Children's Place In The Sun

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 28, 18 January 1935, Page 46

Children's Place In The Sun

Giving Baby His First Sun-Bath: The Seaside Is The Best Place For Children’s Hoiidays

RESH air used to’ be con--15 sidered .a cause of pmneumonia. Actually, it is a preventive, for any hospital out-patient department can show that children with pneumonia are habitually over-clothed. Sunlight and air circulating over the skin are probably the greatest of recuperative agents. But-and this is im-portant-there must\be mo overdoses, or results are painful and do more harm than good, writes. Sister Cooper, ‘SRN. in the "Daily Mail." Remember that it is heat, not light, which may prove dangerous; and that is why it so important to choose before 11 a.m. or after 4 p.m. for children’s sun-bathing

hours. A gentle breeze is a further advantage. . Don’t expose a baby’s limbs to sunlight before he is two months old. After that age, you can first expose the legs for one minute daily for three days, then increasing by -one minute daily to five minutes. Next you can expose the arms in addition for one minute, increasing the time as before. You can often do this in aroom.: Between 9 and 11 a.m. is the best time for baby’s sun-bath. After the child is over one year, expose gradually in the same way, but giving a five, minutes’ sun-bath at first, increasing to. 10 minutes. After a few days he could run ‘naked for five or 10 miriutes, increasing to half -an hour or longer. . Any un-

; due. reddening of the skin or irritability of temper means an overdose of sunlight. A shady hat is necessary to protect -the toddler’s eyes from direct. sun or giare. Baby’s pram needs a sun canopy; I prefer the umbrella shape, which allows the maximum of moving air to circulate. I still see far too many leather pramhoods up and mackintosh covers on. And it is surely significant _that the faces peeping out from these hoods are always peaked and frail-looking! There certainly is an art in sun-bathing as there is in sea-bathing. The bath is a splendid preparation. for a child’s first sea-bathe. To enjoy both bath ahd bathe, the children need complete confidence and fearlessnéss: _ No baby should be coaxed or forced into either bath or sea against his will. . A slip in the bath, . or water that. is. too.

hot, may cause temporary terror of the water. In that case, no amount of éxplanation from mother or nurse will be of any avail. | The only remedy lies in forgetfulness. If this fear has, arisen, try bathiny "the child in a different room for a week or two. The cool sponge is an excellent preparation for the sea-bathe. This can be started at any age over six months. Have a basin of water a little cooler than the bath water, wring a sponge out of this and quickly pass it over baby’s body. Follow with a brisk rub with a towel. The reaction should be a pink, glowing skin: . Most babies enjoy this. heartily, and. greet the gradually cooling shower with chuckles and laughter. The toddler trained in this way usually enjoys'a cool dip in the morning -all the year round. -Take’advantage of. the remaining warm weather to make a. start’ with the-cool splash. The general health will benefit from it, and winter colds may be prevented by this daily routine. Sea waiter is strengthening. atv] sea-salt can be added to the hath water with benefit-particularly during the early days of walking. ‘Hard water can be softened by being boiled and allowed to cool, or by one of the many exceilent’ water softeners now obtainab‘e. Another softener is oatmeal, which is particularly suitable for a sensitive skin. Boiled rain-water is delightful, of course, but difficult to obtain nowadays. It is particularly suitable in a case of sunburn. If the skin is very red and tender, however, al! washing and bathing should he omitted until the soreness subsides. Calamine and witch hazel are soothing and cleansing if dabbed on The warm bath is undoubtedly hest given in the evening, for it has a soothing effect on the baby and .removes the marks of a little man’s "busy day" out of doors. I am often asked at what age the big bath should be. started. Acttially, any time after six months, or earlier if the first bath is too small, is the answer. . A cramped bath deprives the child of much exercise and

om, rinsing and splashing. pleasure, and it is a mistake to de- ‘\ lay the change for too long. If you have not yet had your ‘holiday, it may be a good plan to accustom baby to the big bath right. away, and so lighten your luggage problem quite considerably. A small person may seem rather insecure at the bottom of the big bath. Have very little water at first. A rubber mat or bath towel on the bottom of the bath will give added security. The actual washing should be done on the knee until the child is well into his second year, the bath itself being used fer Finally, here is a: special hint for those in drought areas, where every pail of water is precious. If you find baby is really too big to get full play in the tiny bath, put it 7side the big bath on a mat or piece of wood. . In this way it can be filled to the brim without fear of baby’s . making a sea.of water on the floor when he does. his splashing and kicking exercises. . Many mothers are staying home during these holidays because they are afraid the younger children of the family might be upset by the — change. Actually, there is no need for i" mothers .to sacrifice the benefit of '*a long holiday or a week-end by. the sea or in the country. It will do the children nothing but good-if you take. the proper precautions. First of all-food supplies. If you are going away, make advance inquiries about obtaining fresh milk. Simmer it for ten minutes.for the first few days, and if your stay is longer gradually reduce this time till all you have to'do is to boil it quickly. This simmering business is advisable if you are preparing food for anyone under two years. For the bottle-fed baby, a modified dried milk may be used if there is any doubt-about the boiling or obtaining of a reliable fresh supply of milk. Don’t alter times of feeding. The whole nursery routine should be, so far as possible, the same as at home. A new cot is specially designed for convenience. and comfort in limited space. This is ideal fer travelling, as it is light though strong.. A Moses basket is excellent, too. > A young baby is definitely cooler and more comfortable travelling in a basket cot than being: nursed on mother’s or nurse’s lap. And now I have some nursefy advice’ that you will find helpful whether you go away or stay at home. The open air and the novelty of "something different" are two natural tonics which have a wonderful effect ori a flagging appetite. ‘So now that warmer days are com-

ing, give the children their meals in the garden or on the veranda. Of course, you will decrease heavy foods in the menu, and serve more fresh, uncooked dishes, such as salads and fruit. Provide, too, a jug of fresh fruit juice and water from which the children can help themselves. It is particularly important not to force food on them at this time of year if the children are disinclined for it. A little clear fluid magnesia will be needed in some cases to ccol the blood. Be quick to adjust clothing as the vagaries of climate demand. Overclothing brings colds, rashes, spots, and general lassitude and irritability. The value of prune juice should -not be lost sight of by mothers, especially during holiday time when, owing to a change of climate, a baby is apt to need a natural and harmless laxative. Prune juice may safely be given to a baby from the second month onwards. Commerce with only half a teaspoon daily, increasing up to two or three teaspoons, according to baby’s age and individual needs. If the first dose of prune-juice is well diluted with boiled water it is not likely that baby will be at all upset by it. For an older baby, say, after three months of age, some of the pulp of

well-cooked prunes finely sieved may be added to the juice. Do not give more than half a teaspoon of the pulp to begin with. «Increase to two or three teaspoons. Spinach puree is also an excellent natural laxative which may be given after the third month. Use in the same way as the prune pulp. Half an ounce of fluid magnesia added to baby’s food mixture for the day may be tried ; but this should not be continued longer than a week without a doctor’s advice. Persistent constipation is such a serious condition, that if, after giving these simple remedies a fair and thorough trial in the order recommended, it still persists, consult your doctor at once. Purgative medicines should never be given to babies except under a doctor’s orders. Do not give castor oil as a cure for constipation. It will only make matters worse. Mothers often give orange juice to babies under the belief that it is a laxative. On the-contrary, orange juice may have the reverse effect. The real value of orange juice for babies and adults is its richness in one of the important vitamins necessary for growth and health. Prune juice contains no essential vitamins, and should not be given in place of orange juice. Its sole value is in its laxative qualities — oe