Feminine Interests

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 775, 23 September 1929, Page 5

Feminine Interests

By

Hygeia.

Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society). "It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.” BABY’S CRADLE "What kind of cradle shall I choose?" is a question young mothers often ask, and our answer always is: "Choose a simple wicker cradle, and, if you can afford it, a wicker stand to match." WHY the wicker cradle is ADVOCATED The ideals to aim at In choosing baby’s cradle are these: That it should be light, yet sufficiently strong; that it should offer no to the freest possible circulation of air, yet allow of sufficient warmth and cosiness when made up; and that it should be easily kept clean and sweet —no excessive ornamentation or curtains, and furbelows, to gather dust and obstruct the free flow of pure air, baby’s first need. Vet there is no reason why a real “Plunket cot” should not be as pretty as any young mother need wish, as we shall see. The plain wicker cradle fulfils all these requirements admirably. It j s light enough to carry from one place to another, with baby in it, if need be (a proceeding which is often necessary if baby is to have, as he should have, the advantage of the sunniest or the most sheltered spots on the verandah or garden as the day goes on). It is strong enough to last through the-babyhood of half a dozen in a family, if that is required of it. Its light, open framework allows air to circulate all round the child, but if made up in the way we shall describe it makes a nest for baby which is the essence of cosiness. Lastly, a brush or a damp cloth keeps it perfectly clean. IMPORTANCE OF BABY’S CRADLE When you consider that baby spends, or should spend, nine-tenths

lto three-quarters of his entire first beain m ?o thS £ I,fe in his You begin to realise that it is very important tc. choose the best kind/ His -sleeping place is going to influence niLl? 1 ' 1 / and development very those early months. He [ roond nf eKh air £r eely circulating and nroi n \ While he bleeps—warmth and protection from draughts withal; om“ : 3 room t 0 move a ”d stretch out sieepmg or waking; and he needs n??vons aDd i 6al reSt for brain and ing system—no jolting or rockA PRAM DOES NOT TAKE THE PLACE OF A COT tr, A c i Pram ls not a sood place for baby 1? sl ,® ep m £or hours on end, and it of a crad'le r be T d ‘° take the ‘ ,lace hit ,/, d ', goHd and necessary as nis m its place. This is because it stuffy —the wooden bottom leatherf d , S,des feommonly American leathei ) prevent access of air to the baby nmv h“■ the h °° d is 'ais'ed Si -> naj be in a thoroughlv mug fr v and unhealthy atmosphere even In he garden-far worse off thin ln doors m a wicker crade if the room 'fr,I entlla i t , ed ' Deprived of fresh air and sunshine, baby becomes pale, i/,. ;- o Ud lrri table, and liable to all disease. There are other reared, - US,ng the pram as baby’s Ira l sleeping place. It is too short a d l ?° narrow ( at any rate after the first few weeks) for him to get the tree and vigorous movement he needs for development; and, lastly, there is always the temptation for someone to pasb 'l E jis U to “* !;ee P baby quiet” r Put him to sleep"—stirring up his little nervous system, which so needs quietness, and deliberately sowing the seeds for trouble later. No, the pram is not a good place for baby to sleep, except during necessary outings. “But,” the mothers say, “it is so easy to move baby about if he sleeps in his pram,” to which we reply: “Use a light wicker cradle, and you will not have any difficulty in moving baby about as much as is necessary, especially if you have also a light framework or stand, but a home-made trestle or two chairs will do.” HOW TO MAKE UP THE IDEAL CRADLE It is of the utmost importance to make baby's bed properly, the aim being to exclude draughts and keep him really cosy, and yet allow freedom of movement. A badly-made bed maybe the-cause of a serious illness from exposure and chill. It is perfectly simple to make it the best way, and this is how to do it: 1. Line the head end of the cradle with soft flannel, nuusveiling, or blan- j ket. In summer, netting may be used |

instead of flannel; it just serves to break draughts, and keeps out insects. The head lining may be gathered slightly with a heading, or it may be stretched round and tied at the back of the cot. 2. Throw a soft, fluffy new blanket right over the empty cradle. This is the “enveloping blanket.” A small single bed blanket will do, but is rather large. About 2yds by l*yds is the best size. 3. On top of the blanket place a firm studded mattress. 4. Make a loose chaff shakedown in a washing cover, and place this on top of the mattress. If a hot water bottle is required, put it between the mattress and the shakedown.

