ESSENTIALS FOR HEALTH.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 2 September 1908, Page 2

ESSENTIALS FOR HEALTH.

A free supply of pure air. Keep the baby out in the open air as much as possible. When indoors there should be free ventilation' day and night, summer and winter. Remember that free ventilation means the continuous flow all the time of a broad stream of fresh outside air across the room, not the chance mixing of air brought about by opening a window on one side only. To secure purity there must be an ample inlet and outlet on opposite sides of a room^'an.. Qpeii 'window and ;; chimney affording^ the surest; ventilation,' There need jbfe'no fear of either cpld air or lpir^as the baby is*wa*mly clad, land kept^ut of direct draught— 'if "necessary by using ;.)ar simple'; movable screen. ■ Newly 'bori^ ■JoUbies, especijally if. premature, need wa^ffi|^;'air until accustomed to their changer of environment.•' but a normal baby, when a few" weeks old is benefited, not harmed, by? free ventilation, and.runs no risk from| the temperature being kept as low as 40 to 45 degrees Fahr. This, indeed, is a common temperature in the Society's Baby Hospital at Dunedin, and notwithstanding the debility of many patients when admitted they soon pick up health and strength, while colds are almost unknown. (The subject of fresh air will be further dealt with next week.")

Pure Water—For safety water should be boiled, whether for use by itself or for making baby's food. Suitable Food.—This is fully dealt with in the Society's panlphlet. - Clothing.—Clothing worn next the skin must not be irritating. The best available material is silk and wool, and as it lasts well and does not shrink in Washing it is inexpensive;.-in the long run;-1 " '!v. r' ■ ■ . T;-

There must be nothing restrictive or hampering in the way of binder, napItins; or closely fitting garments. Light, lpp?e-textured, .porous "woollen materials Are'the best coverings day and night. Bathing.—Room to be warmed some time before commencing bathing; keep baby out of draught; bath and dress very quickly—no dawdling. Use as lit-tle-soap as possible. Superfatted soap lis best. Dry thoroughly, if the j skin is irritable effect drying by dabbing rather than by rubbing. < If baby is ilL..or.very delicate,, forego, bath .for day or so, and substitute wiping rapidly _with sponge or clotj. wiung out of warm water.

Muscular Exercise and ■Sensory Stimulation.—Where active exercise is precluded on account of> illness, etc., the activity of the muscles can usually be fairly sustained by judicious handling, nursing, changing position in cot, v massage, etc. As the baby improves airing of skiiii bathing and plenty of sunlight outing are essential. All the above provide sensory stimuli, besides causing muscular activity. Warmth.—Warmed airland-surround-ings are essential for prematures, and necessary at first for those who have been coddled ,etc. Diarrhoea and colic are often due to cold feet and: legs, and may be cured by attention: to this, e-g-j by the use of suitable socks, warm bottles, etc. Babies, like adults, can stand cold air well, if properly covered day and night with a sufficiency of warm, light, porous, loose-textured woollen material. Beware of heroic attempts to hastily "harden" babies. Go slow, and remember always that in proportion to its size the surface exposed for escape of heat is from three to six times as great in a baby as in an adult. Hence the need for warm clothing, and for plenty of fat in baby food. Remember that fat is.fuel. Most intent baby foods contain almost no fat. < . ■

Rest and Sleep.—These depend mainly on the above. Don't forget to turn the baby in its cot, or to remove wet napkins, cooled bottles, etc. Sometimes a drink of warm water, or the putting r» a. jvarm bottle in the bed will send a baby o,ff to sleep.