When did the US Postal Service stop mailing children?

On June 13, 1920, First Assistant Postmaster-General Koons ruled that “children may not be transported as parcel post.”

Early in the 20th century, the Post Office made the bold move to start shipping large parcels through the mail. Mail order companies dramatically expanded their footprint in the United States. The Post Office’s Parcel Post, however, encountered some unexpected parcels as Americans sent their children through the mail. Jesse and Matilda Beagle, of Ohio, posted their 8 month old son James to his Grandmother just a few miles away. Affixed with the proper postage of 15 cents, attached to his clothing, young Master Beagle was delivered by the U.S. Postal Service into Grandmother's waiting arms. Leaving nothing to chance, the Beagles did insure the lad for $50.00.

Postage being cheaper than a train ticket, there were occurrences of parents mailing their children via train. The children were always accompanied by a member of the Postal Service. Rural communities placed a great deal of trust in their postal workers as they often were the only contact many people had in remote areas.