Summer Care of Babies.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 241, 13 October 1886, Page 3

Summer Care of Babies.

Babies often suffer intolerably in the hot months either from too much or too little clothing. We remember one dear baby we sa^ clothed in a double woollon dressing gown, and with woollen socks on his feet, a hot July day. The drops of perspiration stood thickly over hia head, and what wonder that he cried from sheer discomfort ? The littlo feet needed no covering, and the woollon wrap should have been replaced by a thin cotton or linen garment during the warm portion of the day, the dressing gown being at hand to slip on as soon as the air grew cool at night. Underclothing pinned tightly around ua in warm weathor would bo insufferable. Why should we suppose it is any easier for baby to enduro it ? Physicians aro advising giving babies cold water at least once an hour, or rather offering it for their acceptance. A bit of ice picked from a lump with a pin may be put on baby's hot gums with good results, and best, are perhaps, of all when the little creatures peevish and fussy, when they are a burden to themselves and everybody else, is the plan adoDted by wieo mothers, big sisters and aunties, of partially undressing tho little body, wiping away the " tired " and coaxing the pilgrim to take a nop by the way. "Come, now, you've got to have a nap," will rouse rebellion in almost any b.by soul, but to be induced into something nice before one knows it—ah I how , we big folks enjoy it, and why shouldn't the baby 1 There is another than the hot side of the baby question, however. It is the taking cold. Cribs are left In draughts ; baby ia loft asleep in a room where windows are open ; the wind changes and nobody remembers the helpless little victim of our caprices and thoughtlessness. There is a case on record where a baby waa left out on a piazza through a heavy thunderstorm, but there aro lew houses where that could happen, happily. There are homes, however, where the baby really suffers from lack of clothing. The infant mortality in a mountain town, whore thore was always a chill in the air night and morning, was something frightful. Long-sleeved dresses (which most babies now wear), with the feet and bowels kept warm, might have saved some of these precious lives. Tho babies' illness took the form of bowol trouble, sometimes the result of a summer cold. There ia nothing, everybody knows, that will relieve a stomach or bowel pain like a hot application. Indeed, some people who have a tendency to such com plaints are seldom without their flannel band'ige, and in caso of any disturbance of the organs mentioned, know that the flannel bag with smartweed and tansy quilted into ita folds will act aB a charm. Some physicians say everybody should wear' flaiitiol next to the skin the year round. Others say flannel should never touch the skin. The truth will be found to lie between the two extremes. Wear flannel when it is needed, leave it off when it does harm. To be well, however, a person must be warm. If not warm naturally there is probably something wrong in the person's system, but until a natural circulation and warmth can bo secured artificial means must be used. Of ono thing be sure, babies' feet, arms and bowels must be taken care of, and tho care of the outer part of tho stomach is quite as important as attention to the inner wants. In conclusion lot us say no garment worn during tho day should be worn at night by old or young. Cleanlinese, if not \ splendour, is possible to all, and necessary 'to health.