BABY AND HIS BATH.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18786, 21 May 1923, Page 11

BABY AND HIS BATH.

(By Dr. Lechir.ere Anderson in Tho? Weekly Telegraph). A Daily bath is as essential for a ’ ■ baby as for an adult, and for exactly I the same reasons, plus the primary one, that a baby is entirely dependent upon another person for keeping him clean ' Baby perspires his oil and sweat | glands are active, and his skin begins , to die and renew itself from the veiyj moment of birth, therefore, if uot bath- ' cd regularly, his pores quickly become clogged with the accumulation of sweat-, oil, scurf. Nature gives every part of the body certain things to do, and if they do not I perform their duty properly, not only 1 js the particular part concerned more I or less pemanently damaged, but every other part is thrown out of gear. For I instance, we perspire through the mil-! lions of pores found all over the body, and deleterious substances for which the body has uo further use axe thrown off through the skin, much in the same: way that ashes and gases pass out of the firegrate. Now, if the holes in the skin are blocked through lack of cleanliness, this refuse matter is retained in tho body and can only be got rid of by some other organ dealing with it, and in this case the kidneys and bowels are called upon to take on the extra work und expel the poisonous matter by working overtime. THE WAY TO ILL-HEALTH. However well they perform their extra task during this pei iod, some poisonous substances which the skin should i have exuded have been absorbed into the system and a greater or less amount 1 of damage must inevitably result. Even < in the most trivial cases an unwhoie- i some complexion, dull eyes, and listless, movements betray the fact that all is i not well with baby, while in more pro- i longed instances of. uncleanliness the ■ overworked bowels become constipated, ' with all its attendant discomforts, or acute, and it may be fatal, diarrhoea supervenes. In any case chronic lilbealth is sure to follow. Not only is a daily bath necessary dn the grounds of cleanliness, but the process of drying, rubbing, and gentle mas-! paging of the ekin has a beneficial ac-;

tion upon the whole system, it “tones up” and hardens the muscles. Mothers often ask the question “when should baby’s bath be given?’’ Morning is the best time, as during the night the skin, bowels and kidneys are very active, therefore, the morning bath, is best, for besides being a “refresher,” it is necessary in tho interests of cleanliness. A BENEFICIAL GAME. During the early days of infancy, the bath, on account of the infant’s susceptibility to cold, is little more than rapid soaking of the skin, a hurried plunge into the water finished off by a gentle, but firm towelling But as baby grows and is able to sit up a little, about 10 to 15 minutes may be spent on his bathing, warm water being added as the bath cools. This allows him to use every muscle without restraint, and particularly strengthens his back and leg muscles. He usually loves this pait ot “the game of life” and often resents the end of the play. Some babies —especially after an illness, when the bathing has been suspended, are afraid of the water. A piece of floating soap, the iorm of a tuy or one of the numerous floating sponges and toys now on the market, will usually act as a decoy, and the bath will present no further difficulty.

The initiation to the cold plunge mny he commenced at a very early age, by finishing the bath off with a rapid cold sponge. This, however, must be left to the discretion of the mother. A cold bath can never take the place of a v. arm one. Their ukes are entirely different. The cold bath acts as a tonic on the skin and superficial blood vessels, the warm bath’s chief function is Lu cleanse. POINTS TO REMEMBER. Some points to memorise are: tscan unscented pure soap, indeed little soap ia necessary to keep baby clean, as firm rubbing and. towelling icinoves the loose scurf aud massages the body. One large towel is better than several small ones, as baby can be entirely enveloped in a large bath towel and dried and rubbed without unnecessary exposure of the body. If sponges are used, they should be periodically cleaned by boiling. An old piece of towelling makes an excellent skin cloth; being cheap, it can be frequently renewed. Care must be taken that the water is of the right temperature 9 8 degrees F'ah. If a bath thermometer is not available, use the elbow and not tho hand to test the degree of heat. The reason for this is that the hand is so accustomed to changes of temperature, that the skin is not so sensitive to heat and cold as the elbow. Screen the bath from draughts, and arrange tho bathing time when there is least fear for interruptions. Feed baby after and<

not before the bath If fed before, baby will regugriatc the food, owing to his constant movements while undressing and bathing. Everything connected with baby requires undivided attention and a busy mother or nurse will find that the most convenient time is directly after the elder members of the family have been sent off to school.