Sugar Crisps tumble
through sugar and honey,
547
00:24:55,624 --> 00:24:58,408
and comes up tasting
like 101 sweet buns.
548
00:24:58,409 --> 00:24:59,888
Sugar Crisp!
549
00:24:59,889 --> 00:25:02,238
By the 1950s, some of
these cereals have more
550
00:25:02,239 --> 00:25:03,805
than 50% sugar by weight.
551
00:25:03,806 --> 00:25:06,852
They've got names like
Sugar Smacks, Sugar Pops,
552
00:25:06,853 --> 00:25:10,116
Sugar Crisp, and they've got
mascots like the Sugar Bear.
553
00:25:10,117 --> 00:25:12,379
Sugar is not something
they're trying to hide,
554
00:25:12,380 --> 00:25:14,250
it is the selling point.
555
00:25:15,818 --> 00:25:17,863
Big industry is suddenly
putting information out saying
556
00:25:17,864 --> 00:25:19,429
that sugar is good for you.
557
00:25:19,430 --> 00:25:24,174
Slogans like, "Sugar puts the
muscle power in sweetness."
558
00:25:25,262 --> 00:25:26,959
Another ad says
"How to breakfast?
559
00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:29,179
Sugar's got what it takes."
560
00:25:30,659 --> 00:25:33,313
Every day of my life started
with a bowl of Fruit Loops
561
00:25:33,314 --> 00:25:35,707
and eight scoops of sugar.
562
00:25:35,708 --> 00:25:37,926
And my mom in the
kitchen would be like,
563
00:25:37,927 --> 00:25:39,493
"How's your breakfast?"
564
00:25:39,494 --> 00:25:41,060
And I'd be like, "Everything's
great over here, mom."
565
00:25:42,584 --> 00:25:43,889
The sugar train
doesn't even stop
566
00:25:43,890 --> 00:25:45,499
with breakfast.
567
00:25:45,500 --> 00:25:47,588
For lunch, send your kid to
school with a marshmallow fluff
568
00:25:47,589 --> 00:25:50,069
and peanut butter sandwich,
and when he gets home
569
00:25:50,070 --> 00:25:52,985
from dinner, serve him up
some meat glazed with sugar
570
00:25:52,986 --> 00:25:55,901
with a side of jello salad
with whipped cream dolloped
571
00:25:55,902 --> 00:25:57,556
right on top.
572
00:25:59,079 --> 00:26:02,211
By the time many
1950s kids leave for school,
573
00:26:02,212 --> 00:26:05,824
they've already consumed what
today would be an entire day's
574
00:26:05,825 --> 00:26:07,390
worth of sugar.
575
00:26:07,391 --> 00:26:12,308
But that decades long sugar
rush soon comes crashing down.
576
00:26:12,309 --> 00:26:13,875
By the '80s and '90s,
577
00:26:13,876 --> 00:26:15,703
there's an across the board
recognition for the fact
578
00:26:15,704 --> 00:26:18,750
that sugar provides energy,
but it sticks around.
579
00:26:18,751 --> 00:26:20,447
It sticks around in the
system and causes lots
580
00:26:20,448 --> 00:26:23,102
of bad things like
obesity and diabetes.
581
00:26:23,103 --> 00:26:26,627
So people need to cut
back sugar, and advertising
582
00:26:26,628 --> 00:26:29,804
and marketing companies
want to reign in sugar
583
00:26:29,805 --> 00:26:31,545
when it comes to branding.
584
00:26:31,546 --> 00:26:35,593
So sugar Smacks
become Honey Smacks,
585
00:26:35,594 --> 00:26:39,293
Sugar Crisp becomes
Golden Crisp.
586
00:26:40,686 --> 00:26:42,338
Divorced of the knowledge
that it's bad for you,
587
00:26:42,339 --> 00:26:45,864
it was the golden age for a kid.
588
00:26:45,865 --> 00:26:48,519
Just sugar, enjoy.
589
00:26:49,825 --> 00:26:51,696
Back in the '50s,
parents poured on the sugar
590
00:26:51,697 --> 00:26:53,001
at every meal.
