Advertisements from the era highlight how much thought went into construction and materials. Walker-strollers featured steel frames, rubber-tired wheels and removable play trays with non-toxic beads. Many models offered reclining backs, adjustable canopies and market baskets for errands. The copy stressed measurements down to the inch and pointed out features like self-oiling bearings and shock absorbers. Even baby walkers were described in technical terms, with chromed tubular steel frames and washable seats.
Safety was a constant theme. Folding gates claimed strong locks that “little fingers can’t open.” Outdoor play yards were built with straight-grain pine rails and heavy spindles set in marine glue. Playpens came in square or round versions, often with mesh sides to keep toddlers visible while giving parents freedom to move around the house. The language aimed to reassure mothers that everyday tasks could continue while babies remained secure.
Portability also shaped design. Articles from the mid-1950s noted that new cribs, carriages and feeding tables had become lighter and easier to fold. Equipment like the Carry Crib, perambulating crib and Baby-Pullman could serve as both bed and travel solution. A folding baby bath fit under a washbasin, while combination high chairs converted into play tables. The message was practical — buy one item, use it several ways and tuck it away when the day is done.
Style had its place, too. Strollers appeared in bright red and white or blue with matching seats. Honeysuckle baskets included plastic ruffles and rocking stands. High chairs were offered in natural birch finishes with wide-set legs and stretchers for stability. Even potty training seats were molded in plastic with built-in deflectors and nursery chair options. The look aligned with the tidy, coordinated interiors popular in the 1950s.
Below, we’ve gathered vintage photos and catalog pages featuring baby gear from the 1950s. These ads and product descriptions show how companies spoke to growing families and how everyday nursery equipment reflected the priorities of the postwar years — safety, efficiency and smart use of space.
Happi-Time walker-strollers for baby’s healthful outings
Converts to walker – Folds compactly for storage – Keeps tots safe, happy – Steel play tray for baby’s entertainment
Easy-to-manage Walker-Strollers
Good … has strong wood seat
Roomy and comfortable for baby, with big 5-inch rubber-tired wheels to give a smooth, easy ride. Wheels have self-oiling bearings . . front wheels have coil-spring shock absorbers.
Sturdy enameled steel frame with a removable footrest. Plastic covered bumpers on the front and back protect furniture, mother’s stockings, etc. Play tray and non-toxic beads for baby’s amusement. 35 inches from the ground to the top of the folding tubular steel handle. Red and white.
Better… has reclining back
Three-position reclining back gives baby the king-like ease he deserves. Adjusts easily with one hand. Tuifiex® fiber padding on seat and back. Heavy-duty chrome-plated tubular steel frame folds quickly and easily for storage.
Canopy adjusts to three heights and all angles to keep sun from baby’s eyes. Big, easy-rolling wheels with nylon bearings, clincher tires. Roomy market basket in back stays in place even in full reclining position. 36 inches high to handle. Plastic coated dark blue with light blue seat and backrest.
Best Honeysuckle stroller
Can be used in 3 ways… as a walker, as a stroller, or as a carriage bed. Canopy adjusts to 3 positions.
Tubular steel walkers with washable duck seats
Here’s all the help and support baby needs to take those important first steps. Removable duck seat is washable. Chromed tubular steel frame, ball bearing casters, and rubber bumpers. Folds flat for easy storage or carrying.
Baby swings and door bouncers
Baby potty training seats
Comfy molded plastic training seats with built-in deflectors… all fit adult-type fixtures. Honeysuckle panel-back nursery chairs with plastic vessels, deflector and training aids.
ALSO SEE: See how vintage baby bottles, infant nursers & feeding accessories have changed over the years
Folding safety gates
Close off stairways, windows, doors — guard tots from tumbles, your valuables from tiny hands. Keeps pets in or out, too. Varnished wood. Little fingers can’t open the strong safety lock.
No screws or nails!
Self-locking safety gate. Just fit into door frame, adjust to proper width, then snap shut. Tension and pressure on sides of opening keeps gate firmly locked in place. Just pull to open. Rubber cushions at contact points keep finish of door- frame unharmed. Slats of northern hardwood, non-toxic finish.
