These old posed professional photos were very expensive at the time, and would often be the only such image of a child that a family might have.
Very old portrait photography: A baby in 1855
Antique baby portrait: From Indiana
An intense little baby in a portrait from Fitchburg, Mass. (c1870s)
Sweet African American baby in a christening gown (c1899)
Antique portrait of a cute baby in christening gown (c1890s)
It looks like mom was hiding behind the scenes — and was laughing!
New Jersey babies in the house (c1880s)
Antique portrait of baby C. Fleming Jr in the 1890s
A smiley Native American baby in a cradleboard (c1899)
Photo by Frances B Johnston
African American infant, seated in a chair
MORE: See how different antique baby carriages & old-fashioned strollers used to be
Antique portrait of a baby girl in the 1860s
Antique baby portraits: Photo with a parent hiding under the cover
NOW SEE THIS: 32 vintage selfies you probably have never seen
Antique photos of babies: A sweet face from old North Dakota
Antique baby portrait (c1870)
Baby boy in a long white gown
Antique cabinet card portrait of a baby
Photographer: W A Flower, Perry, Oklahoma
ALSO SEE: The old-fashioned benefits of breastfeeding
Kansas antique cabinet card portrait of a startled baby
Dewey & Dewey, Manhattan, Kansas
Photo thanks to ksunshine
Antique baby portraiture with a parent hiding under the cover
Chubby, cherubic little baby – antique cabinet card
Photo thanks to bandj.images
Little girl in a white dress on a wicker chair
Little dark-haired baby all in white
Gramm – Mt Horeb, Wisconsin
Portrait thanks to shananigans68
Young child with curls in her hair
Sheets and Armstrong, 412 Main Street, Wellsville, Ohio
Photo courtesy columbiatique
Dark haired infant in a long white (Christening?) dress
Photographer CR Baker, Detroit, Michigan
ALSO SEE: Babyology: Old-fashioned advice on babies and sleep from 1913
Photo courtesy eau-n-sophie
Bald baby in a padded chair – vintage cabinet card photograph
Photographer E A Thatcher, Tipton, Indiana
Baby in a chair, wearing a lacy white gown
Photo thanks to rare_attic_treasures
A little cutie pie in a lacy white dress
DON’T MISS: See how vintage baby bottles, infant nursers & feeding accessories have changed over the years