591
00:26:53,002 --> 00:26:55,917
By the 1970s, they were
pouring something else
592
00:26:55,918 --> 00:26:59,618
for their teenagers, and then
handing them the car keys.
593
00:27:00,967 --> 00:27:04,143
In 1971, after
years of protest, the voting age
594
00:27:04,144 --> 00:27:07,668
drops from 21 to 18, and that
was really based around the idea
595
00:27:07,669 --> 00:27:10,410
of Vietnam, that if
you're old enough to die
596
00:27:10,411 --> 00:27:13,239
for this country, you ought
to be old enough to vote.
597
00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:14,588
But then that posed
the question,
598
00:27:14,589 --> 00:27:15,851
well, if you're
old enough to vote,
599
00:27:16,722 --> 00:27:19,332
shouldn't you
be old enough to drink?
600
00:27:19,333 --> 00:27:21,334
And a lot of states
agreed.
601
00:27:21,335 --> 00:27:26,296
By 1973, 16 states lower
the drinking age to 18.
602
00:27:27,863 --> 00:27:31,213
In many states for the first
time since before Prohibition,
603
00:27:31,214 --> 00:27:34,042
a teenager can get
a drink at a bar.
604
00:27:34,043 --> 00:27:37,960
And here's the
twist, a lot of parents approve.
605
00:27:39,614 --> 00:27:41,702
Largely these
parents were on board.
606
00:27:41,703 --> 00:27:43,399
We know where they are,
they're down at the pub,
607
00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:44,749
they're safe.
608
00:27:44,750 --> 00:27:46,839
This was just the American
attitude back then.
609
00:27:48,101 --> 00:27:49,928
So for business
owners, this is pretty great.
610
00:27:49,929 --> 00:27:53,583
I mean, they just have to sort
of rethink the mind of an 18
611
00:27:53,584 --> 00:27:56,195
to a 20-year-old, and
really cater to that,
612
00:27:56,196 --> 00:27:58,284
and that's where
the idea comes from.
613
00:27:58,285 --> 00:28:01,287
Maybe we should
design teen bars.
614
00:28:01,288 --> 00:28:05,247
So the decor and the
layout of the bars start to
615
00:28:05,248 --> 00:28:06,901
favor what kids like.
616
00:28:06,902 --> 00:28:10,339
They add pinball machines, they
gamify the drinking process.
617
00:28:10,340 --> 00:28:14,256
Where you drink 10 long
necks, you're now in the club.
618
00:28:14,257 --> 00:28:16,650
In Minnesota, a
place called the Beaver Pond
619
00:28:16,651 --> 00:28:18,696
says, "Oh, you know what
these teens really need?
620
00:28:18,697 --> 00:28:20,480
a beer first thing
in the morning."
621
00:28:20,481 --> 00:28:22,961
So they do breakfast beers.
622
00:28:22,962 --> 00:28:27,095
We may poo poo the
idea of drunk 18 year olds
623
00:28:27,096 --> 00:28:28,488
running around
today, but back then,
624
00:28:28,489 --> 00:28:29,968
even the colleges
were all for it.
625
00:28:29,969 --> 00:28:34,537
They opened up bars on campus
to make money selling it
626
00:28:34,538 --> 00:28:36,322
to their own students.
627
00:28:36,323 --> 00:28:38,628
The staff at the
University of Montana decided
628
00:28:38,629 --> 00:28:43,634
to do a keg party, and they
said $5 unlimited beer.
629
00:28:44,635 --> 00:28:48,987
And they raised $400,000
for the library.
630
00:28:48,988 --> 00:28:50,379
It's pretty genius!
631
00:28:50,380 --> 00:28:52,686
That's a ton of beer.
632
00:28:52,687 --> 00:28:55,471
Parents,
educators and local businesses
633
00:28:55,472 --> 00:28:58,953
all raise a glass to
the legal teenagers.
634
00:28:58,954 --> 00:29:02,435
But younger drinkers
come with consequences.
635
00:29:02,436 --> 00:29:03,741
I was once 18,
636
00:29:03,742 --> 00:29:05,830
and one thing I know is that
637
00:29:05,831 --> 00:29:08,746
when you're an 18-year-old
dude, you're dumb as hell.
