For families living in densely populated neighborhoods, however, this advice created a challenge. Many apartment buildings lacked balconies, gardens, or nearby parks, and city streets were often crowded, polluted, and unsafe. Baby cages appeared to offer a practical compromise. By attaching the cages to windows, parents believed they could give their infants access to outdoor air and sunlight without leaving the apartment or exposing them directly to street-level hazards.
Although the practice now seems alarming, baby cages were not generally viewed as reckless by the standards of the era. Some models were even marketed commercially and promoted as scientifically informed childcare innovations. In certain cases, housing authorities and landlords permitted or supported their installation, reflecting the widespread confidence in modern engineering and public health ideas during the early twentieth century.
