National Baby Week

Following their lead, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Topeka, Grand Rapids, and a few other cities held similar celebrations, consisting of a week dedicated to the welfare of babies.

[2][3] In the fall of 1915, the General Federation of Women's Clubs and the Children's Bureau announced their purpose to cooperate in promoting a nation-wide baby week to be held in the spring of 1916.

March 4 to 11 was suggested as the date, but it was made plain that a baby week at any other period would be regarded as part of the nation-wide campaign.

[2] The President and the Secretary of Labor gave public endorsement to the plan; many governors and mayors issued proclamations on the subject.

[2] The General Federation of Women's Clubs and the Children's Bureau urged all appropriate national, State, and local organizations and all individuals interested in infant welfare to participate.

The Public Health Service was one of the largest contributors of material on the care of the baby for distribution in communities in all parts of the country.

The Office of Home Economics of the Department of Agriculture prepared a special bulletin on Food for Young Children, which was widely circulated.

As a result of widespread cooperation, several thousand American cities, towns, and rural communities organized and celebrated baby weeks.

The number of local campaigns held in the United States of which the Children's Bureau afterwards received authentic reports was 2,100.

In one town that had no club nor organization whatsoever to initiate the campaign, a group of individuals simply came together and formed themselves into a committee.

[2] Some committees were so successful in raising money that after they had paid the expense of the celebration, they still had a good sum remaining with which to launch permanent work.

Posters in foreign languages, illustrated with brightly colored photographs, were used to teach simple facts in baby hygiene and care.