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Te Ao Hou, Spring 1954, Page 61

3 matinee jackets. 2 pairs of gloves for cold weather. In warmer weather care should be taken to reduce the weight of baby's clothing. Less woollen stuff should be worn as baby overheats the same as an adult, and often breaks out in a heat rash usualy caused by too much woollen clothing. The use of plastic or water-proof pilchers should be condemned, as these are apt to cause an irritation of the buttocks. Baby's Room and Cot Baby should always sleep in a cot by himself—never in his Mother's bed—preferably in a room by himself. If a separate room is not possible for baby he must sleep in the far corner of his parent's room, so that a current of air can pass between his cot and his mother's bed. The room should be well ventilated. Baby's cot should be screened at the head to keep draughts off him, but not covered up so much that no air is admitted. Covering up baby's face while he is asleep is dangerous when the covering is of heavy materials. A mosquito net is best. The cot should be of the open wire or wicker kind. These can be easily cleaned and conveniently carried. No drapings or frills should be used, as they harbour dust and exclude the air. The canvas folding type of cot is frequently seen, but it is less satisfactory than the wire or wicker one. The cot should be made up with a firm horse-hair mattress, chaff mattress, and pillow; enveloping and cuddling blankets, bed blanket, small mackintosh sheet, and quilt. Soft blankets are much warmer than those that are thick and felted. In cold weather a hot water bag may be used, protected with a flannel cover, and filled with water at a temperature of 108 degrees F., placed between the mattresses (not next to baby), the stoppered end towards the foot of the cot. Baby's clothes and equipment should be kept separate from those of the rest of the house-hold. The task will be a lot easier if he has a rom to himself, if possible. If father is handy, he can make the screen and chest of drawers for baby's clothes, the low stool for bathing and mothering, and toilet tray, the tin with a lid to cover, one other for soiled napkins and clothes. The new born baby requires special care. For the first week he should be kept indoors, and if the weather is cold a fire may be necessary; after that he must be kept in the open air and sunshine as much as possible. If it is

fine and warm, place the cot in the garden in the shade of the hedge or a tree, or on the verandah protected by a dark screen from the glare of the sun. In summer a mosquito net may be necessary to keep off flies and insects. If baby has to sleep in his pram during the day, see that the wheels are fixed to prevent the pram running away. Care should be taken to see that he is not too hot. He should be placed on his side, tucked firmly and securely but with a certain amount of freedom for movement. He must not be wrapped up tight with no freedom for movement. His position should be changed every time he is attended to. As baby gets older he can be taken out in his pram, which should be made with a ventilated wicker hood lined with green. There should be no ball fringers or rattles on the front of the pram. This is injurious to the eyes because of the constant movement when the pram is wheeled about. Many a mother is afraid that cool air is bad for baby, and liable to give him a cold. This is far from right. Provided baby is properly clothed and accustomed to being out of doors whenever the weather permits, he is much less likely to catch a cold outside than if he were kept in a warm, stuffy room.