Growing up in the past came with its own set of rules, and back then, certain habits were so common we barely blinked an eye. From car safety (or lack thereof) to household norms, there are things our parents did that seem downright shocking now. Times have changed, and these once-common practices would raise eyebrows—or even alarms—today. Here are 15 everyday things our parents did that you probably shouldn’t consider in the modern world.
1. Letting Kids Roam Free Until Dinnertime
There was an unwritten rule that kids could disappear all day as long as they were back by dinner. No cell phones, no tracking apps—just trust and a little luck. Parents knew the general area where we’d be, but they weren’t hovering. Today, with safety concerns and busy schedules, most parents wouldn’t dream of letting kids roam unsupervised like we did.
2. Smoking in the House… and Car
In the ‘60s and ‘70s, smoking was part of everyday life, and few people worried about secondhand smoke. Cigarettes in the house, in the car (even with kids in the backseat)—it was all normal. Today, with what we know about the dangers of smoke, lighting up indoors is almost unheard of, and smoking in cars with kids is illegal in many places.
3. Putting Kids in the Front Seat
Child car seats were not a given in the past. Most kids were either held in someone’s lap or sat in the front seat without much thought to safety. Even when car seats came around, they were a lot simpler than today’s. Now, child passenger safety laws require age-appropriate seats in the back, and for good reason—modern cars and safety standards just weren’t around back then.
4. Using Harsh Cleaning Products Without Ventilation
Bleach, ammonia, and other strong chemicals were household staples, and no one thought twice about using them in enclosed spaces. People scrubbed without cracking a window, and sometimes mixed cleaning products that, today, we know to be dangerous combinations. Now we’re aware of the risks of chemical fumes, and products often come with a long list of safety precautions that just didn’t exist back then.
5. Serving Up Raw Eggs in Recipes
From homemade mayonnaise to raw cookie dough, eggs went into all sorts of recipes without a second thought. Raw eggs in dessert or breakfast recipes were commonplace. With the increased awareness of foodborne illnesses like salmonella, we’re much more cautious about food prep today—raw eggs are no longer an everyday risk worth taking.
6. Using Baby Oil as Sunscreen
Sunscreen wasn’t on everyone’s radar in the past. Some people used baby oil for tanning, thinking it would help them get a golden glow. SPF wasn’t much of a concern; if anything, people chased that tan no matter the cost. Today, with all we know about skin cancer and sun damage, sunscreen is a must—and baby oil is nowhere near a substitute!
7. Letting Kids Sip Alcohol “For Fun”
It wasn’t uncommon for parents to let kids have a sip of beer or wine at family gatherings, just to make them feel grown-up. Back then, this was seen as harmless fun, and parents thought it was a way to demystify alcohol. Today, we know better, and most parents avoid introducing kids to alcohol until they’re of legal age.
8. Letting Babies Sleep on Their Stomachs
The “Back to Sleep” campaign, which encourages parents to lay infants on their backs, didn’t start until the ‘90s. Before that, it was common to put babies to sleep on their stomachs, which was later linked to a higher risk of SIDS. Thanks to new information and medical research, we now know that back-sleeping is safest for babies.
9. Ignoring Food Expiration Dates
Expiration dates were either not widely used or simply not given much attention. Many parents had the mindset of “if it smells okay, it’s good to go,” leading to some questionable kitchen practices. Today, expiration dates are closely monitored, and most people don’t take chances with food safety.
10. Ignoring Seat Belts
In the ‘60s and ‘70s, seat belts were not yet mandatory, and many people didn’t use them. Seat belt laws didn’t start gaining traction until the late ‘80s, and even then, it took a while for everyone to get on board. Now, seat belts are non-negotiable safety features that everyone is expected to use—and it’s hard to imagine driving without them.
11. Leaving Kids in the Car
It wasn’t unusual for parents to leave kids in the car while they ran quick errands, with the windows cracked and the car parked in the shade. Nowadays, this would be unthinkable, with most states having laws against leaving minors in unattended vehicles. What used to be a quick stop now raises safety and legal concerns for many parents.
12. Leaving Medicine Out and Unlocked
A medicine cabinet full of pills was considered a private space, but it was also easy for curious kids to access. Locking up medications wasn’t on anyone’s mind, and “childproof caps” weren’t widely used. Today, we know that keeping medicine out of reach and secured is vital to preventing accidental ingestion by kids.
13. Letting Kids Ride in the Open Bed of a Truck
Kids thought it was a thrill to sit or stand in the open bed of a pickup truck while it cruised down the street. Safety guidelines? Nonexistent. This was a normal thing, especially in rural areas. Now, we understand the risks involved, and riding in a truck bed is illegal in many places due to the obvious safety hazards.
While these habits are mostly things of the past, they’re a reminder of how much life—and safety standards—has changed. These once-common practices paint a picture of a different time, one where people didn’t know as much about health and safety as we do today. We may shake our heads now, but looking back, these moments remind us how unique and memorable those years were, even with the risks.
