One way to find the records you need is through the US Census Bureau. Starting in 1924, the US Census Bureau issued a document called a Notification of Birth Registration. This form made it easy for parents to register their children because they simply filled out the form and sent it back. The US Census Bureau stopped using this form in the 1940s as hospitals began keeping more accurate records.

In addition to this notification form, you can also look up birth certificates. The Bureau of Vital Statistics in your state may allow you to fill out a form online and get a certified copy sent to you through the mail. Some states still require that you come in and request the certificate in person. You may find these records limited to children born after the early 1970s though. Birth notices are another way to find a child’s name and their parents along with when and where they were born. You’ll often find birth notices in old newspaper archives.