WHEN BABY IS VACCINATED

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17218, 8 December 1923, Page 9 (Supplement)

WHEN BABY IS VACCINATED

Vaccination does not often make baby really ill jf proper care is taken of him. It is very necessary that the marks should be kept perfectly clean and dry, and for this reason it is much wiser to have baby vaccinated on the arm rather than on the log. MAKING AN ARM-SHIELD. A very efficient little arm-shield can quite easily be made at homo from a piece of white lint, the smooth side to be placed next to the arm—or. if preferred. a clean handkerchief which has been boiled. Long tapes are sewn on the top sides of the shield, one tape passing across the back and the other across the chest, and tied together under the other arm. The lower edge of the shield should bo rounded a little to avoid unnecessary bulk, and short tapes sewn on to tie round the little arm below the marks. To avoid the frequent making of these shields it is a quite good plan to hove some pieces of perfectly clean, boiled linen and insert a fresh piece each day between the arm and the shield, thus protecting the latter front liecoming soiled. Should the linen or shield stick to the arm, shake a little boracic powder between the sore place and the linen and leave it alone to detach itself. Baby’s arm should be kept perfectly dry until the scabs are fully formed. This does not mean he should be deprived of his bath. l»ut care should be taken to keep tht- bad arm from contact or splashing with the water. Keep baby warm so that the inflammation may come out and not be driven in. Avoid draughts and take care not to over-feed him ; give him little drinks of boiled ■water, and keep him under close observation. If baby has an attack of sickness, withhold all food for the six hours, but give frequentdrinks of warm boiled water. Should the arm appear to be acutely inflamed and causing baby discomfort, apply fomentations of lint wrung out- in hot ' water and covered with oiled silk to ' keep in the heat. Finally, never make any effort to dislodge the scabs. Allow them to fall off naturally, even though a month may elapse before they do so.