Group discussion, first child

Mike Lawrence, first child born in 1965 when husbands weren’t allowed in the delivery suite. Had to wait in waiting room for eight hours. He had to work full time but enjoyed feeding the baby and doing what he could.

Bottles sterilized in Milton Solution. Solid food was Farex.

Washable nappies not easy to dry in a Taumarunui winter. Wringer washing machine and a drying cabinet.

Anne Weir’s first child 1975. A big boy. Everything went well.

Husband not present but would have been allowed in the room.

Baby suffered from cholic but otherwise well behaved.

Alison Mildon didn’t have the experience of a baby of her own but did observe other people’s babies and the different way babies were cared for over the years.

Stuart Birks first child was born in 1981. Stuart was well involved in the birth process. The mother was Asian and there were some cultural differences.

General discussion about nappies, cradles and other equipment.

Prams have changed over the years and now parents go jogging with a baby in a pram.

Not the same concern about sun protection as there is now.