OUR BABIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3714, 19 May 1925, Page 60

OUR BABIES.

Dr

Hygeia.

Published under the ausptcee ef the Royal New Zealand Socletf tor 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.”

PLUNKET NURSES. ETC., DUNEDIN BRANCH. ' NFR9I.S’ SERVICES FREE. Nurses Thomson, Scott, Ewart (telephone 116), and Mntinoson (telephone 30 9 0). Society’s Rooms; Jamieson's Ljildings, 76 Lower Stuatt street (telephone 116), and 315 King Edward street, South Dunedin (telephone 3620). Oliice hours, daily from 2 to 4 p.m. (except Saturday and Sunday); also 125 Ilighgate, Rosiyn—Monday and ihursday from 2 to 4 p.ui. Out-stations: Baptist Church, Cordon road, Mosgiel, Tuesday afternoons from 2 to 4 p.m.; Municipal Buildings, Port Chalmeis Wednesday afternoons from 2 to 4 p.m. ‘ . Secretary, Miss G. Iloddinott, Jamieson s Buildings, Stuart street (telephone 116). Kantane-liarris Baby Hospital, Anderson’s Bay (telephone 1985). Matron, Mis 3 Buisson. Demonstrations given on request every Wednesday afternoon from 2.30 to 3.30. Training Institution for Plunket Nurses and Karitane Baby Nurses. Visiting hours: 2 to 4 p.m., Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. FRESII AIR AND VENTILATION. The following is a Plunket Nurse’s talk to mothers about fresh air and ventilation. I believe our readers will be interested in having the matter explained thus.. The Plunket Nurse when talking would, of course, demonstrate with the actual materials used, while in this column we must be content with calling attention to the illustrations in “Feeding and Oare of Baby.’’ INTRODUCTION. To those who believe that the fresh air craze is all nonsense I should like to say that nothing is more striking than the marked improvement in colour, condition, and liveliness shown by babies when they are given plenty of fresh air. Ihis fact alone should convince us that air and light are as necessary to them as to the plants and other animals. The main essentials for the health of a child are air, water, food, clothing, bathing, warmth, exercise, regularity, cleanliness, mothering, management, rest, and sleep. AIR THE MOST IMPORTANT. Air stands first and is the most important. A baby may live for a certain time without any of the other factors, but deprive him of uir and he will die in three or four minutes. The air he breathes must be fresh. A baby deprived of fresh air becomes pale, restless, and listless, and catches cold easily. Iresh air and sunlight stimulate the body, and are made use of in health and disease.Even one or two people in a closed room use up the pure air in a very short time, and the room becomes filled with the gas they breathe out. A mother will sav she believes in fresh air for the baby, and she puts him outside in the daytime, but at night she keeps him in a room full of foul air. Let him have fresh air day and night. Night air is not harmful. There is one thing we must be certain of when putting a baby in the open air, and that is keeping him warm by warm clothing, a properly-made cot, and hot-water bag if necessary. If he is not warm "C will derive very little benefit from the fresh air; but if he is properly clad he will thive best in a pure cool atmosphere. Of course, he must not be taken straight from a warm kitchen into the outside air. Gradually get him used to the cooler atmosphere. VENTILATION. It is not always possible to nut baby’s cot outside on account of bad weather, in which case we must ensure plenty of fresh air inside. We do this by correct ventilation. By ventilation is meant a moving stream of fresh air. When the surrounding air is fresh and cool, our breath rises, and we inhale pure air; but when the surrounding air is warm and stuffy our breath hangs round us, and we breathe in again the poisoned air. A mother taking her bahy to the picture theatre does not realise that he is being poisoned by the impurities breathed out by a crowd of people. As Dr O. W. Holmes said: God lent his creatures light and air, And waters open to the skies; Man locks him in a stifling lair, And wonders why his brother dies. A well-ventilated room has a current of fresh air moving through it day and night; but baby must not be put in the draught. The floor is a very draughty place, and if he is put on the floor to kick he should be put- on a blanket and surrounded by a kicking pen—four pieces of hoard nailed io form a square (see page 83, “Feeding and Caro of Baby”). , The best kind of room for ventilation is ono with a fireplace. The currents of air run towards the fireplace from windows, doors, etc.; thus round the fireplace is the draughtiosl. part of tho room, and baby should never be put on tho floor in front of the fire to get warm or toast his toes (see page 67). He will only get cold, especially the back of his head. His cradlo also inußt not he put in a draught. If there is no other place in the room for Imby’s cot, it must bo protected by a screen. On the other hand, his cot should not be put beside his mother's lied, ns the air round the mother is muggy and enervating. Of course, tho very worst plneo for the baby to sleep is in bed with his mother. This is absolutely wrong, as there is danger of his being smothored, and he gets no fresh air. You may ask why baby should not sleep with his mother when naby animals sloop with their mothers; but anin\als sleep in the open air and are not covered with bedclothes. The best place for baby to sleep is—1. On tho verandah, if ho is kept warm. 2. In a well-ventilated room by himself. 3. If he has to sleep in his mother's room,

let there be a current of air between the two beds (see plan of bedroom, page 65). Having put baby in an airy room, we must make sure he ge»s all the air possible. CRADLES. 1. Demonstrate cot with covered hood—stagnant air (Fig. 25 (', page 71). 2. netting may be used to feud off Hie.-< and mosquitoes. Place cradlo in slight draught i Fig. 25 B, page 71). There should lit> nothing over baby's face. (Fig. 25 E, page 71). 3. Cor with no curtains or hood is best (Fig. 25 A, page 71). PRAMS. 1. American leather hood is hot. Siun on hood makes air hot. Perspiration is seen on baby’s head. There is no movement of air (Fig. 27 A, page 72). 2. Plunket hood (Fig. 27 C, page 72). 3. Wicker hood. Air circulates freely, if uulined. When putting baby outside the best thing is to place his cradle in the shade, raised from the ground. SUMMARY. If we remember the following points when ensuring fresh air for the babies we cannot go far wrong: — 1. Tlie air around them must be moving. 2. Babies should not be taken straight from a very warm atmosphere to a. cold one without proper protection. 3. Sick babies need fresh air as well as healthy, ones. 4. Keep the babies warm by suitable clothing ancl suitable bedclothes. CONCLUSION. Feed your baby properly, give him pure, cool air to breathe, keep his body snug, and he will be contented. 111-feed, starve, or chill him, and he will feel wretched, and will let you know it.