OUR BABIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 24 June 1937, Page 5

OUR BABIES

DULL DAYS (By HygeiaJ 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.” We often hear people complain that dull weather with constantly grey skies send their spirits down to zero, and it is common knowledge that a long spell of cold, sunless days increases the tendency to colds, bronchitis, and other infections. The fact is that everyone tends to suffer physically, more or less, from lack of sun, whilst the mental and nervous condition tends to be depressed by the lack of light and “cheer.” Remember that cold in itself is invigorating, not harmful to hardy, active people of any age. It is only to those who are soft and coddled or weakly or who are living under wrong conditions that weather constitutes a danger, which is an argument itself against coddling. “FEELING THE COLD” But we must not forget in our desire to make children hardy that chilliness lowers vitality, and is depressing to the nervous system, and such a condition definitely lays the child open to infection and ill-health. Some children “feel the cold” more than others, and should be treated accordingly, whilst at the same time everything possible is done to tone them up and improve the circulation and vitality generally. Children suffering from lack of warmth and light tend to be fretful and listless; they do not instinctively run and romp about in order to get warm. Such activity is the result of reasoning—the natural tendency is rather to huddle up and conserve what warmth is there. Who does not know the feeling of reluctance to getting out of bed when one wakes up slightly chilly? Anyone who has experience of the care of little children knows how utterly miserable they may be on cold early mornings, when, once awake, they will not keep snuggled down in bad. There often follows an unhappy hour or two until a warm corner in the kitchen or playroom is ready and breakfast comes on the scene.

EXTRA CLOTHING The wise mother is always on the watch and ready to regulate clothing to the changing' conditions of the day. For these early morning hours it is most essential to attend to baby directly he wakes and sits up before he gets chilled. Remove the wet clothing and slip on one or two extra close-fit-ting garments, long socks and gloves. As the day or room warms up and active exercise is taken, lighten the clothing. During fine weather all but the equivalent of summer clothes can be discarded during the sunny hours about noon, and real sun baths may b‘e taken in a suitably sheltered spot, then again as the day wanes be ready vtith extra wraps. • U , . ' W: COMMON SENSE NOT CODDLING This sort of attention is not coddling, it is common sense, but it should be unobtrusive and done in such a manner that the child does not feel itself the object of anxious solicitude on the part 'of the mother. One may foster self-reliance by teaching the child to take off and put on his own cardigan as required. Quite a little child will presently say, “Poof—hot!” and proceed to divest himself of superfluous garments.

Remember that - knitted garments, whilst the best and warmest of wear in still air, offer no resistance to wind, and one thickness of silk, cotton, or other close-woven material is required for outings.

The crawling baby is a problem in cold weather. He needs a complete suit of closely-woven or knitted woollies covering feet and thighs. Gloves, too, may be a comfort. The tops of old woollen stockings or old woollen bloomers or jumpers make good sensible crawling suits. A good big pen with solid sides and a warm rug inside is a help in keeping baby out of draughts, also keeping him in a warm, sunny spot wherever such may be.

LIGHT AND COLOUR It is worth considering, too, the effect of light and colour apart from actual sun and air; darkness and drabness are depressing. Lightness and bright, pretty colours on the other hand are stimulating and cheering. Children cannot define such reactions, but are affected none the less to a greater or smaller extent according to temperament; therefore, the playroom should, if possible, be light and bright, especially during dull winter days. A predominance of various shades of gold, orange, and russet in furnishings make a tremendous difference to the “atmosphere” of a room. A few shillings will be very well spent on inexpensive, bright, and “sunny” coloured materials for curtains and coverings for the living room or playroom at this time of the year. Even clothes often make a difference to our “feelings” and no less to children’s. Most little chlidren love pretty colours, and a gay new cretonne apron made out of scraps of material will help to dissipate the effects of a dark and cheerless day.

VENTILATION AND WARMTH Proper ventilation of a playroom is very important, though not always easy to achieve. A room with a fireplace is best because a chimney practically assures some degree of ventilatio in any room. A modern gas fire set in open chimney is an excellent method of warming nursery or playroom. The chimney gives ventilation, and the ga. fire provides easily regulated warmth without requiring constant attention, and it emi-s a cheerful glow of light. With an electric radiator and no chimney it it difficult to keep a room comfortably warm yet fresh, and one has to give

more thought to airing and ventilating a room. “THE KITCHEN AS A PLAYROOM” If the kitchen is the only possible place for the little ones to play in when indoors, take stock of your kitchen from the point of view of making it as healthy and suitable for that purpose as possible. First and most important is the question of ventilation and fresh air. Quite definitely the close, warm, and often steamy atmosphere of an ordinary kitchen is thoroughly bad for a child. To spend hours in such an atmosphere is very enervating, and lowers the vitality of every part of the body. It produces a condition in which the child is extremely susceptible to colds, coughs, and chest troubles, besides predisposing to the growth of adenoids and enlarged tonsils. “BABY’S CORNER” But by a little careful thought and pi' ming much can be done to improve matters, and “baby’s corner” can be made perfectly safe and healthy, as well as comfortable. First of all the window; see that it opens, and is kept open at the top, have the bottom thrown wide open, also for as long as possible. Now choose the corner which is airiest, but not draughtly, for a play corner. Call in father’s active assistance in making a pen. For the crawling baby a big packing case does well cut down to a convenient height, painted, and lined, but the toddler needs more space. It is an excellent plan to make a little wooden fence or barricade which can be fastened across the corner and removed when not required. We have had experience of such, used either in a room or on a veranda, to which it and the children, bag and baggage, were removed when the sun came out. The children called it the “bar-row-cade.” *

There came a time when it was the most absorbing occupation to endeavour to climb over it, and eventually its day was done, but not before it had served its useful purpose for several years.

Then father’s handiness and ingenuity may come in again. The prettiest little chair and table and perhaps a box for holding toys may be made at home for a very small sum, and they look charming when gaily painted and decorated, if desired, with the pretty little stencils one can buy.

It is, by the way, quite a good plan to start early and keep to the practice of giving the toddler his meals on his own little table instead of in a high chair at the family meals. If it can be managed it is a great boon to “get him out of the way” beforehand like this, and it also teaches independence and helps to prevent the habit of expecting “pieces” and unsuitable food from the “grown-ups’ ” table.

We have wandered a little from our subject of safeguarding the children from the ill-effects of dull days, but hope these few practical hints may be useful.