638
00:29:08,747 --> 00:29:11,836
Your priorities are
not in the right place.
639
00:29:11,837 --> 00:29:15,665
In this era, there
are a ton of bar fights.
640
00:29:15,666 --> 00:29:17,667
There's just mayhem
in the streets.
641
00:29:17,668 --> 00:29:21,193
In fact, one weekend
at the Jersey shore,
642
00:29:21,194 --> 00:29:25,851
100 kids were arrested
for drunken shenanigans.
643
00:29:27,287 --> 00:29:29,897
Drunk driving arrests
soar nationwide.
644
00:29:29,898 --> 00:29:34,423
In just Michigan alone,
DUI rates double from when
645
00:29:34,424 --> 00:29:36,643
before the drinking
age was lowered.
646
00:29:36,644 --> 00:29:40,081
And by 1984, President
Ronald Reagan says he will
647
00:29:40,082 --> 00:29:43,563
withhold federal highway
funding to any state
648
00:29:43,564 --> 00:29:47,175
that does not revert to
a 21 plus drinking age.
649
00:29:47,176 --> 00:29:50,178
The teen bars that were
serving alcohol start
650
00:29:50,179 --> 00:29:53,312
to disappear, the
highways become safer,
651
00:29:53,313 --> 00:29:55,967
and these hooligans
are reigned in.
652
00:29:55,968 --> 00:29:59,100
I remember people
still complaining about the fact
653
00:29:59,101 --> 00:30:01,624
that they were able to
legally drink at one point,
654
00:30:01,625 --> 00:30:02,974
and then it got
taken away from them.
655
00:30:02,975 --> 00:30:05,063
And then I started
feeling ripped off
656
00:30:05,064 --> 00:30:07,326
that I wasn't gonna be
able to drink at 18,
657
00:30:07,327 --> 00:30:09,284
even though I was only 10.
658
00:30:09,285 --> 00:30:13,333
Legal teenage drinking,
let's just say it aged quickly.
659
00:30:17,467 --> 00:30:18,728
Parenthood comes with
some beautiful memories,
660
00:30:18,729 --> 00:30:21,035
but the pain of childbirth,
661
00:30:21,036 --> 00:30:24,212
that's one memory moms
would like to forget.
662
00:30:24,213 --> 00:30:27,912
Well, in the early 1900s,
doctors came up with a way
663
00:30:27,913 --> 00:30:31,654
for women to give birth
without remembering any of it.
664
00:30:31,655 --> 00:30:33,787
The memory loss was intentional.
665
00:30:33,788 --> 00:30:36,225
The consequences were not.
666
00:30:37,748 --> 00:30:41,534
Throughout history,
childbirth is this incredibly
667
00:30:41,535 --> 00:30:43,275
painful and gross experience.
668
00:30:46,366 --> 00:30:49,934
So in 1906, two German
doctors decide it doesn't have
669
00:30:49,935 --> 00:30:51,500
to be this way.
670
00:30:51,501 --> 00:30:55,244
They want to take the pain
and horror out of childbirth.
671
00:30:56,811 --> 00:30:58,986
They come up with what
they see to be a
672
00:30:58,987 --> 00:30:59,769
miracle solution.
673
00:30:59,770 --> 00:31:01,336
A cocktail, a mix of drugs
674
00:31:01,337 --> 00:31:04,339
that can make labor
virtually painless.
675
00:31:04,340 --> 00:31:07,647
The way this works
is that when a mother is
676
00:31:07,648 --> 00:31:10,259
unconscious, her body can still
work to push out the baby.
677
00:31:11,478 --> 00:31:13,480
Doctors call
it twilight sleep.
678
00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:17,265
Put yourself in the
shoes of these people in the
679
00:31:17,266 --> 00:31:21,574
1910s, and doctors are saying
there's this safe way
680
00:31:21,575 --> 00:31:24,707
of giving birth, and
it's without pain.
681
00:31:24,708 --> 00:31:26,709
You get a couple of injections,
682
00:31:26,710 --> 00:31:28,320
you kind of like fall asleep,
683
00:31:28,321 --> 00:31:30,626
you wake up to a beautiful baby,
684
00:31:30,627 --> 00:31:34,239
and there's no memory of the
stuff that happened in between.
