The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-10-02
HOW TO Battle THE BABY.
Some Practical Suggestions on a Very Prac-
teal Subject.

Some Practical Suggestions on a Very Prac-
teal Subject.
ALBANY Cultivator.
az always dread the hour for my baby's
bath, " said q young mother with whom l
was spending the day recently, land am
quite sure the poor little fellow breads 1t
as much as | do, for he cries and struggles
so that l am almost tempted 20 omit it
whenever he is a little unwell, or l am
unusually tired. | feel as if we were
neither OF us equal to it.
Now no baby naturally dislikes being
washed, and | knew there was something
wrong somewhere. 4 baby is like a
horse quick to respond to the mood of
the one who is handling him. The moth
er's fear transmitted itself to the child,
and so both had sad time of what both
should have enjoyed. have never for
gotten the lessons of a dear old nurse, and
in the hope OF helping some frail mother
whose Joy in the possession of her first
born is tempered by the consciousness of
her inability to care for him properly, 1
will give some of her rules.
Choose the time in the morning when
he is the most wakeful for the first bath
under this new regime, and afterward
always give the bath at that hour. After
few days he will naturally keep awake
until the same hour. Most babies take an
early morning nap; the bath should come
after this, and at least an hour after his
breakfast. Get everything in readiness
before you begin, ii order not to make
him nervous by delays. Fill the tub two
thirds full, and be sure that the water is
exactly the right temperature. If it is too
hot or too cold, he will shrink from it ever
afterward. 1t should be little more than
blood warm, and your hand, which is
much less susceptible than his tender
body, is no test. Plunge your elbow in,
but a safe rule is one part boiling water
and five of cold.
A Tablespoonful of borax will make
him clean and sweet, and in hot weather
a small handful of sea salt, which comes
in boxes ready prepared for the bath, will
strengthen him. A silk sponge. piece
of scentless soap, towels and all his little
clean clothes, must also be in readiness
Law a large piece of old blanket with a
piece of rubber cloth under il on your lap,
disrobe his baby majesty, lay him on his
stomach and sponge him all over quickly,
being very careful not to let soap and
water get in his eyes or ears. Wet and
soap the sponge, and wash carefully in
the creases of the neck and arms and uD-
der the arms, lathering the stomach wel
to get up circulation. Now lower him
gently into the tub, and amuse him by
letting him splash the water with his
hands while you sponge him rapidly all
over the body for four or five minutes.
Many Young mothers are clumsy and
awkward, and baby, who knows a great
deal more than you give him credit for,
feels that he is not treated properly, and
resents it in the only way possible 10 him,
by free use of his lungs. Lift him out
on piece of dry blanket, cover with a
soft Turkish towel, and dry thoroughly !;
then rub chest, back, armpits and the en-
tire body well with an old piece of gauze
flannel All this takes longer in the tell
ing than in the doing. Plain rice powder
is the safest and best. By the time baby
is arrayed in his dainty, clean garments,
he will be tired, and ready for his next
meal, after which healthy and properly
brought up infant will take the long nap
that gives mamma time for the thousand
and one duties that she cannot always
perform in his waking hours, or for her
own much-needed rest.