Better Baby Contests

 In Jim Kershner's column, 100 Years Ago Today, 5 Sep 1923, had this bit:  "Carol Mahoney, age 20 months, was declared "Grand Champion Baby of the Inland Empire" at the Interstate Fair. Judges gave little Carol a score of 99.875%.....yes, babies were judged.... while her closest competitor scored only 99.75%. She won $120 in gold after "four days of grueling examination by the corps of doctors and nurses." 

I did some follow-up research on "little Carol Mahoney." Born on Christmas Day in 1922, Carol Arleigh Mahoney was born to William and Ruth (Hoffman) Mahoney. She married Robert Hepker; she died on 22 Dec 2010. No children were listed. (Information from Find A Grave.)

If you find the idea of judging babies to be wild and weird, Google this article and read on: 

‘Better Babies’ Contests Pushed for Much-Needed Infant Health but Also Played Into the Eugenics Movement

Contests around the country judged infants like they would livestock as a motivator for parents to take better care of their children

Francine Uenuma

History Correspondent, Smithsonian Magazine

January 17, 2019

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