685
00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:36,938
it sounds like a spa day!
686
00:31:38,026 --> 00:31:40,462
The press were calling
it a wonder, a new hope,
687
00:31:40,463 --> 00:31:42,812
a new era for motherhood.
688
00:31:42,813 --> 00:31:44,292
And the parents love it.
689
00:31:44,293 --> 00:31:46,033
But
what actually makes
690
00:31:46,034 --> 00:31:47,906
this twilight sleep possible?
691
00:31:49,516 --> 00:31:53,911
So they use this cocktail
of morphine and scopolamine.
692
00:31:53,912 --> 00:31:57,740
Morphine helps with the pain,
and scopolamine is capable
693
00:31:57,741 --> 00:32:00,743
of putting people in a
state to where it's almost
694
00:32:00,744 --> 00:32:03,964
like the lights are
on but nobody's home.
695
00:32:03,965 --> 00:32:06,575
It also impairs memory as well.
696
00:32:06,576 --> 00:32:09,448
One doctor describes it
as uncoupling the brain
697
00:32:09,449 --> 00:32:11,406
from the spinal cord.
698
00:32:11,407 --> 00:32:12,973
But for
many young mothers,
699
00:32:12,974 --> 00:32:17,673
choosing twilight sleep may
turn out to be a nightmare.
700
00:32:17,674 --> 00:32:21,590
Too much scopolamine
causes temporary insanity.
701
00:32:21,591 --> 00:32:24,419
You reach this state to
where you're hallucinating,
702
00:32:24,420 --> 00:32:26,247
you're seeing things around
you, you're moving around,
703
00:32:26,248 --> 00:32:29,424
you're trying to grab
things in midair.
704
00:32:29,425 --> 00:32:32,819
The result is that
some patients get really
705
00:32:32,820 --> 00:32:35,256
violent, they start to fight the
staff, they thrash around,
706
00:32:35,257 --> 00:32:37,041
they try to run away.
707
00:32:37,042 --> 00:32:39,304
And the
doctors show restraint,
708
00:32:39,305 --> 00:32:41,915
but not the kind you want.
709
00:32:41,916 --> 00:32:43,177
Before they end up
710
00:32:43,178 --> 00:32:45,353
administering these
different drugs,
711
00:32:45,354 --> 00:32:49,488
they blindfold the women,
they put them in these sleeves
712
00:32:49,489 --> 00:32:51,620
that wrap around to
the back of the body.
713
00:32:51,621 --> 00:32:53,535
I mean, it's a straight jacket.
714
00:32:53,536 --> 00:32:56,625
The beds where women lie for
this have these raised sides,
715
00:32:56,626 --> 00:32:58,627
and they're knotted
shut with sheets.
716
00:32:58,628 --> 00:33:01,282
Really looks like some sort of
restraining device you'd find
717
00:33:01,283 --> 00:33:03,545
in an insane asylum at the time.
718
00:33:03,546 --> 00:33:06,244
There are even cases
where a woman gives birth
719
00:33:06,245 --> 00:33:09,725
and everything seems fine,
and then a few days later,
720
00:33:09,726 --> 00:33:11,989
they lose their minds.
721
00:33:11,990 --> 00:33:14,600
This is painless
childbirth every time.
722
00:33:14,601 --> 00:33:16,515
It's a roll of the die.
723
00:33:16,516 --> 00:33:18,430
Despite
the obvious risks,
724
00:33:18,431 --> 00:33:22,521
twilight births stick
around well into the 1960s,
725
00:33:22,522 --> 00:33:26,003
when a big push for
natural birth takes over.
726
00:33:26,004 --> 00:33:28,005
And nowadays,
we have epidurals,
727
00:33:28,006 --> 00:33:31,486
which is arguably the best
combination of pain relief,
728
00:33:31,487 --> 00:33:34,272
plus keeping mother
alert, and aware,
729
00:33:34,273 --> 00:33:35,490
and able to help
730
00:33:35,491 --> 00:33:36,884
remember that experience.
731
00:33:38,929 --> 00:33:40,582
Having a baby is one thing.
