OUR BABIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 105, 6 May 1933, Page 15 (Supplement)

OUR BABIES

I’ublishcd under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand {Society for the Health of Women and Children (Vlunkct Society). REST AND SLEEP (Continued) In forming good habits of rest, and sleep regularity is essential. Do not pick baby up when ho cries at night. However, the motnm should make quite sure that baby is quite dry, that he is not suffering from wind, and is quite snug and comfortable. It is quite possible to change baby without waking him.

The baby should be trained as soon as possible to sleep during the hours when the mother is busiest with her household duties; he will then take a long sleep during the morning, stay awake for an hour or two, and take a long nap in the early afternoon. As baby grows older he should not be encouraged to have a long sleep in the late afternoon, as he will then not be ready to go to sleep after the eveningmeal (5.30-6 p.m.). A late afternoon sleep also interferes with the early afternoon outing. It would bo a great advantage to the entire household, apart from the health benefit accruing to the child, if young mothers could contrive to have the baby and younger children asleep in bed before the father arrives home for the evening meal. N.B.—Never play with and excite a baby just before bedtime. While natural mothering and moderate handling is beneficial, injudicious or excessive handling or stimulation is highly injurious.

Professor Holt, of Columbia University, chief physician Babies’ Hospital, says: “What, are the principal causes of excessive nervousness in infants and young children? What can be done to prevent this? The most important cause is the delicate structure of the brain at this time and its rapid growth. It grows as much during the first year as during all the rest of life. This (delicate structure combined with rapid growth) requires quiet and peaceful surroundings. Infants who are naturally nervous should be left much alone —should see but few people and should be played with judiciously. . . What harm can bo done by playing with young children? They are made nervous and irritable, sleep badly, suffer from indigestion, and in many other respects. ’ ’

Over-stimulation and Consequent Lack of Sleep.

Dr. Cotton, of Chicago, professor of children’s diseases, referring to a practice as pernicious as it is common—viz., the custom of regarding baby as a plaything —an animated toy for the entertainment of the family as well as a large circle of admiring friends—says: “Children are fond of babies, and never tiro of stimulating their funny performances. The same is unfortunately true of parents and friends. From a purely economic point of view such amusement is exceedingly expensive, and the morbidity is constantly increased for the amusement of tho elders. Nervous and mental wrecks too frequently owe the origin of their disorders to want of repose in early infancy due to injudicious stimulation. . . “Parents should never lose sight of the fact that infinite harm is done by ignoring tho delicate and highly sensitive organisation of infancy; that theirs is the most sacred trust and privilege in the world —to mould the body and shape the destiny of a new human being—intended for a, century of health and happiness here and eternity after. Half the irritability and lack of moral control which spoil adult Life originate in the first year of existence. The seeds of feebleness and instability sown in infancy bear bitter fruit afterwards.”—Sir Truby King, in

“Feeding and Care of Baby.”) “One. of the most important forms of education is to get ingrained into the child’s consciousness that ‘early to bed* and a long night’s rest is one of ttio essentials of good bodily and mental growth and fitness. The difficulties in the way of securing a long night’s rest may be very great in some households, but healthy children can form the habit of sleeping through much disturbance and noise, though it should bo borne in mind that sleep in quiet ’surroundings is more beneficial. There should, however, be no need to speak in subdued whispers or to go on tiptoe through the house. . .” “Many parents are in the habit of taking their children, even very young babies, out with them in the-evening to shop or to the movies or to visit friends, thus making a regular early bedtime an impossibility. While in many families there is no one to leave the baby’ with if the mother and father both go out, and it is a deprivation if one must stay at home, tho baby’s welfare should be the first consideration. If baby is taken out in the evening his habit of going to bed at 6 o’clock is broken into; he usually loses some part of the unbroken slce<> of 10 to 12 hours he needs, as he may not sleep on in the morning to make up what he has lost the night before. His eyes and cars are over stimulated by the light and noise. Furthermore, he is likely to have been kept for an hour or more in a close, hot atmosphere, and may have been exposed to some contagious disease.” —“The Growing Body,” by J. Renfrew White, Ch.M.

“A child should never sleep in the. same bed either with parents or nurse. This rule is absolute.”