My 1940s baby will have just turned four months old as we head back to 1944 for the next week of the experiment, we thought we would squeeze another week in before he gets started eating solids.
A child under five years is entitled to 7 pints of milk a week (which could be exchanged for formula powder if needed), and the mother of a baby under 12 months is entitled to another 7 pints. That means that while he's still breastfeeding I am meant to get through 14 pints of milk a week! And I'm strongly advised not to share them with my family, they are meant for me and the baby. In the modern world I usually only have milk in tea so who knows what I'll do with 14 pints of it, maybe I'll make cheese?!
Beyond that it's quite difficult to find out what a baby's (or mum and baby's) rations are. When pregnancy was confirmed you were given a green ration book, which was the book for all children under five. During pregnancy the baby's rations were meant to be eaten by mum, so she got extra meat for example. Then the book was "altered" when the birth was registered, giving all that extra milk for one thing. But I can't find out what else was included. Did you still get a meat ration for the baby? What about fat or cheese? Reading between the lines I suspect that you were expected to start weaning at six months, certainly babies had a generous egg ration from that age.
I'm going to have to do a bit more digging, maybe if I pull out some old childcare manuals I'll get some clues. It is interesting stuff, if anyone has any leads do sent them my way!
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