Big new outdoor play yard
Now your toddler can enjoy all the advantages of outdoor play without traffic, trash, stray dogs and countless other hazards. Simply place on clean, level grassy plot. Straight grain pine top and bottom rails. Heavy spindles, doweled and set in marine glue.
Honeysuckle mesh net play pens
Baby care accessories & weighing scales
4-way vintage playpen & crib combo
Four uses! It’s a full-size play pen, half-size play pen, crib or dressing table
Also: Hardwood folding play yard with canopy
Honeysuckle baby baskets
“Rocking” baby basket on stand and carrying basket on detachable folding stand.
Four springs inset at corners let you rock your baby gently to sleep. Swivel plates on center of each end hold basket firmly on folding hardwood base. Handle at one end locks basket in position. Fiber basket with hood, plastic ruffles.
MORE: Vintage Cosco home & baby gear from the ’60s, including folding card tables, stepstools & playpens
Our best baby bassinet basket
Old-fashioned hardwood high chairs
Our lowest-priced hardwood high chair
A really fine High Chair at an exceptionally low price. Smartly-styled, sturdily made of select, seasoned hardwood with lovely natural waxed birch finish. Comfortable panel-type back. 4 stretchers and fixed footrest brace chair securely… legs are widespread to prevent tipping.
Thick panel-back hardwood high chair
Massively-styled, ruggedly-built High Chair. Constructed of select, seasoned, sanded hardwood in choice of two finishes. Better quality than chair at left. Thick panel back helps ward off harmful drafts. Braced with 5 stretchers.
Two-way hardwood high chair… converts to play table
A fine dual-purpose High Chair. Use for feeding then as playtime table, too! Playtable top surface has gray color high-pressure plastic top… mar, heat and stain-resistant!
Vintage portable changing tables/baby baths
Bathinette with dressing top and tray.
ALSO SEE: 47 dangerous old playgrounds that our great-grandparents somehow survived
Boodle Buggy baby carriages
Fold-away vintage baby gear from the ’50s
Most women feel that nothing takes up more room in a home than a baby, unless it is a husband, and he can be dealt with.
One way to deal with a baby in small quarters is to buy the new equipment, which makes it possible to fold up everything but the baby.
During the past two years, cribs, carriages and eating tables that tuck away have been made lighter, sturdier, more compact, much easier to carry and to open and close.
Brand-new additions are the play-pen [below] and a baby bath to attach to a washbasin. Not only is this equipment practical at home, but it makes travel with the baby far easier.
ABOVE: Collapsible baby equipment from the 1950s
Collapsible equipment for baby includes, from left:
- Kel-Art’s Carry Crib to use on any bed, $15;
- Thayer’s feeding table which has folded seat in top, $25;
- Tigrett’s folded playpen (shown open at top of page);
- Columbia Tuk-A-Way stroller with shopping bag, $17;
- Pram-Crib at back and Baby-Pullman (right), both shown on next page.
Top: New playpen with metal legs, nylon-Dacron net sides, weighs 17 pounds, folds for travel, costs $28.
The Play-Square & Play-A-Round net playpens
Compact… fits neatly into corners — or roomy… it rolls and has a colorful net. A comfortable haven for child… frees mom for other chores.
Folding baby furniture
Baby Bath which fits on most washbasins is made of aluminum tubing with plastic tub. It folds up under basin. By Fold-O-Bath, it costs about $22.
Baby-Pullman
…can be used in back seat as a crib or opened up as shown here to make a play area. Built by Stacy, it weighs 23 pounds, costs about $15.
Perambulating crib by Thayer ($25)
Folds up compactly with the mattress inside, weighs only 15 pounds. It can be used as bed or carriage.
Travel crib-pen and travel beds
ALSO SEE: See cute vintage baby nursery furniture & bedroom decor they had in the fifties
One Response
Have tiggett round playpen. How much is it worth.