OUR BABIES

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 37, 15 February 1929, Page 2

OUR BABIES

BY HYGEIA. Published under the auspices tt the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Blanket Society). “It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.” BABY’S CRADLE. “What kind of cradle shall 1. choose f”i is a question young mothers often, ask, and our answer always » is; “Choose, a simple wicker cradle, and, if you can alibi’d it, a wicker stand to match.” WHY THE WICKER CRADLE IS ADVOCATED. The ideals to aim at in choosing baby’s ‘‘radio are these: That it should he light yet sldlicicntly strong 5 that it should offer no obstacle to the freest possible circulation. of air, yet allow of sufficient warmth and cosiness when made up; and that it should he easily kept clean ami sweet —no excessive ornamentation or curtains and furbelowsto gather dust and obstruct the free How of pure air—baby’s first need. Yet there is no reason why a real “Plunket cot” should not he) an pretty as any any young mother need wish —as we shall see. The plain wicker cradle fulfils all these requirements admirably. it is light enough to carry from one place to another, with baby in it, if need be (a proceeding which is often necessary if baby is to have, as ho should have, the advantage of the sunniest or the most sheltered spots in the veranda or garden as tlm day goes on). It is strong enough to last through the babyhood of half a dozen in a family, if that is required of it. Its light, open framework allows air to circulate all round the child; but if made up in the way we shall describe it makes a nest Tor baby which is the essence of cosiness. Lastly, a brush or a damp cloth keeps it perfectly clean. THE IMPORTANCE OF BABY’S CRADLE. When you consider that baby spends, or should spend, nine-tenths tel three-quarters of his entire first few months ef life in. his cradle you liegin to realise that it is; very noportant to choose the best bud. TTis sleeping place is going to influence his growth and development very much in those early months. Lie needs fresh air freely—warmth and protection from draughts withal; be needs room to move and stretch out. sleeping or waking; and be needspeace ami real rest for brain and nervous system—no jolting ami rocking. A PRAM DOES NOT TAKE THE PLACE OF A GOT, A pram is not a good, place fob baby to sleep for hours on end, and it should never bo used to take the place of a cradle, good anti necessary as it is in its place. This is because it is usually stuffy—the wooden bottom and lined sides (commonly American leather) prevent access of air t ( ,. the bedclothes. If the hood is raised the baby may ho in a thoroughly muggy and unhealthy atmosphere, oven in the garden—far worse off than indoors in a wicker cradle if the room is ventilated. Deprovcd of fresh air and sunshine, baby becomes pale, listless and irritable, ami' liable to all sorts of disease. There are other reasons against using the pram as baby’s regular sleeping place. It is too short and too narronv (at any rate alter the Hist low- weeks) for him to get the free ami vigorous movement ho needs for development; ami, lastly 1 there is always the temptation for someone to push it or jig it to “keep baby quiet’ l or “put him to sleep”—stirring up his quietness and delibertoly sowing the seeds for trouble later. .No! the pram is not a good place for ha by To sleep, except during necessary outings. “But,” the mother say, “if, is so easy to move baby about if ho sleeps in his prani,” to which we reply: “Use a light wickgr cradle and, you will nob have any diilculty in moving baby about as much as is necessary, especially if you have also a light framework or stand; hut a home-made Lrcsslo or two chairs wilt do.”

HOW TO MAKE UP THE IDEAL CTTrtDLE. It is of the utmost importance to make baby’s bod properly, the a'm being to e.vlude draughts and keep him, railly cosy, ami yet allow freedom of movement. A badly made bed may ho Hie. cause of u serious illness from exposure and. chill. It is period ly simple fo make it the best wajvi, and this is how to do| it; —■ (I) Line, the head end of t he cradle \v,ith soft llannel, nmisveiling, or blanket. In summer, netting .may he used instead' of llannel; at jmst

serves to break draughts rin<l keep nut insects. The head lining may Ik; gathered slightly with a heading, or it may ho stretched round and tied at tho hack of the cot. (2) Throw a soft, fluffy new blanket right over the empty cradle. This is tho “enveloping blanket.” A small single, bed blanket will do, bid is rather large; about 2yds by 1 1-1 yds is tho best size. On top of tho blanket place a Jinn studded mattress. (!) .Make a loose chaff shakedown in a, washing cover, and place this on top ot ino mattress. If a hot water hoLllo is required, put it between tlie mattress ami tin; shakeivo s ji, (,o; Cover iiiaiu'i's., and simKedown wun a, small non lives UlcKg.i in an 1 (0111(1. pd Place asnip ol 11 1 1< is, .soil macKiniosn, or jaconet across tne middle or Um bed, and tuck it in ait cacu side lo prevent rucking. (p) Cover too nmcKiniosJi with a railier wide, strip oj Jlanngt or blanket wbnii can no clmnged whenever dump. (8; .Make a, cosy hollow m tho chajf sliiiiikedjOiwii with, your hand, and li mb a small, thm pillow in position). 'I bo ideal (material lor the

pjjljow is tho same, soft winnovvmgs of chaff as it used for the shakedown, large soft pillows are enervating and actually dangerous. \\ e have known of babies being suffocated in. their pillows, (<)) Now place .baby in Ids cosy nest, and tuck his shawl or cuddling blanket round him ,well up at the hack of the neck and round tho feet.

(10) Ering up one side of the big “envelope” hhuiket and. tuck it in on tin? far side of the cradle. Then bring up the other side of the blanket and complete tin? envelope by ducking it Ifrmly in, all round.

(11) Slip your hand inside the envelope and feel to make sure that baby lias plenty of room to move round inside his cosy bed. (12) Put on the quilt" or coverlet, according to your fancy.

You now have baby in a portable nest or envelope, cosy and warm, yet tree to kick at Will.

We must specially mention the c.half, which makes an ideally soft yet healthy mattress. if it becomes damp or isoded it can be renewed cheaply or baked in the oven, and tin? cover can ho washed. If a hot bottle is placed under, the chaff shakedown it ensures even, welldistributed heat, without risk of hiwning. Ordinary, harsh chaff will not do; it must lie soft, light “winnowingsl”) which are winnowed out by the threshing machines. -About' 511, of chaff will make pillow and isl lake down.

if you wish to heautily this cradle, try enamelling the wicker-—with 1"° coals of the? best enamel paint—-cream or palest blue or pink, according to your fancy. Then get (your blankets, or anyhow the head lining, in match. Tile most fascinating, Unity woollen blankets may he had in the palest of baby shades these days, and there is nunsveiling in cream and slid pink or pale blue. You can biujf the blankets with ribbon and lavish, all dho handwork you like on the little coverlets—and, you will not wish for anything prettier than ma . “Plunked’’ cradle when finished.

Wo do not advise any mother to have trills on the cradle—they make work and collect (Inst and obstruct the free flow of air, especially it' lined with silk or satin. If you have really set your heart on (frills, let them bo of open mosquito unlined, just edged w'th lace and gathered on to tape, so that they can bo easily - and frequently washed. ptßub tliq ideal cob has nob frills of curtains, although a mosquito net may bo necessary in some climates.