Your First Year with Baby – a Guide for New Mother’s (1950)

This image shows the front cover of the pamphlet. A baby’s head and a text area are on a background of pink and brown. The text reads: Your first year with Baby.

This image shows a floating baby head with pink paint marks radiating from the head.

This image shows the back cover of the pamphlet. On a pink background there is an illustration of a can of Wilson’s evaporated milk.

New mothers are often on the hunt for guidance and tips on the basic activities of raising a newborn. This booklet, published by Wilson’s Evaporated Milk in 1950, provides basic information about taking care of a new baby while promoting the benefits of their products.

Early in the publication, Wilson promotes the importance of its product in feeding a child. “Nurses are telling you about baby care and you are anxious to learn! Your doctor calls often and one day he may mention that baby is hungry – that he needs a supplementary feeding. He prescribes evaporated milk, and now you learn why Wilson’s Milk is good for baby.” The health benefits are also emphasized. “It’s fortified with sufficient Vitamin D – the ‘sunshine’ vitamin which baby needs to develop strong bones, good teeth and promote optimal growth.”

The pamphlet does eventually cover some non-feeding activities about newborns. From “his first splash” to “vogue in baby’s clothes,” the booklet provides some helpful yet brief advice for the new mother.

This item can be viewed online in Special Collections’ Digital Collections or in Special Collections in McCain Library & Archives room 305.

For more information about this item, contact Jennifer Brannock at Jennifer.Brannock@usm.edu or 601.266.4347.

Text by Jennifer Brannock, Curator of Rare Books & Mississippiana