OUR BABIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2586, 21 August 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

OUR BABIES.

(By Hygeia.)

Published under the auspices of the Society for the Promotion of the Health of Women and Children. \

ADDRESSES OF PLUNKET NURSES • V AND SECRETARIES. : i Wellington.—Plunket Nurse M‘Douaid, 73 Aro Street. Tel. 2425. lion, sec., Mrs. M'Vigar, 45 Majoribanks Street City. Tel. 2642. Auckland.—Plunket Nurse Chappell, Park Street. Tel. 851. Office of Society, 2 Chancery Street. Tel 829. Office hours, Tuesdays and Fridays, 2.20 to 4p m. Hon. sec., Mrs. W. H. Parkes, Marinoto, Symohds Street. Tel. 240. NAPlEß.—Pfiunkei Nurse Donald, Masonic Hotel, Tel. 87. Hon. sec., Mrs. E. A. W. Henley, P. 0., Box 64. ■ Tel. 147. Society’s Baby Hospital, Ivaritane Home, Anderson’s Bay, Dunedin. Tel. 1985. Demonstrations on points of interest to mothers are given by the matron every Wednesday afternoon from 2.30 to 3.30. All mothers are - invited. Messages may be left at any time at the Plunket Nurses’ Offices, or private addresses. The Society’s, official sheet of instructions, written by Dr. Truby King, price 3d (postage free), and all other information available from the lion, secretary of each branch.

POPULAR ERRORS.

ERROR XI. That Babies Need Some “Solid Food.—Anything beyond human or humanised milk should bo regarded as harmful, not beneficial, for the first nine months of life. During this period nothing but milk should be given, un - less prescribed for some special reason. ERROR XII. That the Giving of “Wliat’s Going” Does no Harm the Second Year. — Utterly wrong. The utmost care and attention should be given to deeding baby . . perly' throughout the second year,. ERROR XIII. That the Giving of “Pieces” Between Meals- does no Harm. —In reality this habit is very injurious. The natural processes of digestion need certain times for their completion : and nothing tends to upset the child’s digestive system more than the allowing of pieces of bread, cake, etc., or even drinks of milk, apart from the regular meal hours. ERROR XIV. That Baby Needs a Binder to Give Support to Abdomen and Back, and to Prevent Risk of Rupture.—This is preposterous. A binder weakens both the back and the belly, and increases the risk of rupture. The only excuse for using a binder at all is to keep tho dressing on while the stump of the cord is healing. Even for this purpose the binder, if used, should be light and elastic, say (stookingette). and it should he jeft off immediately the cord is healed. t ERROR XY. That the Modern Baby Needs no “Mothering.”—This is the view of the lazv woman who holds that an infant should merely rest, passively imbibe milk, sleep, and grow fat. In reality, every baby should have the active exercise and stimulation avoided by suckling or the best available substitute. But be is entitled to, and needs, much more than this. Dr. Fordyce says:— “Suckling is a prerogative of the -mother; the capability of mothering is common to all normal adult females, and, under skilled guidance afid direction. is the most valuable aid in the. treatment of infants (whether sick or healthy).” ERROR XVI. That “Night Air”—Especially Pure Cold Night Air—is Dangerous for Babies.—The reverse is the ease. Nothing makes babies so strong and free from “colds” as living in pure cold air. At the Ivaritane Hospital, the sick babies sleep (after a short preliminary hardening) in rooms where there is a constant broad stream of “Night air,” which often keeps the temperature at freezing point in winter from dusk till dawn. It is hard to get mothers to realise that' this is safe and beneficial for babies only a few weeks old, if they are provided with suitable bedclothing and properly tucked in, etc. ERROR XVII. That the Baby’s Face Should be Covered With a Handkerchief or Piece of Muslin When Sleeping in his Pram, etc.—The mouth and nose should on no account be covered, even by the most open muslin, because any covering imprisons the, breath and causes the baby, to breathe its own exhalations over and over again. This is highly injurious and enfeebling.

ERROR XVIII. That the Nursery . Should bo Warmed to Godeg. or 70cleg. Fallr.—The only time when the baby needs to be in a warmed room is when his clothes are off—that is—(l) at bathing time, and (2) when most of liis clothing has been removed in order that he may be left to kick for a spell. Even then the temperature need not be above scdeg. or GOdeg., Fahr., if he is. protected from draught by means of a low screen. For 23 out of the 24 hours the air need Hot bo above freezing point (32deg., Fahr.) even for a baby only a few weeks old, so long as he is properly, clad, kept out of direct draught, and provided, if necessary, with a hot bottle. ERROR- XIX. That There is a Special Risk in Allowing a Male Baby to Cry, as the Strain Tends to Cause Rupture .—This fallacy often makes mother and nurse anxious to prevent crying. Hence they give the baby his own way day and night, and he soon bocomos a spoiled, exacting, fretful little tyrant. If ho crys lie is given what lie wants, whether it is, food! between meal-times or cuddling in his mother’s; bed when lie ought to be asleep iri bis own cot. Both the digestion and the nervous system may be more of less ruined in this way ERROR XX. That in the Case of Female Babies the Nurse Should Massage, of rißreakdown” the Breasts so as. to Soften' Thom #nd Promote Future Development.—Much harm and rib good results from this extraordinary proceeding.