OUR BABIES

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 57, 30 November 1929, Page 22

OUR BABIES

(By

“Hygeia.”)

Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society, for the Health of Women and Children (I’luuket Society). “It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.” MOTHERCRAFT TEACHING FOR GIRLS. A Tlunket nurse is responsible for the following article, inspired by the admirable answers received in a recent examination test given by her to a group ot Girl Guides who had been studying the care of little children:— “The health of the race lies in the health of its babies. Healthy mothers have healt.hr babies born to them, and it is by the loving care of the baby from the moment ot blrtli that its health may be preserved. But neither love nor care ean take the place ot knowledge and experience. The right way to deal with the difficulties which threaten a baby’s health must be ‘learnt,’ for the promptings ot instinct and affection alone are vague and uncertain, but. whore knowledge and devotion go hand in hand management rests on a sure foundation. •'Fortunate is the infant who is the beloved charge of a healthy and wise niothcr. for from her lie shall derive both sustenance for the body and food for the mind. His ways will be founded in regularity and order and guided with loving watch fulness. “That the study of mothercraft is one that appeals greatly to most, girls is clearly Illustrated by the answers given to the questions set in a recent, examination of Girl Guides for their ’Child Nurse’ badge: Battling Baby. Question 1 : “ ‘Describe the preparation for aud the bathing of a baby.’ “The two following answers were selected, many of the others being equally good :— Answer 1: “ ‘Have a cosy corner, out. of a draught, aud a screen if necessary. Beside a warm fire have a table, a stool, and baby’s .clothes getting warmed; a tub or small bath, warm towels, hot and cold water, washcloths, cotton wool, saucer, a little soap, and bath thermometer. Place baby on knee and remove nightgown with as little movement as possible. Wrap baby in towel and commence to wash his eyes. Wash from inside to outside with a little piece of cotton wool dipped in a saucer of warm wiitcr. Make a lather of soap, and wash baby’s head. Rinse with warm water and dry thoroughly. Next wash baby’s cars, neck, and face, using no soap, or a very little. Drj- thoroughly. Place the baby on the table on the warm towel, and soap body ail over. But baby in bath, which from a temperature of 10-’deg. has cooled down to 9Sdeg. t and wash tborottghlv. taking care to wash between the fingers aud toes. Before removing him from the bath pour tepid water over him. and then drv thoroughly and quickly witli a dabbing movement, taking care to dry all the creases. Dress baby. Remember to put on the chamber before putting him in his cot.’

Answer 2: " ‘First choose the cosiest corner in the room, seeing that it is free from draughts. See that you have everything ready, so that baby's bath will not be delayed, and therefore he will not catch cold. If using a tin bath, first put cold water in and then hot water, because tin retains the heat, and baby might burn his little feet or hands, which are so tender. The water should be tested by dipping in the point of the elbow. Baby should be picked up and undressed, and rolled in a large towel on the table beside the bath. Begin by washing the baby’s face. It should be very carefully washed. The eyes should be washed from within out. The ears should be very carefully washed. Care should be taken that no soap is left on baby’s skin. The hair is next washed, soap being rubbed on. Tho nurse should then take the baby and sit down on a low chair beside the bath, and, holding the baby so that her bead is over the bath, carefully rinse out all the soap. The head is then well dried by gently rubbing with a soft towel. Baby is then soaped all over with the hands,

special care being taken to wash in all the wrinkles. Baby is then put into the bath, and carefully supported while the soap is all washed off. Baby should' enjoy her bath, but she should not be let to conic to look on ft as a playtime; no time should be lost during the bathing. Before she is taken out of the bath she should be given a cold rinse. This should be given very gradually—at first just slightly colder than the bath itself, but gradually becoming quite cold. This rinse closes the pores, hardens the baby, and brings the blood tn the surface. Baby should then be wrapped in a towel and quickly dried and dressed. Baby's Sleeping Place. Question 2: “‘Where should a baby sleep, day aud night?’ Answer 1: “If possible baby should sleep outside in the fresh air and sunshine, but you must sec that he is free from draughts. If them nrc draughts, usewreens. On a veranda is a very good pliffie—he can sleep there both day and night. If this is not possible. he must sleep in a room by himself, free from draughts, with a current of fresh air passing through it. The worst place for a baby to sleep is in bis mother's bed. for there he is breathing in foul air, and he is liable to be smothered. If baby must sleep in the same room as bis mother, his bed should be on the opposite side to his mother's. There should be a current of fresh air flowing between the two beds.’ Answer 2:

“ ‘Baby should at all times have plenty of fresh air. It is one of the most important things. The best place for her to sleep is on a sheltered veranda. There, as long as it is sheltered aud baby is well wrapped up, she should be able to sleep all tlie year round. The spot chosen should be as quiet as possible, but baby should be trained to sleep through ordinary every-day noises. About the worst place a baby could sleep would be in the kitchen, but, above all, iu a crowded kitchen where the rest of the family lived. At night baby should sleep in a room by herself. quite close at hand to the mother or nurse, but in a separate room if possible. The cradle should be well out of draughts, but the room should be well ventilated, with as many open windows as possible. If there are unavoidable draughts arrange screens round the cradle, but there must be plenty of free flowing air. The very worst place a baby could sleep is in bed with her mother. It is very bad for .the baby, and as she has little or no fresh air. is cramped, and there is a great chqnce of her being suffocated, and it is bad for the mother, as her sleep is probably broken.’ “From the foregoing it. may be seen that, apart from the question of the tuition given, the girls have>nade an intelligent study of ‘babycraft.' The executive of the Plunket Society feels that the Instruction of Girl Guides and schoolgirls generally on matters affecting their health aud the welfare of little children is a most important educative duty, and will endeavour, wherever possible, to foster this braneb of the work." FISHERMAN’S TRUE STORY. “H’s wonderful stuff, Sydal!” writes a fisherman. “I was out Ashing some years ago and my hands got into a dreadful state. I tried several things with no effect, when someone recommended Sydal. I rubbed my hands with it that night and they were better in the morning.”—Advt.