5. Cover mattress and shakedown with a small blanket tucked in all round. 6. Place a strip of thin, soft mackintosh or jaconet across the middle of i the bed, and tuck it in at each side ■ to prevent rucking. 7. Cover the macintosh with a rather wider strip of flannel or blan-1 ket, which can be changed whenever ■ ■ damp. I 8. Make a cosy hollow in the chaff! j shakedown with your hand, and put; ! a small thin pillow in position. The ideal material for the pillow Is : i the same soft winnowings of chaff as is used for the shakedown. | Large, soft pillows are enervating, and ! actually dangerous. We have known | of babies being suffocated in their pil- ! lows. j 9. Now place baby in his cosy nest, j and tuck his shawl or cuddling blanket i round him, well up at the back of the neck and round the feet. 10. Bring up one side of the big i enveloping blanket, and tuck it in on i | the far side of the cradle. Then bring I up the other side of the blanket, and | complete the envelope by tucking it | firmly in all round. 11. Slip your hand inside the enveI lope, and feel to make sure that baby j has plenty of room to move round inside his cosy bed. | 12. Put on the quilt or coverlet, ac- | cording to your fancy. You now have baby in a portable nest or envelope, cosy and warm, yet free to kick at will. We must specially mention the chaff, which makes an ideally soft yet \ealthy mattress. If it becomes damp or soiled, it can be renewed cheaply, or baked in the oven, and the cover can be washed. If a hot bottle i 3 placed under the chaff shakedown it ensures even, well distributed heat, j without risk of burning. Ordinary harsh chaff will not do; it must be the soft, light "winnowings” which are winnowed out by the threshing machines. About 51b of chaff will make pillow and shakedown. If you wish to beautify this cradle, try enamelling the wicker with two coats of the best enamel paint—cream or palest blue or pink, according to your fancy. Then get your blankets, or anyhow the head lining, to match. The most fascinating, fluffy, woollen blankets may be had in the palest of baby shades these days, and there is nnusveiling in cream, shell pink or pale blue. You can bind the blanket's with ribbon and lavish ail the handwork you like on the little coverlets, and you will not wish for anything prettier than our “Plunket” cradle when finished. We do not advise any mother to Have frills on the cradle. They make work, and collect dust, and obstruct the free flow of air, especially if lined with silk or satin. If you have really set your heart on frills, let them be of open mosquito netting, unlined, just edged with lace and gathered on to tape, so that they can be easily and frequently washed. But the ideal cot I has no frills or curtains, although a mosquito net may be necessary in j some climates. | We will go into some other special j points in connection with cradles and i I cots next. week. I

CHARITY BALL

Successful Evening at Pukekohe ORGANISATIONS COMBINE Charity was tho incentive which moved the members of Lodge Bethesda Rebekah, Independent Order of Oddfellows, and the Pukekohe Literary and Social Club, to arrange a dance on Tuesday for the Rev. Jasper Calder’s City Mission. The attendance was a large one, and a good sum was netted. Music was played by the club orchestra. A Monte Carlo waltz was won by Miss Alice Johns and Mr. Upton. Among those present were: j Mrs. David Roulston, wearing a draped frock of black georgette; Mrs. Eyton. black beaded frock; Mrs. W. MacPherson, apple green crepe de chine trimmed with Pink rosebuds; Mrs. G. Weston, in embioidered net; Mrs. Lionel Sharpe chose black georgette; Mrs. H. Horne, peri- ; winkle blue georgette; Mrs. L. Bayly j wore a frock of figured georgette; Mrs. ! Stan Watson, draped frock of lotus rose georgette; Miss Muir Maddison. white crepe de chine frock with a tiered skirt; Miss Pat Caldwell chose lotus rose georgette; Miss Zoe Baynes wore a frilled frock of primrose tulle with a corsage of taffeta; Miss Mollie Proude, briar rose tulle; Miss 13. Proude chose a frock of cream platinum lace: Miss Dorothy Lakeman, sequinned frock of ivory georgette; Miss Marjorie Lakeman, cuban orange ring velvet; Miss Kathleen O’Connor was froeked in coral and rose pink taffe.ta; Miss Thelma Gathercole, flared frock of geranium crepe de chine; Miss Pat Lyne, | daffodil embroidered tulle over sprigged taffeta; Miss Kathleen Crosbie, flared frock of powder blue tulle; Miss Gwen Fulton, draped frock of cherry georgette. Miss A. Kenning. (Te Aroha), powder blue tulle; Miss Iris Morrow, frock of ivory georgette with an uneven hemline: Miss Meryl Scott, cyclamen panne velvet; Miss Rattle, apple green, taffeta inset with lame; Miss "Wilma Scott, draped frock of sea green silk net; Miss Gretchen B-n S . ey ’ lotus rose georgette; Miss Jean ii^ inson * a frilled frock of pastel green taffeta. Miss Phyllis McCormick wore beaded georgette; Miss Joy Roulston, cherry georgette, frock of uneven hemline; Miss Marcia Eyton,, salmon pink frock; Miss Jsobel Richardson, sequinned frock of larkspur geoi'gette; Miss Linda Armstrong, lace frock; Miss Alma Armstrong, cherry georgette; Miss Nancy Malone, lotus rose georgette hemmed with silver lace; Miss Mary Malone, frock of delphinium georgette; Miss V. Waters (\\ aiuku) chose ivory georgette with a bow of pink taffeta; Miss May Smith a frock of black and silver lace; Miss Myrtle Wright, ivory georgette with a corsage of silver lame; Miss Edie McNeil,, larkspur blue georgette; Miss Madge McNeil, lime green frilled frock; Miss Vera Craig chose black georgette; Miss Jean McKinnon, pale pink crepe de chine; Miss Florence Nightingale, an ankle-length frock of black tulle; Miss Ivy Duncan panne velvet frock of green with a yoke of gold lace. Miss Margaret Sellar was froeked in scalloped green taffeta; Miss Eunice Cowan, emerald green crepe de chir.e with a draped skirt; Miss Doris Wright, in apple green taffeta; Miss Grace Keating, frock of floral georgette; Miss Mavis Peterson, betty blue crepe de chine; Miss Ivy Tate, a flared frock of green crepe de chine; Miss Alice Johns, primrose tulle with a corsage of gold tissue; Miss Rewa Johns, frock of silver and blue lace; Miss Zoe Johns, draped frock of j blue crepe de chine; Miss Muriel Reynolds, f ivory georgette with corsage of silver satin. I j . ;