Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-03-10
AKING CARE OF BABIES.
Some Very Simple Common-Sense Advice Con
corning the Treatment Infants.
TErom the n. Y. Times |

Some very Simple Commoh-SenSe hCVCe Soh-
corning the Treatment o. Infants.
[trom the n. Y. Times
Some years ago In describing the
Black country, possibly the most I'M
cultured locality in England, P,0ach has
a picture, with its text. A brutal fellow
was beating his wife because she had
given the milk to the baby instead of
giving it to the bull-pup. Grotesque as
this story may seem, and possibly ex-
aggerated, the fact remains very much
the same, that great many people not
only In England, but in the United
States. bestow more care on their fancy
chickens. or their dogs than on their own
children. It may not be that they have
more affection for the brute creation
than for their own offspring, but they
assume too much on the vitality of
children, and think that care spent on
them is time wasted. Even the best
cultured people seem to be quite III
different as to the very necessary care
which children-young chlldren-should
have, and have apparently an idea that
the same rules which govern the rearing
of fancy animals ought not to hold good
In regard to infants. Putting aside all
those maternal instincts which it is sup
possible all mothers feel, a good deal of
Ignorance is displayed even by educate,
women In regard to the rearing of their
infants. It is not love that is wanting,
only common-sense is absent. There is
that question of dress. It is very charm
ing to have "curled darling" and to
see his little rosy limbs; they are all the
prettier because they are unclad, but in
the desire to show Off nude child, or a
partially-undressed one, a real human
sacrifice is often made We, in this
country, adopted some time ago an Eng
ish style Of dressing children, which has
not yet entirely gone out of vogue. IL
mothers were decoIetee, and their
maturer-charms could better stand the
stress of weather, babies were dressed as
little as possible. When French people
are called upon to admire English babies,
if they are fine stalwart children they
sometimes say-EF Yes, it is a fine child,
but you English go through a certain
amount of stirpicultrre. You put SO
little clothing on your children that
about half of them die. These specimens
which [ see-fine ones, no doubt-have
been endowed with an extra vigorous
nature, that is all, and have not been
killed" With our change Of climate we
want all the difference In clothing for
child, from the slightest garment to the
heaviest, IN accordance with the seasons.
An infant cannot complain-it cannot
say 1t is hot or cold-and before one Is
aware of it illness caused by exposure
comes. Many congestion of the lungs
and decline arises from a very stupid ig-
norance Of the commonest laws regard
ing the clothing of infants Though the
French are very perfect as to the food of
the child, they do many absurd things
with those swaddling clothes, in which
infants are bound up. Warmth for
young children is imperative; it is almost
as important as proper nutrition. We
battle children, both in this country and
In England, much more frequently than
IN France or Germany, possibly because
with us water is more plenty. Of course.
al mothers know that a bath removes
and helps it In all its animal functions.
Still, how many people there are of for
eign birth In the United States, who
have children which came into life in the
United States, who eschew water for
their children as if it were poison.
Heads of infants which are diseased
from want of that good eleasing which
water gives are often considered by ig-
norant persons, as indicative of the
strong health Of the child "Stop this
scurf, y they say, "and the child will
die" The bed child sleeps in should
be most carefully considered. The old
fashioned cradle, treasured though its
memory may be, is simply an abomina-
ton. What IS wanted for an infant is an
airy couch, something through which, at
certain times, both the sun and air can
come Shut-up places for children to
sleep in are nothing better than collins.
1t IS very bad plan for mother, if she
have curtains to her bed, to inclose the
crib which holds her baby under the
same drapery. There is not fresh or
pure air enough for one, much less for
two. Just the same rules which were
indicated some time ago for the sleeping
rooms for grown persons hold good for
infants. There must be light and
air. AT birth child does not want a
glare of light, and the too violent rays
of the sun may be kept away, but good
and fresh air (not the confined atmos-
phere of 8 sick room) is what will give
an infant life. 1t is not wise to deck a
mothers room with flowers in honor of
an suspicious event, for the finest bou-
quet is just as bad, under such circum-
stances, as would be smoking kerosene
lamp. AS to the covering an infant re-
auires when sleeping. nothing requires
more Judgment. 1t is stupid habit to
pile things on a baby, as if he were an
Esqulmaux within mile of the north
pole. 1t is not the thickness or quantity
of material which keeps child warm,
but its imperviousness. OF course, a
child does not want rubber clothing, but