Let X(t) be a non-homogeneous birth and death process. In this paper we develop a general method of estimating bounds for the state probabilities for X(t), based on inequalities for the solutions of the forward Kolmogorov equations. Specific examples covered include simple estimates of Pr(X(t) < j | X(0) = k) for the M(t)/M(t)/N/0 and M(t)/M(t)/N queue-length processes.