Exploring the choices and challenges of parenthood, ‘Bringing Up Baby’ is a new exhibition, which opened today (Thursday, 14th Feb.) at Edinburgh’s Museum of Childhood. The exhibition is free to enter and runs until the 29th September.
‘Bringing Up Baby’ features a range of objects from the museum’s collection including; Paddi Pad disposable nappies invented by British mum Valerie Hunter Gordon in 1947, Kamella Baby Bag popular in the 1930’s and a charming selection of baby’s clothes, including home-made knits and a selection of clothes popular through the decades.
Scotland’s Baby Box also features as part of the exhibition having been gifted to the Museum by the Scottish Government last year, marking the 1st anniversary of the national scheme which sees every newborn baby in Scotland presented with a Baby Box from the Scottish Government.
Through these wide-ranging objects, ‘Bringing Up Baby’ aims to highlight some of those difficult decisions and the different responses made by parents across the generations as they approach parenthood. Breast or bottle? Cloth nappies or disposables? Should you use a dummy? These questions and more shall be addressed through the exhibition and are sure to generate debate, discussion, shared stories, memories and advise across the generations.
Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “With over 200,000 visitors every year, the recently refurbished Museum of Childhood is one of Edinburgh City Council’s flagship venues and a much-loved institution in the City.”
Now open seven days a week it is home to an impressive collection of more than 60,000 objects reflecting childhoods from the 18th century to the present day and this latest exhibition is a welcome addition. It showcases generations of childcare artefacts, documents and changing trends in parenting right up to 2019.”
Lyn Stevens, Museum of Childhood Curator said: “It has been fascinating to explore the Museum’s collection to find what has changed in infant care and what has stayed the same. The clothes were especially interesting as fashion plays a large role in how parents wish to present their new arrivals to the world. Scotland’s Baby Box is a great addition to our collection, and captures a moment in time for this new initiative.”
