Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-06
TAKING cA.E OF BABIES.
Some Very simple Common Sense
Advice Concerning the Treatment
of Infants

TAKING CARE OF BABIES.
Some Very Simple Common Sense
Advice Concerning the Treatment
Of Infants
Some years ago in describing the Black Coun-
try, possibly the most uncuitursd locality in
England Punch had picture, with its text A
brutal fellow was beating his wife because she
had given the milk to the baby instead Of to the
Ss dog pup as this sos may
mains very much the same, that great many
people not only in England, but In the United
States, bestow more care on their fancy chick
ems, or their dogs than on their own children.
1t 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 Indifferent as to the very ne
cessary care which children-young child
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 material instincts which 1t Is SUPPOSE
bic all mothers feel good deal OF ignorance Is
displayed even by educated women IN regard to
the rearing OF their infants. II is not love that
is that question Of dress. It is very charming
to have a ''curled darling" and to see his little
rosy limbs; they are all the prettier because
they are unclad, but in the desire to show OIL a
human sacrifice is often made. We, In this
country, adopted some time ago an English style
Oh dressing CQll0FeQ, WHICH, HAS uCG YET euJIFS.J
gone out OF vogue. II mothers were dec ret e
and their maturer charms could better stand
the stress Of weather. babies were dressed q
little as possible. When French people ARE are
they are fine stalwart children, they sometimes
say-''Yes it is a fine child, but you English go
through certain amount Of stirpiculture. You
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
want all the differences in clothing for child,
from the slightest garment to the heaviest, In
accordance with the seasons. An infant can
not complaint cannot say 1t Is hot or cold
and before one Is aware OF 1t illness caused by
exposure comes. Many congestion Of the
lungs and decline arises from very stupid ig
clothing of infants Though the French are
very perfect as TO the food Of the child. they do
many absurd things with those swaddling
for young children is imperative; it is almost as
important as proper nutrition. We battle child
rem, both In this country and in England, much
more frequently than In FRANCE or Germany
OF course, all mothers know that bath re-
moves the secretions from the skin of the
child, and helps it In all its animal functions
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 cleaning which water
gives are often considered by ignorant persons
as Indicative of the strong health OF the child
die" The bed child sleeps in should be most
carefully considered. The old-faShioned era
die, treasured though its memory may be-
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
bad plan for mother, II she have curtains to
her bed, to inclose the crib which hold her baby
under the same drapery. There Is not fresh or
M w6e
time ago for the sleeping rooms for grown per-
sons hold good for INFANTS. There must be light
and air. At birth child does not want glare
Of light, and the too violent rays Of the sun may
be kept away. but good and fresh air lnot the
confined atmosphere of sick ROOM Is what will
give an infant Life, It is not wise to deck
spic1ouS event, for the finest bouquet is just as
bad, under such circumstances, as would be
smoking Kerosene lamp. AS to the covering an
more Judgment. 1t is stupid habit to
pile things on a baby, as If he were
an Esqu1maux within mile of the North
re It not the ckne sn Gr p mats s
imper, iousness. OF course, child does not
want rubber clothing, but 1t is easy to make
proper selection Of such stuffs as wiz keep it
comfortable when it is asleep. Questions have
been asked as to the use of baby-carriages for
infants. Their use Is justified In thousand In
stances, and 1t is unnecessary to state them, but
to send out child even Of years of age of
cold day in baby carriage is a cruelty. The
body may be warm, but the head and the ten
der ears. no matter how they are clad must
suffer. 1t is just as bad, when it is freezing to
air child in carriage as to expose it, without
any shade, to the sun when the thermometer is
at 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The best nurse is
she who, having child in a carriage, after a
half hours stroll, takes it out for while, moves
its position, then puts her charge back. The
worst thing is to believe that an infant is tor
pid creature. The era of the baby-Jumper has
thank goodness passed away, and with 1t the
number Of spawned children have sensibly d.
minished.-N Y. Times.