OUR BABIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 17 December 1936, Page 10

OUR BABIES

PROTECTIONFOR BABY’S EYES (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.” Recently we have been reminded of i the importance of exercising care in I regard to baby’s eyes. This has been ; brought to our notice by a remark [ of our medical supervisor in regard | to the prevalence of eye defects —es- : pecially squinting—among little chil- 1 dren. Although our babies need ordinary daylight and also sunlight in abundance, the eyes ai'e delicate and precious members, and should always be protected from glare or direct sun.

shine. The way babies flinch when strong light suddenly strikes the eyes is very noticeable, and brings home the need for care. Every now and again we publish an article on the benefits of “sunlight,” in : which we point out the virtue of systematic exposure of the body to the [rays of the sun, stating at the same time that “special care should be exercised with regard to the protection of the head and eyes.” SOME SUGGESTIONS Natural shade is best. The cool f.reen of hedge or dree affords ideal

protection! but, unfortunately, the ideal is too often unattainable. We have to consider the city baby, and, in any case, there are outings to be thought of. These are .the circumstances in which the exercise of imagination and thought make all the difference. Perhaps it would be a good thing if mothers and nurses were compelled to make an absolute practice of trying out on themselves all the treatment inflicted on babies under their care. Take the matter in question —one has only to try lying on one’s back under the open sky or facing a white wall to realise how severe is the strain on the eyes. One quickly turns over or seeks protection. But baby cannot even turn over unaided! How much he needs the exercise of loving thought on his behalf!

PRAM HOODS The hood of the pram should be easily adjustable, so it can be “set” jat different angles or even swung ! right over at the foot of the pram if ! desired according to the angle from i which the sunshine is coming on any i particular occasion, j Baby should never lie on his back ; with the bright light shining directly jon to the eyes. Of course, if he is asleep he should net lie on his back i in any case. Needless to say, large, close-fitting hoods are stuffy and objectionable, and if a curtain is drawn across the opening, they are extremely pernicious. Leather hoods should be ventilated by having adjustable flaps at the sides, and the wicker or seagrass hoods should have a good wide space where the hood overlaps the body of the pram at the back. They should be lined with some material allowing circulation of air if possible, not with American leather. A screen, which may easily be made at home, is an excellent institution, and serves many purposes. If covered in soft green it affords comfortable protection from the glare of a white j wall, for instance, and can be moved i about so that it constantly shades the eyes and head without cutting off the rays of the sun from the little body. An umbrella may be moored to afford similar protection, but it is ; rather hard to secure. | HATS A soft little cotton or silk hat with a bit of brim forms an important part of baby's outfit, and should replace the woollen bonnet or cap for outings on sunny days. Apart from the question of shade, woollen caps are apt to be hot and irritating. One often finds a baby perspiring under the close-fit-ting cap, and would like to substitute j a light, cool hat of soft material, i Later on, when baby runs about, I there is nothing better than the linen hats which can be bought quite cheaply from almost any outfitters. They have good brims rather wider at the back than in the front to protect the back of the neck, and they are lined i with green. Children who are being • given “sun cure” at certain instituI lions run about perfectly naked in the ! sun except for hats of this description. 1 Apropos of softening glare, a mother. : writing from the tropics, mentions that she has dyed green the mosquito netting in which it is essential to enj velop baby’s bed, and she finds this a i great improvement.

Whilst stressing the importance of protecting baby’s eyes from direct sun or glare, one must not forget that the ! eyes are naturally adapted to the full ' light of day. It would be a great mistake to let this one aspect of baby care assume undue proportions or allow it to lead to coddling or depriving baby of the healthful rays of the "sun. i Moderation and common sense in all : things should be our watchword.