Memories of those 1970s Vaseline jars

For those of us growing up in the 1970s, remember those old Vaseline jars used in clinics that had cartoon characters on them. This was the days before the rectangular plastic containers with blue flip top lids. The jars I'm talking about were more square shaped with round metal screw on lids. But there were rabbits, cats wearing striped shirts, and a blue cow on the labels. Probably a feeble attempt to ease the worry and anxiety of a child about to get his rectal temperature taken.....such as I experienced often at the children's clinic c. 1976 - 1980. Most often, as my underwear were pulled down and my legs raised, I became fixated on the colorful little characters on the jar sitting over on the counter. I was intrigued by all that color, until the fixation was cut short by the uncomfortably cold tingling sensation when the nurse stuck a thermometer up my butt. I hated the way that felt, even when it was greased up with the contents of that colorful little jar with cartoons on it.

I do remember the screw top lids but do not remember cartoon characters. My mom was a no nonsense kind of nurse so she probably never bought them.

This is a new thread on me. My mom always had the thermometer ready before she came and got me from what I was doing to have my rectal temperature taken. I just dropped my pants and underwear and as soon as I laid over her lap, my cheeks were separated and the ice cold thermometer was inserted into the center of my anus in up into my rectum for the 5 minutes and did not see any vaseline Jars.

My memories are from the 1960s. A round glass jar of Vaseline with a thermometer standing upright in the goo was my constant companion when I was sick in bed. It was frequently joined with a small jar of Vap-o-rub. No cartoon characters on my jars. I have vivid memories of the sound of the metal lid being unscrewed from the glass jar.

Oh imagine if the jars got switched

I don’t remember any cartoon characters. I remember mom coming into my room with a jar of Vaseline and the black thermometer holder.

I also never remember any cartoon characters. I just remember the glass jar. Also, when I was 14 or 15, my Dad and I were coming home from the pediatrician's office, as I got sick pretty much twice a year. He pulled up to the pharmacy, gave me money and sent me in to pick up my prescription. He also told me my Mom wanted us to buy a new jar of vaseline. There was a female clerk at the register, about 19 or 20. She looked at me and gave some kind of smile when she saw me with the vaseline. A bit embarrassing.

Remember Vaseline jars from the 50s! A friend and I used Vaseline for anal play as well as masturbation! Lots of good memories!

After some searching I found a couple links to some Vaseline jars similar to the ones I'm talking about. I believe these were from the late 1960s.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-1960-ponds-baby-vaseline-1732488440

https://picclick.com/Vintage-1967-Vaseline-Jar-Plastic-Nursery-Jar-12oz-163460670799.html

I like those vaseline jars. They are too cute. I have never seen those before. So that is what this threat is all about. Now I understand. Cool. Thank you for sharing.

There was a time early in my childhood that I had my rectal temperature taken so many times, the Vaseline the nurse stuck up there could probably grease the running gear on an Abrams tank.

Wow. A view from the past for sure. I do remember them, especially when the jar was brought out at the pediatrician's office as I was informed to turn over for my temperature. As others have noted, it seems somewhat clear the cartoon was to ease those about the have Vaseline applied for a temperature or enema. That was often the case for me.

The vintage Vaseline jars, with the screw on top, brings back memories. I found a used one at a yard sale, cleaned out the old remains, and re-filled it.

The vintage Vaseline jars, with the screw on top, brings back memories. I found a used one at a yard sale, cleaned out the old remains, and re-filled it.

That is cool JJM. I have never seen any screw on lids for vaseline until I saw the photos. Those vaseline screw off lids might be worth something years down the road. You never know. Hang on to them.

I remember the glass jars with the screw on kids. My mom had a large one which she would carry into the room along with the thermometer and some tissues. I always saw the big yellowish jar of Vaseline first, so when she had that I knew she was going to take my rectal temp. I can even remember the sound that the lid made when she would unscrew it right before dipping it into the jelly.

