OUR BABIES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1937, 20 December 1913, Page 11

OUR BABIES.

TBI Eiaiu.] Published under th# auspices of the Sooiety for the Health of Women and Children. "It Is wiser to put up a fonoo at the top of (v precipice than to maintain an ambul&nco at tho bottom." NOTE.—The Society etronffly diiapproTCß ot tho -us© of crtificial fooaa •' a substitute for mothorß' or humanised -milk. Full directions for tho preparation of tho latter tre contained in tho Hociciy'c pamphlet entitled "What Baby Needs." Bathing and Exorclsa. Dealing with tho bathing of the infant, Professor Koteh says:— J-ho question of tho bath is of a good c l-i ™P°rtance the early months ot life. Unless tlicro is somo definite contra-indication, an infant should bo bathed every morning. _ The contraindications are if the skin or nails turn blue, or if the infant seems in any way to show symptoms of weakness or lowered vitality after bathing, such as aro represented by cold extremities and nose, or an unsually quickened respiration. In these cases sponging, merely sufficient for cleanliness, is to be substituted for the bath. The bathing should bo done with celerity, tho tub being placed on tho side of the fireplace, opposite from tho window, and fronting tho latter, so as to avoid draughts and ensuro good light. Tho nurse should sit with her face to tho light, and have the infant on her lap, wrapped up in a warm blanket,, with its feet towards the fireplace and its head in such a position as regards tho window as to avoid having too much light in its eyes. There should be a rack for the towels, which should bo kept warm in front of the fire while the infant is being bathed. The clothes should in like manner bo nearly spread out on another rack, ready to be put on as soon as the infant has been dried.

Temperature of Bath. The water should vary in its temperature somewhat with the age of tlio infant, but should never be so cold as to cause blucness or cold extremities. Wo'must also bo carcful not to have tlio water too Lot ; as this lias sometimes proved to be injurious. Each infant, however, must have the temperature of its bath adapted to its own vitality, A convenient bath thermometer is ono which is guarded from breaking by a wooden frame, which also allows it to float in t'he water, and the nurse is thus enabled to sco at a glanco that the bath water is of the right heat. The temperature recommended for the bath during the first few month's of lifo is from 98deg. "to lOOdeg., and then a gradual reduction, until at a year old it may be given at OOdeg. With the average baby it is better to maintain the temperature of the bath at 98 until tho baby is a year old, becauso a tepid bath is enervating, and liable to leave the child chilly. 'At a year old. or earlier, if a baby is robust and active, it is a good plan to wipo or douche the surfaco with a rubber sponge or cloth, commencing with water at between 70deg. and SOdcg., and reducing tho heat by a degree. every day or co until a temperature of between oOdcg. and GOdeg. is reached. This should bo commenced while the baby is sitting in tho warm bath ; next, tlio lower limbs can ho quickly dealt with, thus securing an nctivc, healthy stimulation qf tho wholo surface.

Gymnastics of tho Involuntary Muscular System. The change from stimulation by heat to stimulation by cold is very healthful, and promotes not, only the activity, but the growth of organs. Indeed, the stimulation effected bv such bathing has been- happily described by an ; American physician as the special "gymnastics of tho voluntary muscular system"—m other words, tho training of tho multitude of muscled which supply motor power to tho whole vital machinery, and regulate the giving off or conservation of heat according to the requirements of tho organism. Tho effcct of keeping those muscles in good form is very striking, and it will bo found in tho case of babies just as of adults, that wo can gradually harden the organism until it becomes very robust and resistive of chills and colds'. Warning.

On tho other hand, nothing is moro wrong than tho attempt to harden children suddenly, or if they do not show a' proper healthy reaction after tho uso of cold water. At first cooling should. bo quite momentary, should bo limited to a small part of the body, and should bo followed always by very rapid drying and dressing. When a child can run about actively, a transition may gradually be made to the cold plungo batli, which healthy children can bo trained to enjoy at from 18 months to two.years of age. Never dawdle, and never omit active exercise for at least a quarter of an hour afterwards, to ensure perfect reaction and warmth. Exorcise In General. Regarding exercise in general, Pro-' fessor Holt says:— This is 110 loss important in infancy than in later childhood. An infant gets its exerciso in tho lusty cry which follows the cool spongo of tho bath, in kicking its legs about, waving its arms, etc. By tlieso means lung expansion and muscular development are increased, and tho general nutrition 1 promoted. An infant's clothing should be such as not to interfere with its exerciso. Confinement of tho legs should not bo permitted. I have often had a chance to observe tho bad results which follow when very voung infants aro allowed to lie in tiio" cribs nearly all tho time. Little by little tho ital flag, the cry becomes 1 feeble, tho weight is first stationary, then thoro is a. steady loss. Tho appetite fails, so that food is at first taken without relish, then at times altogether refused; later vomiting ensues, and other symptoms of indigestion. This, in many cases, is tho beginning of a steady downward course, which goes on until a condition of hopeless marasmus is reached. Such inilints must bo taken up every few hours and carried about; the position should be frequently changed, and general friction of tho entire body employed at least twice a day. Every means must bo mads uso of to stimulate tho vital activity. Tho valuo of' systematic attention to tlieso matters cannot bo overestimated. Infants who aro old enough to creep or stand usually tako sufficient exerciso unless they aro restrained. At this ago they should bo allowed to do what they aro eager to do. Every facility should bo ■ alforded for using their liiiscles. Exerciso may ho encouraged by placing upon tho floor in a warm room a mattress or a thick "comfortable," and allowing tho infant to roll and "tumble upon it at will. A largo bed may answer the same purposo. A nursery fenco 2ft. high, mado to surround a mattress, is an excellent device, and makes a convenient box-stall for tho young animal, where it can learn to uso both its arms and leg> without tho danger of injury. Only by oxerciso such as this do tho musclcs have an opportunity to develop properly. When speaking of tho evil effects of allowing infants to lio too much in their cribs, Professor Holt refers specially to what ho has seen ill institutions or'"homes''' where a number of babies are kept. Indeed, it is a matter of general observation by' all authorities that babies in so-called homes tend 1o stiller as described, whereas tho babies in a normal family lend to liavo a fair share of handling and change of position, and aro benefited accordingly.