OUR BABIES

Grey River Argus, 31 July 1940, Page 12

OUR BABIES

By

Hygeia

Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society.) “It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.’’

COTS AND BASSINETS

Now having discussed the best typse of mattresses and pillows, our thoughts naturally turn to the baby’s cot or cradle. After all, baby spends most of his time during the first year of life sleeping in his cot, so it is very important that he should have the best type of cot and place in which • to spend his sleeping hours. Most people know that we prefer the simple wicker cot —see “Feeding ■ and Care of Baby,” pages 49-53—al-though frequently we see the small canvas bassinets bought in all good faith as plunket cots; but these are not advocated by the Plunket Society, | for, like the pram, they do not perI mit the air to circulate about the bedi clothes and are not sufficiently firm in the base to ensure a good position for the small spine to lie in. We all like to think of our children growing up with straight, upright backs, and this can only be expected if baby sleeps in the correct position from

birth. Also, very often these bassinets are small and do not allow room for baby to stretch or kick, and he soon grows out of it or has to lie in a cramped position. Why do we advocate the wicker cot? Because it is light, but sufficiently strong, offers no resistance to a free circulation of air and yet makes a warm, cosy nest for baby when made up properly. Draping and cutrains round the cot are not necessary, and only collect dust; also are often the cause of baby sleeping inside when he should be out, because mother does not like to think of the trimmings getting faded and shabby looking, which certainly could happen. They very often obstruct the free flow of pure air which is so essential to the welfare and good health of baby. Yet a wicker cot can be made as attractive and dainty as any mother could wish by enamelling . the wickerwork any pale shade and making a cover to match. If she can : afford a wicker stand with two wheels on the back legs, this basket can be , moved very easily, and baby put out ( to sleep on the lawn beside a tree , or hedge or on a shady balcony. You , can see that it is much more healthy for baby to sleep outside in his cot j than (as is all too frequently the case: in his hot pram with the hood up. Method of Making Up the Cot

Now we have our cot, we need to know the correct method of making it and which mattresses and clothing to use.

First, line the head of the cot with a soft flannel, or in summer a netting or thin figured muslin may be substituted to break the draught. Then throw a soft blanket right across the cot (in size slightly smaller than a single bed blanket). This is called the enveloping blanket. On top of this place a firm, studded mattress, either horsehair or kapoc, then a loose chair shakedown with a washable cover. Winnowings of chaff are used for this purpose, and can always be emptied and rebakeu if necessary and the cover boiled. If a hot water bottle is necessary, it can be placed between these mattresses, and the heat evenly distributed without risk of burning baby. The mattresses are now covered with a small blanket, across which is placed a narrow strip of mackintosh tucked firmly in to prevent rucking; cover this with another piece of blanket, which can be changed whenever damp. A small chaff pillow is placed for baby’s head. Big, soft pillows are dangerous, and have been known to be the cause of baby suffocating. Now we have a cosy hollow in the] chaff mattress to place baby in so that he does not roll to the side, tuck his small shawl round his shoulders well up the back of his neck keeping his arms in, thus helping to prevent the all-too-frequent habit of thumbsucking, but leaving the legs free, so that movement is not impeded.

Next, one side of the enveloping blanket is brought over, then the other side is tucked firmly in; the end is then brought up and folded envelope fashion across the bottom. If the weather is cold,, a top blanket can be added, then the quilt. It is advisable to have a,,"small sheet, which is tucked into ancT across the blankets at the top, thus preventing any chaf-