Prior to 1920, it was still legal to mail children in the US – generally speaking it was less costly than travelling by train as a passenger. Kids were required to have stamps affixed to them and weigh less than 50 pounds.
Prior to 1920, it was still legal to mail children in the US – generally speaking it was less costly than travelling by train as a passenger. Kids were required to have stamps affixed to them and weigh less than 50 pounds.
the practice of sending children via the US mail began in 1913, following the introduction of the Parcel Post service, which had vague regulations regarding live cargo; eventually it was banned by 1920;
children were never put in boxes or mailbags; they traveled with a trusted mail carrier, often a family member or acquaintance, on a train’s mail car;
the cost was significantly cheaper than a train ticket, with parents attaching the required postage stamps to the child’s clothing; the first known “mailed” child, an 8-month-old baby in Ohio, was sent for just 15 cents in stamps.
Long_TimeRunning on
HugoZHackenbush2 on
Even in 2025, I would give this service my stamp of approval..
mrbuddymcbuddyface on
That’s what you call thinking outside of the envelope
TelluricThread0 on
Chiaotzu travels by mail.
Visual_Enthusiasm_73 on
Lmao. Humans gonna human.
midjet117 on
It was also legal to sell children as well
TW0lfer on
I left your delivery under the welcome rug, do get it before the porch pirates claim it.
zergling3161 on
Were they fed?
Bigallround on
Like Just Eat for Jimmy Saville
gemstun on
If Reddit said it, it must be true
PunfullyObvious on
Makes me feel foolish for being scared to death the one time I sent my then 10-year-old on a plane on their own – one leg, I got them to the departure gate, special handling by the flight crew, met my sister at the arrival gate.
I just can’t imagine entrusting them to the postal service. And, I was being hyperbolic, I don’t feel remotely foolish for being scared to death about my child flying on their own. I regret doing it, frankly, as the airline really didn’t hold up their end of the bargain. Thankfully my child was/is pretty self-sufficient and very well understood what they needed to do.
Slimmanoman on
I’d mail my kid to myself to have some quiet time
ForgetfulPathfinder on
“Mom I’m sending your grandson for Christmas, you can expect him in 5-7 business days, couldn’t afford prime, happy holidays.”
Latter_Present1900 on
This cannot be true? Please
zeroibis on
The airline industry wishes they could get in on this.
markoh3232 on
So they rode the train and paid in stamps, or riding a train and paying a ticket. What am I missing here?
19 Comments
What could go wrong ………
the practice of sending children via the US mail began in 1913, following the introduction of the Parcel Post service, which had vague regulations regarding live cargo; eventually it was banned by 1920;
children were never put in boxes or mailbags; they traveled with a trusted mail carrier, often a family member or acquaintance, on a train’s mail car;
the cost was significantly cheaper than a train ticket, with parents attaching the required postage stamps to the child’s clothing; the first known “mailed” child, an 8-month-old baby in Ohio, was sent for just 15 cents in stamps.
Even in 2025, I would give this service my stamp of approval..
That’s what you call thinking outside of the envelope
Chiaotzu travels by mail.
Lmao. Humans gonna human.
It was also legal to sell children as well
I left your delivery under the welcome rug, do get it before the porch pirates claim it.
Were they fed?
Like Just Eat for Jimmy Saville
If Reddit said it, it must be true
Makes me feel foolish for being scared to death the one time I sent my then 10-year-old on a plane on their own – one leg, I got them to the departure gate, special handling by the flight crew, met my sister at the arrival gate.
I just can’t imagine entrusting them to the postal service. And, I was being hyperbolic, I don’t feel remotely foolish for being scared to death about my child flying on their own. I regret doing it, frankly, as the airline really didn’t hold up their end of the bargain. Thankfully my child was/is pretty self-sufficient and very well understood what they needed to do.
I’d mail my kid to myself to have some quiet time
“Mom I’m sending your grandson for Christmas, you can expect him in 5-7 business days, couldn’t afford prime, happy holidays.”
This cannot be true? Please
The airline industry wishes they could get in on this.
So they rode the train and paid in stamps, or riding a train and paying a ticket. What am I missing here?
Can we bring this back? Asking for a friend.