by hightechgrammy 23 Jun 2021

I have been watching Call the Midwife! It is a program with tons of episodes. It is supposed to be in Poplar in England. So I am wondering how realistic this is for the 50's and 60's in England. The way the older babies sit in their prams (baby buggies here) just doesn't seem possible. I had a baby visit today and that baby was ALL over the place, climbing and getting under things and carrying around a cookie in each hand. I don't think American babies can sit in a pram like that and stay in like they show in this TV program. I know this is crazy asking this, but is that realistic? If you haven't seen this show, It is on Netflix and I was hooked the very first episode. https://youtu.be/T3Ku4ixAZa4 is the opening.

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by asterixsew Moderator 03 Jul 2021

Another series will appear. As mooie tells us her mum had a Silver Cross pram that she used. Babies wore knitted outfits and how the mothers copes without the washing facilities that we have goodness knows. Many small children were safely out of harms way in a big coach built pram and spent ages there sitting playing with what ever they were given. When I was a small child ie under two my mother left me outside the local Woolworths and went in to shop and on coming out found I and the pram was missing. She went back inside to say her baby and pram were missing. The reply was the manager doesnt like prams left outside the shop we moved it round the back.
I had a Silver Cross pram that was passed on from my dear friend and it was most useful for leaving the baby in safely in the garden. One late autumn day I decided to take it down to the village. I lived at the top of a steep hill and the sea is at the bottom. Walking down was dreadful and I clung on to the handle for all I could worried if I let go the pram and precious daughter would race down the hill and into the sea. I still havnt decided almost 40 years later which was worse the going down or pushing the weight of it back up the hill. It was the only time I took the pram out of the garden and it was passed on to a friend who was renovating their home and had 'loaned' her pram and not got it back. Parenting styles have altered over the years. I do know that the substitutes pushchairs are easier to handle and give greater freedom as they can be taken on public transport or the back of a car

3 comments
mooie24 by mooie24 03 Jul 2021

I've still got my matching dolls silver cross navy coach pram, given to me when I was about 5 so 1976, its buried in my garage somewhere lol .. but an heirloom neither the less

hightechgrammy by hightechgrammy 03 Jul 2021

So, there was an episode where the mother really wanted this fancy pram. Was that a silver cross? Thanks for telling about your pram experience. Babies today would be crawling out or jumping inside it. LOL

hightechgrammy by hightechgrammy 10 Sep 2021

I actually met. two midwives from Britain in the museum where I am. a docent. They said the baby buggies had straps. that fastened around a rigid board that kept them "safe."

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by killiecrankie 03 Jul 2021

I've watched every series including the Christmas specials.The latest series was shown here early this year & the final episode left me wondering if they were going to make ant more.

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hightechgrammy by hightechgrammy 03 Jul 2021

Those Christmas specials were wonderful. There is a song they sing we don't hear her in the US. What is that song??? Something about a wintery night???

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by babash 02 Jul 2021

Yes I have a photo of my brother in a similar pram and that was taken in Australia. Back then babies seemed to just sit quietly as children you were seen but not heard.
I agree had a little one here last weekend and was like a little rocket so full of energy.
This is a very good show I enjoyed watching it as well. I am hoping there is more to come. Another one I was watching was Home Fires Burning but the stopped making it right on a cliff hanger. It was about families in England during the war. Seemed to be very realistic and I can't understand why they canned it.

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hightechgrammy by hightechgrammy 03 Jul 2021

I'd love to find another so great. Do you ever watch This Farming Life? I put that on and watch several at a time, great to have on while stitching and sewing!

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by sebsews 23 Jun 2021

Sounds like some great TV series to watch. Will check them out.

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hightechgrammy by hightechgrammy 03 Jul 2021

Did you find it? I think it may be the best produced tV show I've ever watched.

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by mooie24 23 Jun 2021

hi there.. it is scarily realistic.. my mum had pictures of me sitting in my silver cross coach pram just like that.. the knitted pram sets from them days are amazing.. and very much coming back into fashion here in London :-)

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hightechgrammy by hightechgrammy 03 Jul 2021

I love how they show the layettes and the diapers are something else! Also I've noticed most all of the houses have dark walls inside. I wonder if that is the way it was then? IN the US there was lots of lighter, floral wallpaper during that time period...

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by mrskiki 23 Jun 2021

I too was hooked from the very beginning. Of course when the women started screaming in childbirth, my husband was gone! Another good one to watch is Heartland. Good family viewing. Hugs. Nan

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hightechgrammy by hightechgrammy 23 Jun 2021

I like Heartland too. I also watched all the episodes of Dr. Quinn, Medicine woman. Not nearly as refined as Call the Midwife, but also rich with history of the Old West in America and in Colorado. There was a doctor not far from here in the mountains who was very much like Dr. Quinn.

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by marianb 23 Jun 2021

It's a great show isn't it I have 9 seasons on DVD just waiting to see if there is more to come.

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hightechgrammy by hightechgrammy 03 Jul 2021

I don't think I've seen all 9 seasons! Glad to learn there are more!

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by pennifold 23 Jun 2021

Hi Jan, I've been watching it for ages and yes, it's very much to what life was like back in the 50's. Poplar was a very poor district in London. I think if Caroline sees this post she might be able to answer. I know she is from Wales, but she may know.
I love Miranda Hart (a British comedienne in her own right) and Jenny Agutter. All the cast are brilliant. aren't they? Love Chris

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hightechgrammy by hightechgrammy 23 Jun 2021

It is really well produced and the opening scene is so lovely. I remember so much from the 50s when I grew up in Indiana, in the midwest of US. But not babies sitting quietly in baby buggies!

hightechgrammy by hightechgrammy 03 Jul 2021

Are these actors and actresses in other shows or movies?

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