WOMEN’S WORLD

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20272, 14 August 1937, Page 27 (Supplement)

WOMEN’S WORLD

EXTRA CARE IN WINTER. BABIES ARE HARDY. THEY DON’T NEED CODDLINO. When the weather begins to be very , oold the natural tendency of the Inexperienced mother is to protect her baby i from the cold by bringing him inside and keeping him nut of the wintry air. This is all wrong (says a Scottish paper). Baby is a hardy little fellow, and he will revel in the cold weather , provided his mother exercises just a little extra care In her handling of him, so that he does not catch a chill. He won’t catch It outside in the fresh air; but, of course, it is essential to see that he is warmly protected against chilling. If baby has been sleeping out (rs he Should) from the time of his birth, a bit of frost on the lawn in the morning Is not sufficient reason for bringing him Indoors tfttier day or night now' that the weather Is cold. In the daytime see that he Is fitted with “long- • uns," that comfortable combination of j booties, pllchers and gaiters, so that ' ills kicking may be done with ade- ! quatelv protected legs and feet. At night It Is essential to see that his bed ! Is warmed for him before he 19 tuoked In and that extra light-weight woolly coverings are added. Then, too, baby must be proteoted from the possibility of catching other people’s oold germs, for the healthiest ohlld Is not proof against the virulent oold germ* broadcast by other people, although a big resistance to colds may be built up by a correct mothercraft routine. The Right Food. The right type of food, good, fresh air, without draughts, care in carrying out all the dally habits, ensuring also the proper amount of sleep, are all essentials In the routine necessary to protect baby against winter ills. We are fortunate in our oountrv, inasmuoh as we enjoy sunshine even in the depth of winter and are not subjected to the rigorous cold weather from whloh many other place* suffer. Nevertheless, there are a few points that need further Impressing on the minds of young mothers, who may be worrying unnecessarily over baby during the very cold days. In spite of the fact that It Is unwise to “coddle” baby, it must be realised that, a little extra care must be exercised to see that he continues to gain sufficiently and regularly, that his powers of resistance against Infection are well developed, and that he does not become chilled in anv way (thus lowering his powers of resistance), and that he does not come In contact with germs that will cause him to contract colds which may lead to bronchial trouble or pneumonia. t Unless s mother is acting on medical advice because of baby’s delicate health, a normal child should be kept ( tn the fresh air and out of doors. Keep baby out of the direct line of ■ draughts, but the mother should not worry about the air being cold. Pure cold air Is Invigorating, and Increases j the resistance to “catching colds, . whereas stuffy ale In a warm room Is j devitalising and baby will be more ; liable to catch cold when taken Into a . different temperature. Accustom him i to the cold even If he be very young j has not been given fresh air treatment before, but rare will have to be taken to keep hie body warm enough until It reculates the h»at properly from within. In tide rase, properly iroTerted hot-water hairs must be kept In hK bed to keep his feet warm.

Bheltec Fom Cold Winds. He must be sheltered from oold winds, and, should the day be of the I windy, dusty kind, a sheltered spot on j a verandah or similar place must be , found. A screen must always be kept j around the head of the cot to protect the head from draughts. The toddler as well as the older child must be taught to spend all the day out of doors in the sunshine and fresh air while he pl&ys. Rainy days that compel baby’s day to be spent Indoors should not be spent In a room near a fire. The extremes of beat to j . oold felt In going from a fire-warmed I room to a oold one for the night are j responsible for lowering the resistance j to colds and chest complaints. It Is much better for baby to develop his own body heat by external warmth given by the correct type of clothing arvl the right type of food than by artificial heat. * The dally sunbath and kicking exercise* which baby loves help him to keep fit and well. Do not cease this sunbathing Just because the weather Is colder, but carry it out In the middle of the day, when the sun # rays are stronger and warmer. Dally Bathing. Daily bathing Is Just as necessary for babies and children In winter as in j summer, although not so enjoyable, | the wise mother not allowing baby to | beoome chilled and cold during the | performance. The room for bathing i time (should baby be still young j enough to use a movable tub) should . be ohosen on acoount of Its sunny aspect. Doors and windows must be kept shut, and the temperature of the room should be 60 degrees Fahrenheit. A radiator may be necessary to make the room sufficiently warm on very oold day 6, and bath time should not be | at all protracted. Baby should be well i wrapped in a woollen “ouddly” shawl after bath time, and when leaving this warm room to be placed In his cot or in another room for feeding purposes. Baby oan get a chill If taken out of a warm bed for any purpose and carried out without a woolly wrap of some sort around him. Mouth breathing induces another possibility of catching oold. and as the nasal cavities are formed to provide ] resistance against germs proper nose I breathing should he enoouraged. Regu- j lar and at least bl-dally cleansing of | the nostrils Is most Important, using i the ootton wool on a wooden applicator I dipped In warm olive oil for the baby, j The toddler should be taught to use a ! soft handkerchief, clearing first one | nostril and then the other. Should tho I mouth breathing be persistent in spite i of care, it would be wise to seek modi- ! . cal advice as to the possibility of j adenoids being present. Keep baby away from everyone who | has a cold or cough, and Insist that baby should not be kissed. [ It Is Just as well not to take baby i Into crowded places, where a chance