I remember those old Vaseline jars used in clinics that had cartoon characters on them. The jars were more square shaped with round metal screw on lids. But there were rabbits, cats wearing striped shirts, and a blue cow on the labels. When the nurse show me into the exam room I would see the large jar of Vaseline that had cartoon characters on it next to the container holding red tip rectal thermometers. I can even remember the sound that the lid made when she would unscrew it right before dipping it into the jelly. Before long I was on my tummy with a thermometer protruding from my rectum.

My doctor did have Vaseline in the exam rooms and only rectal thermometers never did see an oral one in exam rooms they must have kept them elsewhere. Also didn't see any of the usual Vaseline jars, they always had the Vaseline in a glass jar that matched the thermometer holder rack.

Looking at it made my bottom warm. Loved the look texture of it. Specially on a thermometer.

Yes for me the jar of Vaseline is important to this day when playing doctor. Her tray must have kleenex, a jar of Vaseline, and a rectal thermometer in a glass of very cold water.

I also remember not open metal box in the treatment room at the pediatricians, when the nurses took my temperature before I was sent to the doctor himself. Outside this box a few thermometers sticked out, and now I believe it could have been Vaseline inside. It was a kind of transparent cream with a special smell. And when the nurse told me that she wanted to take my temperature, she pulled one of these thermometers out of the box. When the doctor checked my temperature again, I can't remember any lube, because he took it out of the desk and then directly into my bum (was indeed uncomfortable when the nurse didn't measure me before because I wasn't lubed then...)

We had a huge glass oval jar of an off-brand petroleum jelly called Moreline. It got used for many many rectal temperature takings over the years. It was still there when I left for college.

I don't remember when the Vaseline jars were updated, but I do know that the older ones were clear glass, with a blue and white, screw-on top. It had a caption on it saying "first aid in a jar." Then there was a version that came in a brown jar, called "carbolated," Vaseline. I have no idea how that was different than the original. I associate the vintage jars with rectal temps. The modern design just doesn't do it for me. Just seeing that vintage glass jar, gives me a faster erection than a bottle of Viagra.

I remember those glass jars with screw on top. Unfortunately, I cannot connect them witn rectal temperatures since my mom only did it under my armpit. I remember my mom have a glass jar full of thermometers, though.

Huh, learned something new.

Couple of reasons why I never saw these jars as a youth in the 50s/60s, first, they appear to be aimed at nursery use, second, my mom was frugal and bought store or off brand whenever possible. Probably one could purchase a large sized jar of petroleum jelly for less cost than a small jar of Vaseline. We did have Vaseline brand in the house as well as Vick’s. I think it depended on what was available within walking distance as mom did not have her own car.

Our jar of Vaseline was in a clear glass jar with a blue metal lid.

Was looking at some on eBay. Might include one with a thermometer or two I will auction off.

I remember those jars. Ours was only used for thermometers and enemas. It was stoll around when I graduated eith original Vaseline in it. My mom actually stored the thermometer in it so it was all ready for use. It was on a shelf in the bathroom so I'm sure my friends saw it (along with yhe enema bag hanging on the back of the bathroom door.

By the 1970s, in the U.S.A., Vaseline came in plastic jars, I guess because so many were dropped. As a young child, I always enjoyed looking at the thermometer sized holes in the ointment in a new jar.

I never really liked the smell of Vaseline/petroleum jelly. There was something cloying and off-putting about it, as if when used, other people could tell by the odor it left.

But when I was young and until my early adulthood, I knew of no other lubricant. A shame.

At one time Vaseline jars were made of glass, then plastic, but always with a blue screw-on lid. The irony is that Vaseline was a widely used home remedy for many different ailments: sunburn, insect bites, chapped lips, etc etc. We also put it on cuts to keep band-aids from sticking. The only thing we really miss is seeing a big glob on the end of a rectal thermometer.