In 1872, Britain enacted the Infant Life Protection Society and required all births and all households with more than one boarding infant be registered. The first state to follow this act was in 1882 in Massachusetts. The state required the registration of all homes that boarded illegitimate infants. Despite these efforts, large-scale infanticide occurred well into the first decade of the twentieth century. Baby farming was the precedent of the establishment of the Society for the Protection of Cruelty of Children.

TYPES OF ORPHAN CARE

BABY FARMING: Baby farming was a practice of an infant being placed in a broker's care with the notion that the infant would be sent away to be nursed and boarded. Baby farming came under scrutiny in the later half of the nineteenth century in the United States and Britain. In 1868, the British Medical Journal alleged baby farming was nothing more than "commercial infanticide". They claimed the infants were deliberately neglected leading to death. The truth of the matter is many infants indeed died, but proof was never established.

The general characteristic of a baby farmer?  The baby-farmer was usually a middle-aged woman who would solicit for infants by the use of "adoption" advertisements. Many of them were nurses, mid-wives and lying-in housekeepers. A lying-in housekeeper would take in an infant from a poor, unwed mother. The mother would be paid to have her baby placed with a housekeeper and then it was arranged for the infant to be transferred to baby farmers.

The intentions of women utilizing baby farmers varied. Some women wanted to be rid of her unwanted or illegitimate infant; others felt it was best for the baby due to their destitute lives. Oftentimes, the promise of death of the infant was discussed openly. Other women sent their own infants away so they could become a wet-nurse to make fast and easy money.

ORPHAN TRAINS: The orphan trains were in operation from 1859 - 1930. The practice involved placing children from large cities into rural Mid-Western families. It was considered to be a romantic alternative to overcrowded orphanages. Many of the children sent out felt fortunate. Many areas still have reunions and societies to share their experiences. Two of the most notable are the Texas Train Annual Reunion and The Orphan Train Heritage Society of America based in Springdale, Arkansas(which houses information on 3000 riders and a research center).

FOSTER HOMES: While the funds for orphanages diminished, the number of dependent still grew. Their was also a popular view of children should be placed with families whenever possible.

CHURCH ORPHANAGES: Church orphanages were funded and operated by a church. The children resided in the basement, an attachment, or a separate building owned by the church. The variables of care, education, nurturing, and overall success varied between the overseeing religion of the Church. Catholic orphanages day to day operations were overseen by the priests, nuns and brothers of the parish. They were considered to be role models of provide the roles of parents, teachers, and caregivers. Protestant operated orphanages utilized secular members of the community and they believed "idle hands are the devil's workshop". These orphanages taught survival-labor skills, provided education, and taught such skills as cooking and farming. Unfortunately, church orphanages had been under attack since their inception.

FOUNDLING HOSPITALS: Foundling Hospitals was a version of the original "warehouse" orphanage. It was a place for infants with the primary goal of survival. Many of the infants found had conditions that compromised their survival. America's first foundling hospital, St. Vincent's Infant Asylum, was established in 1856 in Baltimore, Maryland. St. Vincent's was operated by Roman-Catholic Nuns. Almost all large cities had foundling homes.