732
00:33:40,583 --> 00:33:43,411
Getting it to sleep we
all know is another.
733
00:33:43,412 --> 00:33:45,196
Well, in the 1950s,
734
00:33:45,197 --> 00:33:48,416
one famous doctor claimed
he had the answer,
735
00:33:48,417 --> 00:33:51,899
and it wasn't so
much how, but where.
736
00:33:53,379 --> 00:33:56,946
In 1957, Dr. Benjamin
Spock, the most famous
737
00:33:56,947 --> 00:34:00,733
pediatrician and parenting
expert in America, tells parents
738
00:34:00,734 --> 00:34:03,823
not to waste their money on a
beautiful bassinet lined
739
00:34:03,824 --> 00:34:05,303
with silk.
740
00:34:05,304 --> 00:34:07,392
Dr. Spock is all
about keep it simple.
741
00:34:07,393 --> 00:34:09,220
All these fancy thing,
you don't need that.
742
00:34:09,221 --> 00:34:10,699
Babies don't care.
743
00:34:10,700 --> 00:34:14,007
Babies want, you know, a
secure space in which to sleep.
744
00:34:14,008 --> 00:34:16,444
Anything can be rigged
up to be a decent,
745
00:34:16,445 --> 00:34:18,621
perfectly fine place
for a child to sleep.
746
00:34:20,188 --> 00:34:22,320
Need a place
for your infant to sleep?
747
00:34:22,321 --> 00:34:27,369
How about a grocery box, a
crate or a dresser drawer?
748
00:34:28,849 --> 00:34:30,589
Postwar America is full of
wooden crates and milk boxes,
749
00:34:30,590 --> 00:34:33,592
so people are using
these to make baby beds.
750
00:34:33,593 --> 00:34:35,594
Most people's
furniture are fairly sturdy.
751
00:34:35,595 --> 00:34:37,944
It's a box, you line it
with some towels and stuff,
752
00:34:37,945 --> 00:34:39,206
you put your kid there.
753
00:34:39,207 --> 00:34:41,208
That's essentially
what a crib is anyway.
754
00:34:41,209 --> 00:34:42,818
It's not just Dr.
Spock.
755
00:34:42,819 --> 00:34:45,908
Federal infant care guides
at the time also say
756
00:34:45,909 --> 00:34:48,868
that a baby would be just
fine in a clothes basket
757
00:34:48,869 --> 00:34:50,349
or a wooden box.
758
00:34:51,567 --> 00:34:53,525
If you're crafty, the
US Children's Bureau
759
00:34:53,526 --> 00:34:56,963
actually recommends a DIY
project called the chair cot.
760
00:34:56,964 --> 00:35:00,271
You push two chairs together,
and forms a little platform,
761
00:35:00,272 --> 00:35:02,142
and then you wrap
that thing in a sheet,
762
00:35:02,143 --> 00:35:05,145
you secure that sheet
with 10 safety pins,
763
00:35:05,146 --> 00:35:07,104
and then all of a sudden you've
got your little chair cot.
764
00:35:07,105 --> 00:35:08,583
It's easy.
765
00:35:08,584 --> 00:35:11,934
One hospital
even takes babies in drawers
766
00:35:11,935 --> 00:35:13,632
to the Space Age.
767
00:35:13,633 --> 00:35:16,635
Kaiser Permanente
Hospital in California even
768
00:35:16,636 --> 00:35:21,728
installs permanent slide out
metal drawers next to mom's bed.
769
00:35:22,859 --> 00:35:25,470
It's like a baby filing
cabinet with easy access
770
00:35:25,471 --> 00:35:26,862
for feeding.
771
00:35:26,863 --> 00:35:29,474
The Kaiser
Hospital reached the height
772
00:35:29,475 --> 00:35:31,867
of baby in drawer technology.
773
00:35:31,868 --> 00:35:34,522
But once babies leave
the hospital, it's back
774
00:35:34,523 --> 00:35:37,222
to the milk crate
or dresser drawer.
775
00:35:38,788 --> 00:35:40,920
Look, will it work?
Yes.
776
00:35:40,921 --> 00:35:43,923
Will it probably be okay? Yes.
