OUR BABIES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 47, 26 January 1932, Page 10

OUR BABIES

CBy Hygeia.) Published under tne auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and _ Children (Plunket Society). “It is wiser to pur up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.” ABOU.T BABY’S SKIN. How exquisite is baby’s skin 1 As one writes one feels again the satiny smoothness of a baby’s cheek against one’s own—the very touch a caross. Practically every baby comes into the world with an unblemished skin, tnd it is our business to preserve it in a whole and lovely stat,e. Nothing is sadder to see than the poor, fretful little victim of an irritating rash, or, worse still, of infantile eczema. Not only may the skin be a thing of beauty, it is also a vitally important organ of the body. If it is unhealthy or damaged the whole body must suffer in some degree, and a healthy active skin, well toned and well tanned, is a fairly sure sign of good health within. Yet rashes, and even eczema, may attack an apparently normal baby very suddenly, as many a mother knows to her sorrow. Therefore these few practical points in connection with tne care of babies with specially sensitive skins may perhaps be helpful. Now all babies have delicate skins, but some are more sensitive to irritation than others. Commonly these are of the fair type with blue eyes. The akin is easily chapped or chafed, and will “flare up” on the slightest provocation. If not kept clean and dry or if exposed unduly to wind or sun redness or roughness appear at once, and this may very easily lead on to an attack of eczema, perhaps severe and prolonged. The precise cause or causes of eczema is a matter still under discussion and need not concern us, but certainly the baby with a sensitive skin such as we have mentioned is predisposed to eczema. Mothers have the prevention of trouble to a large extent m their own hands by intelligent protection and care of tne skin along the following lines. First, to put it generally, all sources of external irritation must be avoided; for instance;

1. Wool next the skin. —Even the finest wool may cause intense irritation to a sensitive skin, and it is never advisable to place woollen vests next to any baby’s skin. To babies with a tendency to eczema it is positively dangerous, and the greatest care should be taken to ensure that cotton singlet comes well above and' below the woollen overvest to prevent chafing round the neck and arms in particular. Woollen caps or bonnets if worn must be lined with silk or cotton. Cot blankets must not be allowed to come in contact with the cheeksi turn a strip of soft cotton material over the top of the blankets like a sheet, after tucking baby up. If eczema is actually present, complete cot sheets should be used inside the blankets, so that the feet and hands are protected from contact with wool. However, here we are referring chiefly to preventive measures, and in such cases it is enough to protect the cheeks and neck from blankets, and the trunk and arms from woollen clothing. 2. AY ashing and drying. These skins are very easily injured by damp and by hard water or strong soap. Contact with damp bibs qj.li.kly causes chafed chin and neck, and soiled or even wet napkins cause sore buttocks very easily if not quickly changed. Therefore it is specially important to train these babies to keep dry and clean. AVhen changing , sponge the skin with warm water and dab thoroughly dry. A little baking soda dissolved in the water is good if the "kin is slightly scalded, and a thin smear of simple baby ointment may be applied. Do not wipe the skin clean on a dry corner of the napkin: this ' a ay easily cause an abrasion. Use a damp Bathing water may be rendered soft by boiling or by the addition of a little bran or oatmeal squeezed in a muslin bag. Be specially careful to dry all folds and crevices, using the softest of towels. Do not clog the pores with powder. A smear of baby ointment may be applied if there is any redness, but in general the skin is best just kept clean and dry. A lot of .ointment may simply make it soft and soggy ana very liable to damage and lnfeotl<Soap: Common or highly scented soaps contain irritating properties. Uso only the finest superfatted soap, and use this sparingly. In some cases it is advisable to discontinue the use of soap and water altogether for a time oil the face or other affected parts, using instead pure olive oil on soft cotton rag or cotton wool swabs, gently wiping over the skin once or twice a day. In some cases special medicated baths and soap are ordered, but that is a matter for medical adV T The Scalp: Scurfy patches on the scalp may lead to eczema. Never allow a baby’s head to get dirty in this way. There is no need whatever to be afraid of touching the “soft spot.” The best way to prevent these dirtv patches is to wash the head with firm fingers, rinse the soap off very thoroughly, and dry with light, brisk friction. If scurf is already present rub in. olive oil or vaseline overnight; then lift it with the edge of a visiting card or something similar. AVash and dry in the ordinary way, and repeat the process every day until the bead is quite clean. . . ' ' _ 4. The napkins need care. Never dry and use again without washing. Use no soda or washing powders. Rinse soap well out and dry in the open air whenever possible. 6. Overheating is a common cause of irritation. These babies tend to be very easily overheated and need careful watching to regulate clothing and bedding according to weather changes—not always easy in. our uncertain climate. These babies may need surprisingly little clothing. They are nearly always warm to the touch. An hour or two of overheating may cause the skin to "flare up distressingly and will certainly aggravate any existing skin eruption. 6. Direct sunshine and strong winds —especially cold, dry winds—act hs definite irritants to some skins. Take care that the face is always protected by a shady hat or a screen, and go very cautiously in exposing the body to direct sunlight. Avoid taking the baby out , in cold or high winds.. If it must be done, rub a little Ointment on the checks before and after going out. . 7. Scratching or rubbing. Wherever the skin gets rough or inflamed it gets irritable and the baby’s natural impulse is to scratch or rub the itching places. He simply must be prevented from doing this. Keep the nails very short and tie cotton gloves over the hands if necessary. If this is not enough, padded cardboard arm splints, to prevent bending the arms at the elbows, are the best preventive measure. Any Plunket nurse will be glad to give instructions for the making of splints and other devices to E revent scratching. If baby actually as eczema this is the first consideration in the management, for weeks of

