OUR BABIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 June 1938, Page 4

OUR BABIES

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.” COLDS AND THEIR PREVENTION. Summer used to be the worst season for babies, but now mothers have learnt so much about the proper feeding the care of infants and are so thoroughly impressed with the need for special precautions in hot weather that serious diarrhoea is very rare; indeed, the majority of our babies go through the summer without upset. Winter now presents the greater danger. Investigations into the causes of death amongst babies under Plunket nurses’ supervision show bronchitis and pneumonia as the most serious factor. The trouble is that we accept the common cold as inevitable, and do not realise that it is the precursor of bronchitis and pneumonia, and leads' to a lowered resistance to infection. If baby has been rendered really hardy and strong by good feeding, exercise, and sensible clothing,' there is little fear from infection in winter or at any other time. Just now, with colds, coughs, and influenza prevalent, one notices the differences in resistance between the hardy baby and the coddled child. ' PREVENTION. Even now it is not too late to start preventive measures. The great thing is to increase the child’s resistance. Keep the house well ventilated, and keep the children out of doors as much as the weather will permit. Make use of every half hour of sunshine. Do not let baby sleep in the kitchen. Dress the children according to the temperature of the day, not of the season. Conlstant overclothing is very weakening and lowers the resistance. See that the children have long, unbroken sleep at night, and a daytime sleep as well. Give a cool sponge down and a brisk vigorous rub after the bath every morning. When lifting from a warm bed after a sleep protect the children from sudden chilling. Colds are infectious. Keep children away from anyone who has a cold or other respiratory trouble. Do not allow indiscriminate kissing and fondling. TREATMENT. If baby catches a cold, especially if he is feverish, remember the following suggestions:— The child’s main need is for fluid — warm boiled water or diluted fruit juice. He needs less food and more fluid than usual, consequently do not press him to take all his ordinary food if he is disinclined for it. If there is any digestive upset, dilute the baby's milkmixture with a few ounces of extra boiled water. Drinks of water and fruit juice should be given frequently between meal times. The giving of sufficient fluid is an important point, and one that is often neglected, because the child is apt to refuse drinks because the throat is sore. If this is the case, every possible means of inducing the child to drink must be resorted to. If coaxing and wiles fail strong measures may be necessary for the child’s own good. Never mind if the small patient does a partial starve for a few days so long as you get him to take fluids. He will probably be better without solid food, but the body is much hampered in its fight against hostile germs if it is not supplied with plenty of water. Keep the bowels regular and well opened. Keep the nostrils clear. Raise the head and shoulders a little higher than usual in the cot if breathing is easier this way. Give him a good warm bath to open the pores of the skin. Cool down the bath with cold watei’ before taking him out to close the pores, and put him to bed. A warm bath should be given daily during the cold, but the warm water should be cooled down at the end of his bath. Rub the chest and trunk over with warm olive oil. The child should be kept warm and out of draughts. The idea of bathing the baby is perhaps a little unconventianal, for one commonly finds that babies or small children have not been bathed for days during the course of a severe cold. One has to think how important a part the skin plays in ridding the body of impurities to realise that it is doubly necessary to keep the skin active and cleansed during a time when poisons from a cold circulate in the body. When the temperature is raised above normal it may be well to sponge the child all over in bed or on the lap in front of the fire instead of actually bathing, but unless this procedure can be carried out quickly and deftly, there is really more risk of exposure and chilling than there is from. a quick full bath given in a warm corner of the room. In any case, the child should be tucked up in a previously warmed bed directly after bath or sponge. CONVALESCENCE. During convalescence be careful to guard the crawling and toddling baby from chilling. It is well to keep the crawling baby off the floor for a few days. Remember that fresh air and sunshine are the best germ killers known. Do not keep children with colds cooped up in stuffy rooms. Let them be outside, so long as they are kept warm and protected from cold winds. When they must be indoors see that the room is well ventilated. Do not let a cold go on indefinitely without getting medical advice, especially if there is a chesty cough or any difficulty in breathing. If the child is feverish or drowsy, or if there are any signs of ear trouble, send for a doctor without delay. Many serious illnesses developing out of common colds could be prevented if taken in time and the child placed under proper medical care.