777
00:35:43,924 --> 00:35:46,186
Doesn't mean it's a great idea.
778
00:35:46,187 --> 00:35:49,320
By the 1970s,
research shows that safe baby
779
00:35:49,321 --> 00:35:52,671
sleep requires unobstructed
airflow at all times,
780
00:35:52,672 --> 00:35:54,586
and a dresser drawer
doesn't deliver that,
781
00:35:54,587 --> 00:35:56,936
because they're lined,
and they trap heat
782
00:35:56,937 --> 00:35:58,764
and carbon dioxide.
783
00:35:58,765 --> 00:36:00,679
Dresser drawers are
particularly risky.
784
00:36:00,680 --> 00:36:02,159
There are actually anecdotes
785
00:36:02,160 --> 00:36:03,899
of frazzled parents
shutting the dresser drawer
786
00:36:03,900 --> 00:36:06,075
with their child inside,
and them not realizing it,
787
00:36:06,076 --> 00:36:09,035
only becoming aware when
the baby starts crying.
788
00:36:09,036 --> 00:36:10,776
Pretty terrifying actually.
789
00:36:12,082 --> 00:36:14,519
In 1973, pediatricians
begin pushing
790
00:36:14,520 --> 00:36:18,131
for dedicated cribs with
slats and ventilation.
791
00:36:18,132 --> 00:36:20,264
Mass production makes
them affordable,
792
00:36:20,265 --> 00:36:23,703
and DIY baby beds
quietly disappear.
793
00:36:24,965 --> 00:36:28,010
These days, cribs come
with breathable materials.
794
00:36:28,011 --> 00:36:29,490
Are they safer?
795
00:36:29,491 --> 00:36:30,883
Absolutely.
796
00:36:30,884 --> 00:36:33,320
But you gotta admit a
bit more complicated
797
00:36:33,321 --> 00:36:34,714
than just opening a drawer.
798
00:36:38,848 --> 00:36:40,675
Back in the day, parents
were pretty relaxed
799
00:36:40,676 --> 00:36:43,330
about seat belts and
sugar, you name it.
800
00:36:43,331 --> 00:36:46,768
But bad language, that's
where they drew the line.
801
00:36:46,769 --> 00:36:50,859
It led to one of childhood's
most iconic punishments.
802
00:36:50,860 --> 00:36:52,948
Effective? Maybe.
803
00:36:52,949 --> 00:36:54,689
Dangerous? Definitely.
804
00:36:56,910 --> 00:37:00,739
In the 1950s,
cleanliness is all the rage.
805
00:37:00,740 --> 00:37:05,222
Clean houses, clean lawns,
clean cars, clean reputations.
806
00:37:05,223 --> 00:37:07,441
This is the
golden age of soap.
807
00:37:07,442 --> 00:37:11,445
TV is crammed with
sparkling bath commercials.
808
00:37:11,446 --> 00:37:13,099
No soap cleans so clean
809
00:37:13,100 --> 00:37:15,449
as Vel Beauty Bar.
810
00:37:15,450 --> 00:37:19,236
Soap companies sponsor
entire TV shows, giving rise
811
00:37:19,237 --> 00:37:20,976
to the soap opera.
812
00:37:20,977 --> 00:37:22,935
Soap Companies are
pushing this idea
813
00:37:22,936 --> 00:37:25,067
that soap isn't just
about cleanliness,
814
00:37:25,068 --> 00:37:27,374
it's about moral character.
815
00:37:27,375 --> 00:37:29,942
Cleanliness is
close to Godliness,
816
00:37:29,943 --> 00:37:32,162
is close to Americanness.
817
00:37:33,033 --> 00:37:35,339
If a child uses profanity,
818
00:37:35,340 --> 00:37:37,776
it's a negative
reflection on the family,
819
00:37:37,777 --> 00:37:41,301
and there is no greater
sin in the 1950s
820
00:37:41,302 --> 00:37:43,260
than making your
family look bad.
821
00:37:43,261 --> 00:37:45,479
So if a child were
to drop a swear word,
822
00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:48,917
parents reach for something
to clean out their mouth,
823
00:37:48,918 --> 00:37:51,094
and that was a bar of soap.
