OUR BABIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23502, 17 May 1938, Page 14

OUR BABIES

By Utoeia

Published under the auspices of th* Royal New Zealand Society for th* Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society) "It (a witter to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom .** ABOUT BABY’S SKIN How . exquisite is baby’s skin! As one writes one feels again the satiny smoothness of a baby’s cheek against one’s own—the very touch a caress. Practically every baby comes Into the world with an unblemished skin, and it is our business to preserve it in a whole and lovely state. Nothing is sadder to see than the poor, fretful little victim of an irritating rash. or. worse still, of infantile eczema. The skin is not only 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 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 the care of babies with sensitive skins may 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 skin is easily chafed, and flares up at the slightest provocation. If not kept clean and dry, or if exposed unduly to wind or sun, redness orroughness appears at once, and this may lead to an attack of eczema perhaps severe and prolonged. The precise cause 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 in their own hands if they will intelligently protect and care for the skin along these lines.

1. All sources of external irritation must be avoided—for instance, wool next the skin. Even the finest of wool may cause irritation to a sensitive skin, and a woollen vest should never be next to baby’s skin. To babies with a tendency to eczema, It is positively dangerous, and the greatest care should be taken to ensure that the cotton singlet comes well above and below the woollen over vest to prevent chafing round the arms and neck in particular Woollen caps and bonnets should be lined with silk or cotton Cot blankets must not be allowed to come in contact with the cheeks: turn a strip of soft cotton material over the top of the blankets like a sheet after tucking baby into his bed. If eczema is actually present a complete cot sheet should be used inside the blankets, so that feet and hands are protected from contact with the 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

Washing and Drying.—Sensitive skins are easily injured by damp and by hard water and strong soap Contact with damp bibs quickly causes chafed skin round the neck, and soiled or even wet napkins cause sore buttocks easily if not quickly changed. Therefore, it is specially important to train these babies to keep dry and clean. When changing, sponge the skin with warm water and dab dry thoroughly. A little baking soda dissolved ; n the water is good if the skin is slightly scalded, and a thin smear of simple baby ointment may be applied. Do not wipe the skin clean on a drv corner of the napkin: this maycause an abrasion. Use a damp cloth. Bathing water may be rendered soft by boiling or by the aedition 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 ol baby ointment may be applied if there is any redness; but, in general, the skin is best kept dry and clean. A lot of ointment may simply make it soft and soggy and very liable to damage and infection.

Soap.—Common or highly scented soaps contain irritating properties. Use only the finest superfatted soap, such as Castile, and use this sparingly. In some cases it is advisable to discontinue the use of soap and water altogether for a time or. the face or other affected parts, using instead pure olive or almond oil on soft cotton rag or cotton wool swabs, gently wiping over the scalp once or twice a day. In some cases special medicated baths and soap are ordered, but that is a matter for medical advice. Next week we will continue this article about the care of baby’s skin.