OUR BABIES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 441, 24 May 1937, Page 3

OUR BABIES

By “HYGEIA.” Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society). •‘lt is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than o jnain.ta.in an ambulance at| the bottom.” ESSENTIALS FOR BABY’S HEAL'H FRESH AIR. • The new-born babe needs special care and attention. If the weather be very cold a fire may be necessary in the room for the . first few days, but i even when there is a fire the room must not be allowed to warm much, but mutt have a very free flow

of pure, cool, outside air through it day and. night —in at 'the open window and out through a second window; open fireplace, or open door. The window must be widely opened, one or two inches is inadequate. Ti. is well known that more draught is caused, by a small opening than a large one. The window should be closed while the infant it' being changed or bathed and at no other time. Fresh, cool air will always benefit the child if he is warmly tucked up with light, open, fluffy or porous woollen materials. So many mothers take their babies out from two or three hours daily, and for the twentytfour—Jthat is for ltwenl|’-one out of the twenty-four hours—they, are kept in warm, stuffy rooms. What wonder that one sees so many palefaced infants! Keep baby out of direct draught, but don’t be frightened of the air being cool. Pure, cool air is invigorating, and prevents “catching cold.” Warm stuffy air is poisonous and devitalising, and makes baby liable to “catch cold” when taken out in the open. Many mothers are anxious that their baby should be outside as much as possible, but are afraid to take the Intßal step in putting him outside. If the weather is kind on the third day he may be put out of doors, to sleep for a short time. Bear in

mind that a new-born babe is very sensitive to light at first, and must protection of a screen (green for protection of a screen ( green for preference) or the shade or a tree or hedge is ideal. Care must be taken that his/ little nostrils are clean, so that there may no sort of hindrance to his breathing ,the way Nature intends. BABY’S BED. When you consider that baby spends, or should spend, from threequarters to nine-tenths of his entire first few months of life in his cradle, you begin to realise that it is very important to choose the right kind. His sleeping place is going to influence his growth and development very much in these early months. The ideals to aim at are that it should be light yet sufficient strong that it should offer no obstacle to the freest circulation of air possible and yet allow sufficient warmth and cosishould easily be kept clean and sweet; also there should be no excessive ornamentation or curtains to gather dust and obstruct the free flow of pure air—baby’s first need. The plain wicker candle fulfils all these requirement?? admirably.. It is light enough to 1 carry from one place to another with baby in it if need be. Its light open framework allows air to circulate all round the child. Lastly, a brush or damp cloth may be used to keep it perfectly clean. ft is of the utmost importance to make baby’? bed properly, the aim being to exclude draughts and keep

him. really coty, and yet allow freedom of movement. A badly-made bed may be the cause of a serious, illness from exposure and chill.