OUR BABIES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 12140, 30 December 1933, Page 10

OUR BABIES

■ . ri))’. - C-{ '■ ' f ' ■"/■>. «j_ ) : -.. W BABY'S SKiN. .; Nearly every baby is Horn.healthy skin, covered as a rule with a layer of soft, greasy matter, which protects it from the action of the ; water in which the child floats before it is born. Then, before the 'birth, the child is nof exposed to extremes of either heat or cold, Hut is surrounded by the gentle ivarmtli of its mother. From these facts we may learn useful lessons,) lessons which will help us to maintain the skin in the healthy state the ' baby presents to us at its birth. After its first wash there will he apparently ' little grease on baby’s iskifi. The nurse, before she puts on , the. (Waiting - baby clothes, will have cleared' it all away. But, however thoroughlv the nhr.se does her work, , baby’s skin will not be. 4evoid of a protective layer of invisible grease. In., the skin ar e thousands of tiny sebaceous glands, side by side with '’tlio porcsl These glunds sccrcto greasy substance, the purpose ot which is very similar to that of the grease on the body of a new-horn baby. Tt keeps the skin soft, and prevents the soddening action of the watery perspiration, constantly being shed from ; the pores. Oil, and : water wiR hot mije. The watery perspiration lies on the surface of itaj greasy' layer and evaporates from it. Too much water, whether from two frequent bathing and washing, perspiration locked in by impervious garments, or by the use of medicated soaps, or soaps containing a lot of soda,! all the>*q remove the protective greasy layer from the skin, leave if ;dry and harsh and pave.’the way for scurf, eczema, and, ;skin of a new-born child.-is thin, the : outor protective layer,' especially so. . Too frequent immersion in Water, when followed too vigorous rubbing with”a towel, weakens the skin and nibs off not only the protective grease, but the outer pro- ! tectiyej layer of. the skin itself. A •daily-hath and toilet of the skin necessary., but once, a day is... often ' enough for them. To see haby splashing about and enjoyifxg hiipself In his 1 bath is a pleasure, and the exposure of his naked body to the air prothe health of . his, skin. But .remember the gentle hept in which v the skin was. brought to its healthy condition, when he was box#. Bn hot have the bath water, excessively' hot. Test it with a hath thermometer, or by putting your elbow, whif-h is more ■reliable than the hands, iiito the water before putting baby into the bath. The right temperature for the ) bi<th water, measured by the ■thermometer, is not below 93 nc r above LOO degrees. Do not have the bath on the floor in a draught. Remember the warm place from which baby has come. Either raise the bath, on supports, above the floor, or put a screen round it' to ward °? draughts. Baby must never be bathed in a cold room, nor in one oppressively hot. The whole operation should be done quickly, warm towels should be in waiting.)® to throw round him as soon as _ lie is out of the bath, and the drying of him should be more by mopping than by.vigorous rubbing_ In drying, special attention should be given to the armpits, the buttocks, and the crea- ' ses between the thighs and the body. To leave them even damp is to invite trouble. There is no better dusting powder than ona of equal parts 01 (ale and starch powder, and the parts mentioned may - be dabbed with tin' powder.'with. a. powder puff. If, however, the parts ate thoroughly dried, the need for powder should be little. The less soap used the better, and iZ should be a. superfatted one. A superfatted castile - soap is best. Delicate, thin .children, with dry skips, should, be rubbed over with warm olive..oil.

Out of doors baby's skin should be protected from cold winds, of which the wind is most to be feared, as. well a s from the hot sun. Sunlight, a health promoter when used prudently, can, if allowed too. liberally , cause eczema and dermatitis, as well as inflame the child’s eyes.: The skin, gradually accustomed to sunshine, tans. The brown pigment deposited in it acts as a shield, which enables 'it to bear longer and more repeated exposure to tb e life-giving beams.

Clothing has its influence oil th? skin. To overclothe is as bad as to nnderelothe, and keeps the skin, in a bath of perspiration, not only injurious to the skin, but weakening to the system. Clothing should.be warm and porous, not only to allow, the escape of perspiration, which, though w e may not sec rt, is being constantly shed, but also, if next the. skin, garments of a cellular texturo are \yorn, to surround the skin in'a layer of- warm air. Clothes help to retain warmth in the body, but if garments of close texture are laid on the skip they press close to it and obliterate the. air space above it.. A body s.Q clothed wi\ be colder than one. clad in porous garments, which promote the health and nutrition of the skin, by permitting warm, air to remain-in their meshes and at the same time allowing the vapour of perspiration to, escape through them, instead of hplding 'it in as. a chilling, damp liquid.