OUR BABIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3333, 30 January 1918, Page 52

OUR BABIES.

By Hyoeia. Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society tor the Health •I Women and Children. "It is wiser to put up a fence at the top ol a precipice than to maintain an ambulanoe at the bottom." HEALTH LESSONS FOR CHILDREN. THIRD LESSON. I wonder whether you remember the five chief needs for good health I Their names begin with the first five letters of the alphabet, and to make quite cure that you really know 'them wc shall repeat them again this week: A. Alß.—Breathe pure, fresh, clean, cool air by day and night. B. BATHING.—PIenty of water for oleanliness. C. CLOTHING.—Loose, light, comfortable clothing—neither too much nor too little. D. DIET. —Proper food. Plain, simple food taken at regular intervals. Solid food must be thoroughly chewed. Water should be taken after a meal, not with it. 'E. EXERCISE AND REST—A large \amount of exercise in the open air and sunshine is necessary for 'good health. Boys and girls, as well as babies, need rest and plenty of sound sleep. (Get the children to repeat the above essentials for health, marking off each on a finger.) Last week I told you something about the great importance of fresh,. pure Air. To-day I want to tell you a little about Bathing Clothing. " BATHING. - Nothing is better for the health than a cold bath or a cold shower every morning, followed by a good romp round for quarter of an hour. Go straight from your cosy bed to the bath. Don't dawdle, and wonder whether it will be cold; plunge right in. Dry yourself very vigorously with a rough towel, dress very quickly, and then run outside for a good romp or skip. Some people think children cannot stand a ; cold bath. This is a mistake. Little babies from 8 or 9 months are benefited by passing them once through the cold shower after their morning bath, then rubbing 'them briskly! dressing them quk>kly, and making them cosy and comfortable. | I know little children who have had a cold plunge both summer and winter from 18 months or two years onward, followed by brisk rubbing with a bath towel, rapid dressing, and active exercise in the open air.* They have grown up strong and healthy, hardly ever catching cold, and generally having a happy time. Don't Dawdle. You. remember I said "Don't dawdle," but go straight from your cosy bed and plunge into the cold water as soon as possible. I want to illustrate the need for this.

Once I knew a family of children who practically lived in the fresh air, each had a cold bath every morning, and yet they Wero always "catching cold." I could not understand it, and, of course, people said: "Look at the R 's 1 They have their windows wide open day and night, the children have cold baths every morning, and yet they are always 'catching cold '1" It was certainly contrary to all one's ideas of what should follow such \ health-giving practices. Then I discovered that the children got up early, and instead of having their baths at once and dressing quickly, they wandered about in their nightdresses until they were thoroughly chilled Of course, the plunge into cold water chilled them still more, 1 and they had not sufficient warmth in themselves to get the proper effect from the bath—they did not get the proper • "reaction," as it is called. Instead of feeling warm and full of energy after tho brisk Tubbing-, they still felt cold and tired, and, of course, when the nasty little " cold" germs fastened on them they had not enough vigour to fight them away, and SO they caught cold. Tho bath may feel a little cold at first, but after a good rub down and a romp there will bo a splendid glow, and you will feel fresh and bright. Sea-bathing is very good for the health, and nearly all children revel in it. Indeed it is often difficult to get children to come out of the surf, and here we must speak a word of warning. One or two bathes a day are quite enough. Some children bathe three or four times a day, and this does more harm than good. I once knew a littlo girl who spent most of 'the summer holidays bathing—she used to swim and bathe in tho surf throe or four times every day. She overdid it, and it took her nearly a whole year to regain her former health and vigour. So, you see you must bo moderate even in healthful exercises. Once a week a hot bath should be taken and tho body thoroughly cleansed all over, while every day hands, faoe, nails, cars, neck, etc., should he well washed and oleansed with soap and water. The hair must also bo kept clean.

CLOTHING. Clothing should be euited to the season of the year, and should bo loose, light, free from restrictions, and comfortaple. Don't wear too many clothes> but just sufficient. Next the skin garments made of light, porous linen or cotton material, such as "Aertex," are best. In bvgone years it was the rule to advise the use of flannel next the < ekin; but many people find flannel very irritating, so much so that they suffer constant discomfort, and are frequently kept awake most of the night. I knew a man who suffered from want of sleep so long as he wore woollen sleeping suits. On changing to a material which di"3 not irritate his skin he_ slept quite well. If flannel was so irritating to _a n. an, what must it be to the tender skin of a tiny baby? Boots and Shoes. . Boots and shoes should be shaped like the natural foot, and they would then be quite comfortable. The foot should not be put out of shape by crowding the toe* together through using badly-shaped stockings and badly-shaped tight shoes. More misery, discomfort, and bad health come from sore feet, corns, bunions, and other - results of tight, badly-fitting, highheeled boots and shoes '.in from almost any other source, with the exception of decayed teeth; therefore see that your feet are oomfortable.

Suspenders should be worn, not garters; but 'the suspenders should not be so short that the shoulders are dragged forward—they should bo easy and comfortable. There should bo no tightness or restrictions by clothing of any kind, more especially round the waist and chest.