The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-04-18
damp linen invariably strikes chill to

damp linen invariably strikes chill to
the skin with the first cvaporating
breath of air that reaches it, while fan
mel absorbs the moisture and promotes
an equablc warmth.
Another mistaken notion of many
mothers is concerning the ACCESSIBILITY
of exposing the neck and arms of the
baby. They look so lovely, indeed,
that it is hard to put them out of sight;
but the high neck and long sleeves are
infinitely surer and safer on the side of
health. Quite as important as this
matter, also, is the abolition of the
cumbrous drapery in the length of the
ornamental skirts. To be sure, this
drapery has a charming effect, but its
weight has a great tendency to deform
the feet and ankles of child. A skirt
can be quite long enough without any
such surplusage as we are too apt to
admire with the remnant of barbaric
taste left to us; q third of a yard be-
yOnd the feet is more than sufficient
length for security in wrapping the
feet, and can be made quite enough for
beauty.
To sum up in the matter of clothing:
a knitted shirt, flannel band. nap
kin, a flannel pin-blanket and skirt,
with cambria gown that may be as
fine as one will, are all the clothing
that a baby needs for the first six
months, with the exception of little
folding blanket, something less than q
yard square, of flannel or OF cashmere,
as it may be, for the purpose of keep
ing the hands warm and of warding off
draughts, wrapped about the head and
shoulders. The simpler these articles
are, the Oftener the mother can afford
to change them, and the more she will
be likely to keep the child in exactly
the condition that it requires. For one
of the great secrets of a baby's health
is it's frequent change of apparel, as
garments that are not perfectly fresh
are not only liable to tease and irritate
the tender skin painfully, but do worse
mischief in preventing the pores from
fulfilling their function. They should
be changed at morning and night; and
strings, by-the-way. rather than pins,
should be used for fastening them.
The bath, of course, is even more
necessary than the frequent change of
garments; the young baby needs an en-
tire bath every day. But it is mis-
take to suppose that this should be a
plunge bath, or that cold water is more
invigorating to the little thing, and
therefore better, than warm. The wa
ter, in the early months. should be
tepid, or of about the same tempera-
ture as the body; and it can gradually
be made cooler as the child is older and
better able to meet it. Cold water
could only shock and terrify baby
with unknown horrors. The mother or
nurse should be provided with wooden
or Canton flannel apron, lined with oil
silk, and the child is best washed
upon the knees. The body may be
kept quite covered, with the exception
of the particular portion undergoing
ablution-as fast as a leg or an arm is
bathed and dried, the same being quick
ly tucked under cover; in this way the
child is not exposed nor chilled. A
baby, as rule, needs no scrubbing;
scarcely more than a gentle wetting
and drying; the lather Of fine soap an
swers all purposes, although care must
be given to such spots as those where
the fat folds of the neck render excoria-
ton and chatting possible. Many chill
dren fear and hate their bath, proba-
bly, on account of the pain it gives to
some chafed portion of the skin; but
if a little is bathcd at time, the at
tention diverted, and then little more
bathed, this is difficulty easily sur
, mounted. 1t is no consequence if it
does take more time, for people who
if they need it. Wherever chatting is
likely to take place, it may be prevent
ed by wiping very dry and sprinkling
powder on the surface; where it has
already taken place, mutton-tallow
whipped to q cream rapidly heals it.
There is a superstition regarding chill
dren's nails, and the error of cutting
them before their owners are three
months old; but this is only one of the
superstitions by which nurses save
themselves trouble, and the nails
should be cut as soon rs they naked it,
in order to prevent the little hands
from scratching the face. Another SUI
perstition is that which encourages the
clipping of the eyelashes when the
child is asleep, to promote their growth
"a dangerous practice, as if an atom
of the clipping found its way beneath
the lid, it would occasion Inflammation
and distress.
Almost as important as the bath is
the baby's exercise. 1t has been the
custom to deride and satirize the
nurses habit of shaking and dandling
the little creatures: but the habit will
survive the ridicule, as it would seem
to be a matter of instinct with mothers,
and of necessity with babies, who vast
ly relish itn 1t often cures their COLES,
and it is almost the only way there is
of giving them exercise, and but for
such motion their quiesccnt condition
would be really injurious. Of course
there can be excess in everything; but
a moderate degree of tossing and trot-
ting is as essential as is the gentle rub
bling, at morning and evening. up and
down the spine and along the legs and
sides, with the fiat of the hand, and
with which every baby manifests de-
light, stretching himself under it as if
he meant to grow like blossom of
Jacks bean-stalk.-Harper' Bazaar.
What Shade. Trees to Plant.
THERE is great satisfaction in know
ing what selection of Shade-trees those