A lot of them didn't.
In 1900, approximately 30% of all deaths in the United States occurred in children under 5 years old. The infant mortality rate was roughly 100 to 160 deaths per 1,000 live births, and up to 18% of children died before reaching their fifth birthday. [
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These staggering rates were primarily driven by infectious and environmental diseases before the widespread availability of modern antibiotics and vaccines. [
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Here is a specific breakdown of childhood death statistics in the early 20th century:
- Under-5 Mortality: Roughly 180 to 200 deaths per 1,000 live births. Over 40% of all deaths caused by infectious diseases in 1900 occurred in children under 5. [, , ]
- Infant Mortality (Under 1 Year): Estimated at 100 to 165 deaths per 1,000 live births, meaning approximately 1 in 6 children died before their first birthday. [, , ]
- Top Causes of Death: Diarrheal diseases, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and diphtheria accounted for about a third of all U.S. deaths, striking children particularly hard