OUR BABIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23205, 1 June 1937, Page 17

OUR BABIES

By Htoeia. 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 main, tain an ambulance at the bottom.” ESSENTIAL FOR BABY’S HEALTH BABY’S BATH The hour at which baby is bathed will vary with the requirements of different households. Some mothers may find it convenient to bath baby just before his second feeding time (say. between 9 and 10 o’clock in the morning). Other mothers may find it more convenient to give baby his daily bath in the afternoon before the fourth meal of the day. Of the two the morning bath time is generally preferable, as it freshens the baby up for the day. Whatever the hour chosen, it must be adhered to, so as not to upset the xdiythm of baby’s day. Of course, baby must never be bathed unless an hour (preferably more) has elapsed since his last feed. Before starling to undress baby take every precaution to prevent loss of heat before, during, and after the bath. Undress, bath, and dress quickly, with no delay or dawdling and no unnecessary exposure of the skin. Choose a cosy corner of a warmed room, using a screen if necessary to protect baby from draughts. Prepare evex-ything before lifting baby from his cot. Have dry, warm towels, washers, baby clothing, and all other necessary appliances ready to hand. It is best to fill the bath (or whatever is used for bathing baby) with water at a temperature of lOSdeg. Fahr. before starting to undress baby. A dairy or bath thermometer will serve for testing the heat of the water. If a theianometer is not available, the temperature of the water may be taken by placing the elbow in it. By the time baby is undressed the water will probably have cooled to lOOdeg. Fahr., which is the coirrect temperature at which to give baby his bath —but make quite sure by testing: do not guess. When filling the bath it is safer to pour in the cold water first, thus preventing any accident either to the baby or the little runabout.

It is not generally known that when the strong, healthy baby is a few months old ho enjoys and derives benefit from being gradually accusi lomod to having tepid and. lat.r. cool I water squeezed over him before being 1 removed from the bath. This makes him less liable to catch cold at the time or afterwards, especially if fol--1 lowed by a good brisk rub down. Take

great care in cleansing and drying eyes, ears, lips, and folds of the skin. For this a gentle dabbing motion is best, and on no account should the mouth be wiped out. Nature provides natural juices in the mouth for perfect cleanliness. Any mild, superfatted soap may be used, but use sparingly. If used on the head great care must be taken to see that it is thoroughly rinsed off again, as any trace left is apt to cause dandruff and cradle-cap. Do not be afraid to dry the scalp thoroughly. Firm rubbing will not injure the baby through the soft spot. Have two washers made from soft towelling or cellular cotton—one for his body, the other for his face. If preferred the face washer may be made from two or three folds of butter muslin. The washers must be boiled frequently. Do not use a sponrre: it is hard to keep clean, and is liable to become foul and slimy and infested with microbes. Provide two towels also—a face towel and a body towel. The former should be made of soft, absorbent material, such as butter muslin, and the latter of ordinary Turkish towelling, preferably linen. As a general rule powder is not needed. The baby should be dried so thoroughly that powder is quite unnecessary. If used carelessly, the powder tends to cake in the folds of the skin and to cause irritation and subsequent rawness. The folds of the skin should be dried with a towel, not with powder. GENERAL RULES FOR BATHING 1. Bath in a cosy corner of the room, using a screen if necessary to protect the baby from draught. 2. Have everything in readiness before lifting baby from his cot. 3. Bath baby quickly. Remember, bathtime is not playtime. 4. Do not take baby out of a heated room before first wrapping him cosily in a shawl or blanket.