OUR BABIES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 451, 5 June 1937, Page 2

OUR BABIES

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 <o maintain an ambulance atl the bottom.” ESSENTIAL FOR BABY’S HEALTH. BABY’S BATH. Th e hour at which baby is buttled will vary with the requirements of different households. Some mothers may find it convenient to bath baby just before his second feeding time (say between 9 and 10 o’clock in the morning). Other mothers may find it more convenient to give baby his daily bath in the afternoon before the fourth meal of the day. Of the two the morning tiath time is generally preferable, as it freshens the baby up for the day. Whatever the hour chosen, it must be adhered to, so as not to upset the rhythm of baby’s day. Of course, baby must never be bathed unless an hour (preferably more) has elapsed sines his last feed. ‘

Before starting to undress baby take every precaution to i ■.■ event loss of heat before, during, and after the bath. Undress, bath, and dress quickly, with no delay or dawdling and no unnecessary exposure of the skin. Choose a cosy corner of a warmed

room, using a screen if necessary to protect baby from draughts. Prepare everything before lifting baby from his cot. Have dry, warm towels, washers, baby clothing, and all other necessary appliances ready to hand. It is ■best to fill the bath (or whatever is used for bathing baby) with water at a temperature of 105 deg. before starting to undress baby. A dairy or bath thermometer will serve for testing the heat of the water. If

a thermometer is not available, the temperature of the water may be taken by placing the elbow in it. By the time baby is undressed th e water' will probably have cooled to lOOdeg. Fahr., which is the correct temperatug at which to give baby his bath—but make quite s:ir/ by testing; do not guess. When filling the both it is safer to pour in the cold water first, thus preventing any accident either to the baby or th e little runabout.

It is not generally known that when the strong, healthy baby is' a few months old he enjoys and derives benefit from being gradually accustomed to having 'tepid and, later, cold water squeezing over him before being removed from the bath. This makes him less liable to catch cold at the time or afterwards, especially if followed by a good brisk rub down. Take great care in cleansing and drying eyes, ears, lips, and folds of the skin. For this a gentle dabbing motion is best, and on no account should the mouth be wiped out. Nature provides natural juices in the mouth for perfect cleanliness. Any,mild, superfatted soup may be used, but use sparingly. If used on the head great care must be taken to see thalt it is thoroughly rinsed off again, as any trace left is apt to cause dandruff and cfiadle-cap. Do not be .afraid to dry the scalp thoroughly. Firm rubbing will not injure 'the baby through the soft spot. Have two washers made from old

towelling or cellular cotton —one for his body, and other for his face. If preferred the face washer may be made from two or three folds of butter muslin. The washers must be boiled frequently. Do not use a sponge; it is hard to keep cldan, and is liable to become foul and slimy and infested with microbes. Provide two towels, also—a face towel and a body towel. The former should be made of soft, absorbent material, such as butter muslin, and the l Hatter of ordinary Turkish towelling, preferably linen. As a general .rule powder is not needed. The baby should be dried so thoroughly that powder is quite unnecessary. If used careless 1 - ly, the powder tends to cake in the folds of the skin and' to cause irritation and subsequent rawness 1 . The folds of the skin should be dried with

a towel, not with powder. GENERAL RULES FOR BATHING

1. B'alth in a cosy corner of the room, using a screen if necessary to protect the baby from draught. 2. Have everything in readiness before lifting baby from his cot. 3. Bath baby quickly. Remember, bathtime is not playtime. 4. Do not take baby out of a heated room before first wrapping him cosily in a shawl or blanket.