A new perspective on the demographic transition: birth-baptism intervals in ten Spanish villages, 1830–1949

Abstract We analyse the evolution of birth-baptism intervals between 1830 and 1949 among children born into 815 Spanish families relate changes observed to developments in childhood mortality. Our results show that our study area increased rapidly after 1890, three decades mortality began decline a decade before fertility fall. confirm increasing their children's births baptisms 1890 were those whose previous had high rates survival. conclude that, last years nineteenth century, aware child adjusted behaviour response.