successful treatment may be undone m five minutes of surreptitious scratcning* Constant vigilance is the pnce of successful treatment, for these poor little ones show the greatest ingenuiuty ' finding unexpected ways of reaching tne , irritating places. Every mother must needs use her own common sense ana imagination in devising the best metn ods of protecting her own baby •we can only give general guiding lines. So much for external causes of irritation. Now let us consider for a moment the internal conditions which may reac adversely upon a delicate skm. tne commonest are constipation and overfeeding. _ ~ , . „ Constipation must Be tackled systematically. Any Plunket nurse will give detailed advice personally or by. letter. Overfeeding often gives rise to simple skin rashes; but simple rashes, in children of the typo we are dealing with, may all too easily lead to more serious skin trouble. Eczema usually attacks babies who are inclined to be fat and more or less overfed; it is comparatively seldom seen in thin, undernourished infants. If baby shows any signs of skin trouble it is advisable to get expert advice about tne diet, natural or artificial. The breastfed baby should if possible be weighed before and after feeding for 24 hours to ascertain exactly how much he is getting. If the quantity is not excessive a well-mixed 24 hours’ specimen of the mother’s milk Bhould be tested for the fat percentage. In any case the intervals of feeding should be not less than four-hourly, the feeds not longer than 10 to 20 minutes (five minutes may be ample first thing in the morning), and an ounce or so of water may be given immediately before the breast feeds for a time, the mother should eat a non-stimulating diet, with plenty of fruit and vegetables and water, and must keep herself perfectly free from constipation. If baby is gaining , more than Boz. a week in the first quarter, or 4oz._ to 6oz. after that, he is almost certainly overfed, and if not regulated trouble is sure to result sooner or later. The diet of the bottle-fed. baby with a tendency to eczema needs to be well balanced, though it may require special modification temporarily to suit individual cases. Exoess of sugar or fat or of starchy foods tends to aggravate the trouble, but 'qb a role ordinary humanised milk is best, with a generous allowance of fresh fruit or vegetable juice for age. ' Teething does not in itself _ cause eczema, but it is liable to precipitate an attack in a baby with a susceptible skin. Therefore extra care should be taken of such babies at teething time along these lines. Manv distressing cases of eczema could be prevented entirely or much mitigated in severity if mothers recognised in time the type of skin which is affected by slight irritation. AAe hone these suggestions may help to make the causes of such irritation better understood, and so save some unnecessary suffering and anxiety.