The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-01-30
MASSAGE FOR BABIES.



A Mother Tells how she Makes her Little
Pets Existence delightful:
! wonder how many mothers neis
mothers-havc ever heard of rubbing IS
-wenderfaal help and comfort In the
care OF our wee babies2 | seem TO feel
a sseall to telztAe geed news to=saeli ~.
are still in darkness. am new moth.
err, you see. and this wisdom OF mine Is
not my wisdom at all.
/ borrowed 1t from mother grown
wise in the dear service, and it has
helped me too much to let others go I'm
helped.
Every night at bed time, when fundress
my baby, before popping herinto her wee
white nightie, rub her al orer, from
the crown of her little brown head to the
soles of her little pink feet--and the
way the small baby will Coo and
grunt from sheer enjoyment OF the pro-
cess is delightful to see. She does take
such comfort in itand | am persuaded
above any contradiction that It makes
her sleep longer and better, OF course it
does-isn't the physiology of it plain to
see? The little arms and legs are tired
with the busy kicking and flying all day
long, and mammals rubbing sets the
blood to tingling, and sends pleasant
little thrill up and down the baby body.
We old babies would not mind the
same treatment imagine-I know, for
I-tried it a little while ago, when was
almost too tired to try to act my grown
up, The rubbing sent me off into
such delicious rest. And so know
whereof speak when / advise this SIM
pie medicine for our tired, restless, lit
tie mortals. Try it, when your baby
frets and will not be comfortcd, some Of
these uncomfortable nights. See il the
little one will not repay you and that
right speedily too. IT'S such simple
bit of a thing to do to produce such a
good result. Don't be afraid of rubbing
too hard: of course the little tender
bodies must be handled ever so gently,
but they may be safely rubbed with a
firm pressure--until all the soft flesh is
rosy red. And meantime, his or her
small majesty will be having the best
time in the world. My little queen
majesty, would like to be rubbed and
rubbed for an indefinite time. ] have
never known her to say enough" or to
once think the rubbing too hard. And
she is such wee little Lad y-=not five
months old,
The little feet need especial resting in
this way, think. | institute little
massage" of my own-softly kneading
and pinehing in common with the rub
bling. The bit of a pink foot may be
taken between two hands and its
sole and toes and instep rubbed and
kncaded gently with both thumbs.
Two baths every day-ther soap and
water one in the morning, and this rub
bing-bath just before the sand man
comes round at night-why, they mean
inches of growth and ellis of comfort to
the babies, to say nothing of the help to
as mothers. One ether thing is equally
needful-more needful, indeed-to his
babyship's veal, and that is drink OF
cold water often. On warm, thirsty
days, especially how many times ba-
bies really suffer for the kindly cup of
cold water'-and how much they enjoy
1t when It's given!
My baby has learned even SO soon to
laugh and crow when she sees the spoon
coming-and the little mouth opens
very eagerly for the cool drink. 1t is a
positive erueIty to leave cold water out
sof a baby's bill of fare. Sec how soon
the fretting will stop when you give the
drink to tho hot little mouth Oh,
know this was good advice that the same
dear, wise mother gave me for my aid,
when | needed it. All the doctors in
the world can not compare with a real
mother, who has mothered her own and
other folks babies all her precious life
long. Wouldn't it be we'll then, for us
who are young in the beautiful work
just learning the trade to listen longer
-to-these older mothers? Let us sit
meekly at their feet and learn OF them
Until we, too, have grown wise and
white-haired.
am afraid / have talked too long, but
! wanted mothers to share my knowl-
edge and reap its rewards. II were to
add to the rubbing and tho coldwater-
ing. the frequent bathing OF the hot
little faces and hands, these warm
seasons, with cool water-I believe
should be willing to stop my advice
giving and humbly withdraw into the
background, while some one else took my
place.-Annie Hamilton Donnell, in
Ladies' Home Journal.
CARE OF PIANOS. =