OUR BABIES.

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXII, Issue 39, 11 March 1935, Page 4

OUR BABIES.

(By Hygeia). Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Soeiety). BABY’S CRADLE. (Continued). HOW TO MAKE UP THE IDEAL CRADLE. It is of the utmost importance to make baby’s bed properly, the aim being to exclude draughts and keep him realty cosy, at the same time allowing freedom of movement. A badly made bed may be the cause of a serious illness from exposure and chill. It is perfectly simple to make it the best way, and this is how it is done: —

1. Line the head end of the cradle with soft flannel, nunsveiling, or blanket. In summer netting may be used instead of flannel; it just serves to break draughts and keep out insects. The head lining may be gathered slightly with a heading, or it may be stretched round and tied at the back of the cot.

2. Throw a soft, fluffy, new blanket right over the empty cradle. This is the “enveloping blanket.” A small single-bed blanket will do, but is rather large; about two yards by one and a-quarter yards is the best size. 3. On top of the blanket place a firm, studded mattress. 4. Make a loose chaff shakedown in a washing cover, and place this on top of the mattress. If a hot water bottle is required, place it between the mattress and the shakedown. 5. Cover mattress and shakedown with a small blanket tucked in all round.

6. Place a strip of thin, soft mackintosh or jaconet across the middle of the bed, and tuck it in at each, side to prevent rucking. 7. Cover the mackintosh wtili a rather wider strip of flannel or blanket, which can be changed whenever damp. 8. Make a cosy hollow in the chaff shakedown with your hand, and put a small, thin pillow in position. The ideal material for the pillow is the same soft winnowings of chaff as is used for the shakedown. Large, soft pillows are enervating and actually dangerous. We have known of babies being- suffocated in their pillows. 9. Now place baby in his cosy nest, and tuck his shawl or cuddling blanket round him, well up at the back of his neck and round his feet. 10. Bring up one side of the big “enveloping” blanket and tuck it in on the far side of the cradle. Then bring up the other side of the blanket, and complete the envelope by tucking in firmly all round. 11. Slip your hand inside the envelope to make sure that baby has plenty of room to move round inside his cosy bed. 12 Put on quilt or coverlet, according to your fancy. You now have baby in a portable nest or envelope, cosy and warm, yet free to kick at will. THE CHAFF. This must be specialty mentioned, because it makes an ideally soft, yet healthy, mattress. If it becomes damp or soiled it can be renewed cheaply or baked in the oven, and the cover can be washed. If a hot bottle is placed under the chaff shakedown it ensures even, well-distributed heat, without risk of burning. Ordinary, harsh chaff will not do; it must be the soft, light “winnowings” which are winnowed out by the threshing machines. About 51b. of chaff will make pillow aud shakedown. BEAUTIFYING THE CRADLE. If this is desired, try enamelling the wickerwork with two coats of the best enamel paint—cream or palest blue or pink, according to your fancy. Then choose your head lining and (if you desire it) blankets to match. The most fascinating, fluffy, woollen blankets may be had these days in the palest of baby shades, and nunsveiling is made in cream, shell pink, and pale blue. You can bind the blankets with ribbon ad lavish all the handwork you like on the little coverlets, and behold! nothing could be prettier than our “Plunket” cradle when finished.

We do not advise any mother to have frills on the cradle. They make work, collect, dust, and obstruct the free flow of air, especially if lined with silk or satin. If you have realty set your heart on frills, let them be 'of open mosquito netting, just edged with lace and gathered on to tape, so that they can be easily and frequently washed. But the ideal cradle has no frills or curtains, although a mosquito net may be necessary in some climates.