An o'er fond father and mother vie with each other in love and care of their wonderful first baby. Of course, when mother-in-law pays them a visit, she shows them how to take care of the baby and not ruin its health in the way they are likely to do; both are indignant. The nurse goes out and leaves the baby, and the mother immediately thinks it is ill because it is crying. The mother-in-law, however, knows differently and removes a safety pin from it anatomy. Then the fond pair buy birthday presents for the baby, suitable for a child of ten years. Mother-in-law buys a simple rattle; the baby playing with it and discarding all the expensive presents, much to the astonishment of the father and mother. The mother-in-law next pays a visit to a seamstress, who has been doing the sewing for her daughter, Mrs. Howard, where she finds a large family of little ones mourning because they have no playthings. She afterwards sends for the seamstress and the children and has them brought to her son-in-law's house, and the father and mother give the baby's presents to the seamstress's children, and invite them to dinner. This is the crux of a lesson planted by a sensible, but too frequently cartooned mother-in-law.
—Moving Picture World synopsis