Mailing Babies: When It Was Legal to Send Children Through the U.S Postal Service in the Early 20th Century
Once-upon-a-time, it was legal to mail a baby in the United States. It happen more than once and by all accounts, the mailed tots arrived no worse for wear. Yes, âbaby mailâ was a real thing.
One of the most overlooked, yet most significant innovations of the early 20th century might be the Post Officeâs decision to start shipping large parcels and packages through the mail. While private delivery companies flourished during the 19th century, the Parcel Post dramatically expanded the reach of mail-order companies to Americaâs many rural communities, as well as the demand for their products.
When the Post Officeâs Parcel Post officially began on January 1, 1913, the new service suddenly allowed millions of Americans great access to all kinds of goods and services. But almost immediately, it had some unintended consequences as some parents tried to send their children through the mail.
The Post Office, in its wisdom, had finally ruled that children were not âharmless animalsâ and because of their potentiality for danger may not be mailed as parcel post. âBy no stretch of imagination or language,â said the ruling, âcan children be classified as harmless, live animals that do not require food or water.â
Even today, postal regulations allow the mailing of live animals, including poultry, reptiles, and bees, under certain conditions. But no more babies, please.
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