824
00:37:52,618 --> 00:37:55,184
For a child, this is
a great humiliation,
825
00:37:55,185 --> 00:37:57,317
because you have soap
shoved in your mouth,
826
00:37:57,318 --> 00:38:00,320
which is an unpleasant
thing to experience.
827
00:38:00,321 --> 00:38:02,757
And then even after the soap
is removed from your mouth,
828
00:38:02,758 --> 00:38:04,237
soap is stuck in your teeth,
829
00:38:04,238 --> 00:38:05,630
and so it doesn't
go away immediately,
830
00:38:05,631 --> 00:38:08,110
and you get that gross,
soapy taste in your mouth.
831
00:38:08,111 --> 00:38:09,764
It lasts for a few hours,
832
00:38:09,765 --> 00:38:12,114
and you're left with the
longing sensation of,
833
00:38:12,115 --> 00:38:13,725
I wish I had not used that word,
834
00:38:13,726 --> 00:38:16,554
at least not in
front of the parents.
835
00:38:16,555 --> 00:38:19,818
My dad was an athlete, a
black belt in Judo, whatever.
836
00:38:19,819 --> 00:38:22,560
I have never seen
him move as swiftly
837
00:38:22,561 --> 00:38:27,391
or as quickly as he did than
when he shoved a full bar
838
00:38:27,392 --> 00:38:31,569
of Irish Spring into my
mouth, like putting a VHS tape
839
00:38:31,570 --> 00:38:32,744
into the machine.
840
00:38:32,745 --> 00:38:35,529
It was just.
841
00:38:35,530 --> 00:38:37,575
I mean, I guess I gotta be
grateful it wasn't Brillow
842
00:38:37,576 --> 00:38:39,359
or Easy Off.
843
00:38:39,360 --> 00:38:41,709
This punishment is
everywhere in pop culture.
844
00:38:41,710 --> 00:38:43,972
It's mentioned in
"Leave It to Beaver",
845
00:38:43,973 --> 00:38:45,800
it's referenced in
"The Brady Bunch",
846
00:38:45,801 --> 00:38:47,280
in "A Christmas Story",
847
00:38:47,281 --> 00:38:49,935
the lead character actually
becomes a connoisseur
848
00:38:49,936 --> 00:38:51,850
of the different soap bars.
849
00:38:51,851 --> 00:38:54,592
Topps, the baseball card
company, actually comes out
850
00:38:54,593 --> 00:38:58,030
with a soap parody of Jergens
called Jerkens, which is
851
00:38:58,031 --> 00:39:00,599
for cleaning up dirty words.
852
00:39:02,165 --> 00:39:04,079
It doesn't just happen
on TV, and it doesn't just
853
00:39:04,080 --> 00:39:05,864
happen at the home, it
happens at schools.
854
00:39:05,865 --> 00:39:07,648
There's several cases
855
00:39:07,649 --> 00:39:10,999
of teachers washing
students' mouths
856
00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:13,872
out with soap at school.
857
00:39:13,873 --> 00:39:17,658
Apparently in one case, the
word was as benign as "jackass".
858
00:39:17,659 --> 00:39:20,792
School Boards say that
the teachers did nothing wrong,
859
00:39:20,793 --> 00:39:24,056
mouth washing isn't illegal,
and this is an important part
860
00:39:24,057 --> 00:39:26,058
of the teacher's
disciplinarian kit.
861
00:39:26,059 --> 00:39:29,627
Teachers at other schools
all agree with the decision.
862
00:39:29,628 --> 00:39:33,152
If you did that today, oh
my God, you would get hauled
863
00:39:33,153 --> 00:39:36,416
before a jury, 'cause that
would, I think, be recognized
864
00:39:36,417 --> 00:39:38,462
as abusive to a child today.
865
00:39:38,463 --> 00:39:41,900
Back then, this was an
everyday punishment meted out
866
00:39:41,901 --> 00:39:43,815
at home and at school.
867
00:39:43,816 --> 00:39:45,730
Parents underestimate
these products,
868
00:39:45,731 --> 00:39:48,733
because there are no warning
labels on the packaging.
