OUR BABIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 117, 4 February 1918, Page 3

OUR BABIES

fIBT HicEU.i Published under the auspices of tlio Eoyal Now Zealand Society for tlio Health of Women and Children. . "It is wiser to put m> a fence at tho top of a precipice than to an ambulance at the bottom." HEALTH LESSONS FOE OHTLDREN. ' THIRD LESSON. I wonder whether you reinemhor tho five chief needs for good health! Their names begin with the first five letters of tho alphabet, nnd to make quite sure that you really know them we shall repeat them again this week:— A. Alß.—Breathe pure, fresh, clean, cool air by day and night. B.'BATHING— Plenty of water for cleanliness. 0. CLOTHING.-Loose, light, comfortable clotbing-ueither too much nor too little. D. DlET.—Proper food. Plain, simple food taken at regular intervale. Solid food miißt be thoroughly chewed. Water should be taken after a meal, not with it. E. EXERCISE AND KEST.-A largo amount of exercise in the open air and sunshine is necessary for good health. Boys and girls, as well as babies, need rest and ylenty of sound sleep. (Get the children to repeat the above essentials for health, marking off each on .a finger.) . Last week I- told you something about the great importance of fresh, pure air. To-day I want to tell you a little about bathing and clothing. BATHING. Nothing is better for the health than a cold bath or a cold shower every morn, ing, followed by a good romp round for quarter of an hour. Go straight from your cosy bed to the bath. Don't dawdle, and wonder whether it will he cold; plungo right in. Dry yourself very vigorously with a rough towel, dress very quickly, and then run outside for a good romp or skip. Some people think children cannot stand a cold bath. This >s « raictnke. Littlo babies from 8 or 9 months are benefited by passing them once through Hzz cold shower after their morning bath, then rubbing them briskly, dressing them quickly, and making them coay and comfortable. I know little childron who have had a cold plunge both summer and winter from 18 months or two years onward, followed by brisjt rubbing with a bath towel, rapid dressing, aiid active i-xcrcisc in the open air. They have grown up strong and healthy, hardly ever catching cold, and generally having a happy time. Don't Dawdle. You remember I said "Don't dawdle," but go straight from your cosy bed and plunge into the cold water as soon as possible. I want to illustrate tho need for this.

Once I knew a family of children who practically lived in the Jrcnh air, each had a cold batli every morning, and yet they wero always "catching cold." 1 could not understand it, and, of course, people said: "Look at the B—'s! They have their windows wide open day and night, the children have cold baths every morning, and jet they are always 'catching cold'!" It was certainly contrary to all one's ideas of what, should follow such health-giving practices. Then discovered that the children got up early, and instead of having their baths at once and dressing quickly, they wandered about in their nightdresses until they wero thoroughly chilled. Of course, the plunge into cold water chilled them still more, and they had not sufficient warmth in themEelves to get the proper effect from the bath—they did not get tho proper "rnaction," as it is called. Instead of feeling warm and full cf energy after the brisk rubbing, they still felt cold and tired, and, of course, when tho nasty littlo "cold" germs fastened on them they had not enough vigour to fight them away, and so they caught cold. Tho bath may feel a Jiltlc cold at first, but after a good rub down ,<ind a romp there will be a splendid glow, and you will feel fresh and bright. Sea-bathing is very good for the health, and nearly all children revel in it. Indeed it is ofton difficult to got "hildrim to come out of the surf, and here we must speak a word of warning. One or two bathes a day aro quite enough. Some children bathe three or four times a day, and this doee more harm than cooii. I once knew a littlo girl who_ spent most, of the summer holidays bathing—she used to swim and bathe in the surf three or four timos every day. Sho overdid it, and it took her nearly a whole year to regain her former health and vigour. So, you see, you must be moderate even in healthful exercises.

Onco a -week a, hot bath should be taken and the body thoroughly cleansed all over, while every day hands, face, noils, cars, neck, etc., should be well washed and cleansed with soap and water. Tho hair must also be kept clean'. CLOTHING. dothinß ehould lie suited to the season of tho year, tini should bo loose, light, free' from restrictions, and comfortable. Don't wear too many clothes, but just sufficient. Next the skin garments made of light, porous linen or cotton material arc beet. In bygone years it was the rule to advise the uso of flannel next the skin; butmany people find flannel very irritating, so much so that they suffer constant discomfort, and are frequently kept awake most of the night. \ I Imew a man who Buffered from want of sleep so lontr as ho wore woollen sleeping suits. On changing to a materia! which did not irritate his skin he-slept quite well. If flannel was so irntatinc to a- man. what muet it be to the tender skin of a tiny baby. Boots and Shoes. Boots and shoes should be shaped like the natural foot, and they would then be nuito comfortable. The foot should not be put out of shape by crowding tho toee together through usine badly-shaped stockings and badly-shaped tight shoes. More misery, discomfort, and bad health come from sore feet, corns, bunions, and other results of tieht, badly-fittintr highheeledsboots and shoes than from almost any other source, with the exception or decayed teeth; therefore aeo that your feet are comfortable. Sußpcnders should be worn, not carters; but the suspenders should .not be so short that the shoulders are dragged forwarothey ehould be easy and comfortable. There should be no tightnese or restrictions b7 clothing of :.ny kind, more especially round the waist and chest.