Unfortunately plenty of babies and kids died back then from car crashes, furniture falling on them, sids and more. Just because yours (collectively) didn't doesn't mean none of those things were a danger. This board represents but a tiny percentage of the population so it's not surprising that the people who lost loved ones in these ways aren't here to report their stories. When we know better, we do better, and because of the things that have happened and been studied, we know better (in most cases).
You know how people say that when they were young they ran all over town as kids and nothing bad happened to them. Well I did as well and I was molested, twice. So it's not always because it didn't happen but because people don't mention it.