OUR BABIES.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 452, 21 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). ‘lt is wiser to put up a fence at he top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.” DULL DAYS. We ofen hear people complain that dull weather with .constantly grey skies s. nd their spirits down to zero, and it is common knowledge -that a long spell of cold, sunless days increases the tendency to colds, bronhitis, and other infections. The fact is that everyone tends to suffer physically, more or less, from lack of sun, whilst the mental and nervous condition tends to be depressed by the lack of light and “cheer

Remember that cold in itself is invigorating, not harmful to hardy, active people of any age. It is only to those who are- soft and coddled or wetakly or who are living under wrong conditions that weather constitutes a danger, which is an argument itself against coddling. “Feeling the Cold.” But we must not forget in our de.ire to make children hardy that chilliness lowers vitality, and is depressing to the nsTv-ous system, and such a condition definitely lays the child open to infection and ill-health. Some children “feel the cold” more than others, and should be treated accordingly, whilst at the same time everything possible is done to tone them up and improve the circulation and vitality generally.

Children suffering from lack of w-armth and light tend to be fretful and listless; they do not instinstively run and rom-p about in order to get warm. Such activity is the result ot reasoning—he natural tendency is rather to huddle up and conserve what warmth is there. Who does not know- the feeling of reluctance to getting out of bed when one wakes up slightly chilly? Anyone who has experience of the care of little children knows how utterly miserable they may be on cold early mornings, when, once awake, they will not keep snuggled down in bed. There often follows an unheppy hour or two- until a warm corner in the kitchen or playroom is ready and breakfast comes on the scene. Extra Clothing. The- wise mother is always on the watch and ready to regulate clothing to the cb nglng conditions oftheday. , For these early morning hours.- it is most essential to attend to baby direclv he wakes and sits up before he gets chilled. Remove the wet clothing and slip on one or two extra close-fitting garments, long socks and gloves. As the day or room wiarms up and active exercise is -.taken, lighten the clothing During fine weather all but the equivalent of summer clothes can be discarded -during the sunny hours about noon, and r-eal sun baths may be taken in a suitably sheltered spot, then again as the day wanes be ready with extra wraps. Common Sense not Coddling, This, sort of attention is not coddling, it is common sense, but it should be unobstrusive- arid done in such a manner that the child does not feel itself the object of -anxious solicitude on the part of the'mothir. One may foster self-reliance by teaching the

child to take off and put on his own cardigan as required. Quite a little child will presently say, “Poof—hot!” and proceed to divest himself of superfluous garments. Remtmber that knitted garments, whilst the best and warmest of wear in still air, offer no resistance to wind, and one thickness of silk, cotton, or other close-wove-n material is required for outings. The crawling baby is a problem in cold weather. He needs a complete suit of closely-woven or knitted woollies covering feet -and thighs. Gloves, too, may be comfort. The tops of old woollen stockings or old woollen bloomers or jumpers make good sensible crawling suits. A good big pen with solid sides and a warm rug inside is a help in keeping baby out of draughts, also keeping him in a wiarm unny spot, wherever such may be.

Light and Colour. It is worth considering, too, the effect of light and colour apart from actual sun and air; darkness end drabness are depressing. Lightness and bright, pretty colours on the other hand are stimulating and cheer ing. Children cannot define such reactions, but are affected none the less to a greater, or smaller extent according to temperament; therefore, the playroom should, if possible, he -ight and bright, especially during dull winter days. A predominance of various- shades of gold, orange, and iVsset in furnishings make a tremendous difference to the “atmosphere” of a room. A few shillings will be veiy well spent on inexpensive, brigh

and "tunny” coloured materials for curtains and coverings for the living room or playroom at this time of the year. Even clothe-s often make a difference to our “feelings” and no less to children’s. Most little children love pretty colours, and a gay new cre-tonnp apron made out of Scrape of mate/ial will help to dissipate-the effects of a dark and cheerless day. Ventilation and WarmJi; Proper ventilation of a playroom is very important, though not always easy to achieve, a room with a fireplace is best because a chimney practically assures some degree of ven-

tilation in any room. A modern gas fire set in open chimney is an excellent method of warming nursery or playroom. The chimney gives ventilation, and the gas fire provides easily regulated warmth without requiring .j-gnstant attention and it emits a cheerful glow of ligh. With an electric radiator and no chimney it is difficult to keep a room comfortably warm yet fresh, and one has to give more thought to airing and ventilating a room “The Kitchen as a Playroom.”

If the kitchen is the only possible place for ths- little ones to play in when indoors, take stock of your kitchen from the point of view of making it as healthy and suitable for that purpose -as possible. First and most important is the question, of ventilation and fresh air. Quite definitely the close, warm, and often ste-amy atmosphere of an ordinary kitchen is thoroughly bad for a child. To spend hours m such an atmosphere is very enervating, and lowers the vitality of every part of the body. It produces a condition in which the child is extremely susceptible to colds, coughs, and chest troubles, besides predisposing to the growth of adenoids and enlarged tonsils.

“Baby’s Corner.” But by a la tie careful .thought and pfenning much can be done to improve matters, and “babys corner” can be made perfectly safe and healthy, as well as comfortable. First of all the window; see that it opens, and Is kept ripen at the top, have the bottom thrown wide o-pen, also for as- long as possible. Now choose the corner which is airiest, but not draughty, .for a play corner. Call in father’s active assistance in making a pen. For the crawlingbaby a big packing case does well cut down to -a-convenient h-aight, painted, and lined; but the toddler needs more space. It is ran excellent plan to make a little wooden fence or barricaie which can be fastened across the corner and removed when not required. We have had experience of such, used either in a room or on a veranda, to which it and the children bag and baggage, were removed when the sun came out The children called it the “barrow-cade.” There came a. time when it was the most absorbing occupation to eneeavour to climb over it, and eventually its day was done, but not before it had served its useful purpose for several years. Then father’s handinesy arid ingenuity may come i' n lagain. The Prettiest little chair and table and perhaps a box for holding -toys may be made at home for a very small sum, and they look charming when gaily painted and decorated, if desired, with the prety little stencils one can buy. It is, by the way, quite a good plan to start early and keep to the prac-

tice of giving the toddler his meals o his own little table instead of in a high chair at the family meals. If it can be managed it is a great boon to “get him out of the way” beforehand like this, it also teaches independa-nce and helps to' present the habit of expecting “pieces” and unsuitable food from the “grown-ups’ ” table. We have wandered a little from our subject i-of safeguarding the children from the ill-effects of dull days, but hope these few practicial hints may be useful.