The paper deals with aspects of the so-called “Verwahrlosung” of children on the basis of an extensive speech/ report delivered at the 1907 First Austrian Child Protection Conference by Lydia v. Wolfring president of the Pestalozzi Society, one of numerous contemporary voluntary organizations dealing with child protection and youth welfare in the Habsburg Monarchy at the time. “Verwahrlosung” referred to children’s and youth’s material, emotional and moral neglect and was intensively debated by state officials, university professors, school teachers as well as engaged individuals in early 20th century Austria, particularly within the scholarly, intellectual and political environment of the imperial capital, Vienna. The paper brings forward the contents of “Verwahrlosung”, attitudes and practices in regard to child “neglect”, as well as children’s experiences themselves.