869
00:39:48,734 --> 00:39:50,299
I mean, why would you need one?
870
00:39:50,300 --> 00:39:54,347
No one's supposed to eat
soap, except in this era.
871
00:39:54,348 --> 00:39:56,436
Today, most bath
soaps, hand soaps,
872
00:39:56,437 --> 00:39:59,134
and even dish soaps
that we use are designed
873
00:39:59,135 --> 00:40:02,137
to be non-irritating, and the
way they accomplish this is
874
00:40:02,138 --> 00:40:04,096
by making them pH balanced.
875
00:40:04,097 --> 00:40:07,099
The soap's pH matches
that of the human skin.
876
00:40:07,100 --> 00:40:09,754
But that wasn't always the case.
877
00:40:09,755 --> 00:40:13,192
Post-war soaps are
industrial strength grime
878
00:40:13,193 --> 00:40:16,935
fighters with high pH designed
to strip grease off dishes,
879
00:40:16,936 --> 00:40:18,719
and oil off hands.
880
00:40:18,720 --> 00:40:20,591
That soap is
actually dissolving
881
00:40:20,592 --> 00:40:21,766
the protective tissues
882
00:40:21,767 --> 00:40:23,289
in their mouth and
digestive tract.
883
00:40:23,290 --> 00:40:24,856
So if you swallow a little bit,
884
00:40:24,857 --> 00:40:26,945
there could be
vomiting and diarrhea.
885
00:40:26,946 --> 00:40:28,337
It's not just a bad taste.
886
00:40:28,338 --> 00:40:30,862
Chemical reactions
are going to occur,
887
00:40:30,863 --> 00:40:33,168
and they're going
to be aggressive.
888
00:40:33,169 --> 00:40:35,780
I was taken to see my
grandmother at one point,
889
00:40:35,781 --> 00:40:37,303
during which I used some word.
890
00:40:37,304 --> 00:40:39,174
I don't know what word I
used, but it was bad enough
891
00:40:39,175 --> 00:40:42,351
for her to drag me to the
kitchen, and she put dish soap
892
00:40:42,352 --> 00:40:43,657
in my mouth.
893
00:40:43,658 --> 00:40:45,006
And so I ended up
swallowing some of it,
894
00:40:45,007 --> 00:40:47,139
which made me sick for
the rest of the night.
895
00:40:47,140 --> 00:40:48,923
By 1961, there had
been so many cases
896
00:40:48,924 --> 00:40:50,969
of children ingesting
cleaning products,
897
00:40:50,970 --> 00:40:52,971
that they have actually created
898
00:40:52,972 --> 00:40:55,887
a National Poison
Prevention Week.
899
00:40:55,888 --> 00:41:00,893
There are poison consumption
hotlines that parents can call.
900
00:41:01,371 --> 00:41:03,634
And it doesn't take a
leap of imagination to realize
901
00:41:03,635 --> 00:41:05,636
that if you shouldn't
be drinking Windex,
902
00:41:05,637 --> 00:41:06,811
you probably shouldn't
be sticking a bar
903
00:41:06,812 --> 00:41:08,900
of soap in your kids' mouth.
904
00:41:08,901 --> 00:41:11,729
School districts
now ban mouth washing.
905
00:41:11,730 --> 00:41:14,514
So groundings replace glycerin,
906
00:41:14,515 --> 00:41:17,865
and the bar of soap quietly
returns to the sink.
907
00:41:18,911 --> 00:41:20,477
But this happened to
me.
908
00:41:20,478 --> 00:41:23,131
This happened to a lot of people
I know, and it didn't work.
909
00:41:23,132 --> 00:41:25,612
And if anything,
I curse too much.
910
00:41:25,613 --> 00:41:29,050
As we look back at how
parents used to raise us,
911
00:41:29,051 --> 00:41:33,185
whether leaving us out in the
sun, stuffing us in drawers,
912
00:41:33,186 --> 00:41:36,710
or letting us bounce around in
the back of the pickup truck,
913
00:41:36,711 --> 00:41:39,583
what didn't hurt us,
made us stronger.
914
00:41:39,584 --> 00:41:43,543
And that's why our hazardous
history is one for the ages.