Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-05-07
eABY'S SLEEP.

minus VPelul 20 mothers Who Have the
Care Of q Child.
Sleep for the child is even more Of o
vital need than for an adult, and its
sleep will be more natural and healthier
II 1t Is not rocked. II accustomed from
the first to be laid away in quiet, dark
ened, but well ventilated room at GER
tain hour, the baby will form the habit
Of falling asleep, and will never know
any other way. A light should not be
left burning at night; it vitiates the at
mosphere, and sleep is not as sound as
in the dark. A child thirteen months
old was 30 used TO associating the ideas
Of sleep and darkness that, in travelling,
whenever a tunnel was entered, he
would drop down for nap. and seemed
very much astonished at the shorlness
Of the night.
Don't let the baby learn that he can
keep you with him by refusing to go to
sleep. He will soon come to have an in
stinctive knowledge that mamma de-
sires to 60 out for the evening, and be-
come tyrannical. A child accustomed
to going to sleep on the bed will not
readily 60 to sleep in arms, but will try
to slip out of them, and when put down
upon its bed, will draw sigh Of relief
and drop to sleep at once. A child will
have more profound and healthful re-
pose II not nursed to sleep. Let its
time for eating come when 1t awakes.
Ono should not be in too great
hurry to take up the baby when It mani
tests signs Of awakening, nor should il
be allowed to lie without attention.
Take 1t up as soon as fairly awake, re-
membering always the formation Of
habits Of cleanliness and regularity. A
child should never lie wet, either by
night or day. For the first few weeks
animal heat Is best maintained by sleep
ing with the mother, bat on no account
should child of any age sleep between
two persons. as by so doing 1t must, Of
necessity. breathe the emanations from
their bodies, and scrofula and other evils
result. A crib can be placed so near that
the mothet can at any hour satisfy her
self as to the child condition without ex-
posure to herself. II sleeping in the
mothers bed, it should have separate
covers. The best bed and pillows are Of
cotton-batting. Feathers are too heat
ing. A child should never be awakened
from sleep to display to friends.
Neither should older Children be allowed
to fall asleep in arms, or on sofas, be-
canse company Is present When the
bed hour comes, the first duty is TO the
child. Il is cruelty TO let the little
ones fall asleep with their clothes on,
and then arouse them to the annoyance
Of being undressed. Never put child
to bed with its feet cold. ~
The habit Of forenoon maps should be
continued as long as possible. Putting
to bed after full midday meal Is OBJ
jectionable. Children often need rest
when not needing sleep. have seen a
two-year-old child leave his play and
stand by the bed, saying: Mamma.
baby cross; baby 60 bed" He had
learned the remedy for the crossness
which arose from fatigue. A very
soothing process for children of all ages
is rubbing with the hand, especially IL
the rubber be not physically exhausted.
Flex and extend the limbs, roll them be-
tween the hands, rub both limbs and
body towards the heart. Manipulate
the bowels from the right side up, across
and down the left side. Turn on the
face and vibrate each vertebra gently;
percuss the whole surface with fiat
hand and timber wrist, and finish OF
with soothing passes down the spine.
Walking with the child, soothing
syrups, teas and cordials are all bad
methods Of promoting sleep. II care OF
the skin, attention Of diet, ventilation,
dress and all sanitary laws will not pro.
woke sleep, the case should be com.
mitted to an intelligent physician. The
habit Of breathing through the nose dur.
ing sleep should be formed by care in
pressing the lips together when evei
they fall apart The Indian women Il
said to be wise enough to do this. By
this means colds and congestions Of The
lungs may be avoided, and dangersfrom
contagious diseases lessened = Con9re-
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