EXERCISE FOR BABY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16943, 18 January 1923, Page 10

EXERCISE FOR BABY.

Few people seem to really recognise that exercise forms an important part even in the life of a small baby. Its earliest exercise is in the form of occasional stretching, but after a row weeks a normal and healthy child should start to kiek out arms and legs when it is lying on anyone s lap, paxticularlv after bathing. This kicking is very beneficial. It helps bones and muscles as well, and is a sure preventive of rickets, for it induces healthy But -discretion must he used on the part of the mother. A baby must not bo allowed to overtire itself, and after a short period of vigorous kicking there should follow complete rest. When baby is eight months old a crawling rug should be provided, so that the little one can be 9 ,1 t down on it. Draughts abound on floor level, and thev should he guarded against, particularly that which comes from under the door. A WOODEN “ PLAYGROUND.” A baby’s playground is also an excellent investment. They arc very cheap to buy, and fold up to a small compass when not in use. Within its coniines baby can crawl around ana come to no harm at sill, which is a much better plan than allowing the child to crawl all over a room, where it not only inevitably gets very grubby, but gets knocks and bruises from colliding with the furniture, and very often picks up bits and put, them into its mouth. Before it is a year old a perfectly healthy baby usually makes the effort to walk. The legs should be watched most carefully, and the efforts must be firmly discountenanced if they are noi perfectly firm and straight. But when a child is at the walking stage it is very often allowed to overdo tilings. To be too long on its feet at a stretch is very bad, and no child of less than three years should do too much walking. Even at that age half a mile is quite sufficient, and then should he followed by a rest. For that reason a push-car should not be discarded too soon.