The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-04-19
Caring for Baby so as to
Insure Him Health
and Strength.
GAVE HIM A BATH EACH DAY.
The Little Ones Should Sleep on
Their Backs Without Any Pill
low Under the Head-Car-
ing for the Nails.

and prosperous life Is health. With
health both in mind and body (though
perhaps without any special gifts or tai
ents) man may achieve almost anything
he may set out to do. We all hope to
have healthy children. yet parents are
often responsible for much wretchedness
and misery in life. Those tainted with
diseases that may be transmitted to their
offspring have no moral right TO bring
into existence one single life to suffer.
But. be the circumstances attending birth
what they may be, when the children are
here it is our duty to do the best in our
power to insure them health and strength.
When should we begin Just as soon
as they are born. Even the tiniest infant
should be dressed with the greatest care.
If its clothes are pinned too tightly. it
may cause injuries which the child may
never outgrow. have often seen the
little ones, dressed and pinned together
so that their tiny limbs were constantly
drawn up or doubled back. How can
they grow to be straight If this is the
case.
Bow legs" are caused as often by this as
by standing the child on its feet too soon.
Great care should be taken of the babies
backs. The spinal columns have not
strength enough in them to support the
body in an erect position, and we often
see little infants held SO that their backs
are bent almost like semi-circle- This
causes round shoulders. IL nothing more
serious A child should not be held in an
upright position until it is three months
old at least, that is. unless the spine is
we'll supported.
Give the baby bath each day, but do
not oveIdo the matter Too much bathing
weakens child. 1t is not well during the
frs months of infancy to uudress the
child and put its entire body into the
water at once. Uncover the upper part to
the waist, pinning WOODEN shawl or
blanket about the loins and legs Then,
with a soft washcloth or sponge, wash
quickly, rinsing with clear warm winter
Dry till the skin Is aglow, aud powder
with some soft baby powder whenever
there are creases in the skin. Then put
on the warm little undershirt aud flannel
band, and throw some light extra wrap
across the back in order TO protect the
spine. Then loosen the blanket or shawl
from the waist, and wash the lower bali
of the body in the same manner. In this
way the little ones will not be likely TO
become chilled or take cold, and neither
viii they be apt TO dread the bath
WASHING OUT THE MOUTH.
Baby's month should be washed out
daily. soft linen cloth should be kept es-
pecially for this purpose. A pinch OF
powdered borax in the water Will prove
beneficial, as it tends to cleanse out all
particles of milk which may adhere to
The sides or roof of the mouth. II the
mouth is washed out faithfully each day,
there is small danger OF the child ever
having "babies' sore mouth But should
It's mouth become sore. wash it with tea
made from blackberry leaves, or with
solution Of borax and honey. 1t might
be well TO gather the green blackberry
leaves, wash them free from dust, and
put them carefully away TO be used for
this purpose.
In health, the little ones sleep best on
their backs with a very small. or better,
perhaps, no pillow under their head. Do
not use feathers, but let the bed and pill
low be of soft hair Let the bed be
thoroughly aired each day. Do not load
them down with heavy quilts or comfort
ables, as the weight often weakens the
sleepers. Use blankets; two light, all
wool blankets, though they seem thin,
will contain more warmth than several
heavy 'comforsables, wadded with cot
ton batting
There is chill In the air these DAYS, so
mothers with babies must look out for
their comfort. Ii the little ones sit on the
floor they are apt to take cold unless the
doors are kept closed, aud there is fire
in the room. You must remember that
grees colder than in the upper part OF the
room. Drafts run along the floor, and.
while grown up people may feel quite
comfortable, baby on the floor may feel
quite chilly. Be sure and have baby
. dressed warmly, have soft warm hannels
next his little body.
The dainty little silk undersnirts for
babies, which we see in the store win
dows, are very pretty to look at, but they
are not half so comfortable as little plain
lambs wool shirts. Some mothers may
object to these latter, because they are so
plain and ordinary looking, if so, let them
buy some soft Saxony yarn and knit
baby's under garments themselves.
Mothers, read to your LITTLE ones. Chill
dren must have something to think
about: then why not give them some
thing that will be of benefit to them
Tell them fairy tales If you like, but it
would be wise to give them some other
mental food also. Do not try and impress
them with the fact that you are teaching
them or perhaps they will not want TO
learn. Get some good historical stories
read them slowly and distinctly, and If
you have chosen your subject well, they
will listen as intently as If you were relat-
ing to them the history of RED Riding
Hood, and they will be saving up knowl-
edge for the future besides. More real.
genuine education can be gotten in this
way from mother than could be learned
lEOul ttAb DOOkS ny weary uOASAAS Va
study. Try it, mothers
CARING FOR THE NAILS
Attention should be paid to baby's nails,
both on hands and feet, from the time it
is month old. When buying shoes be
sure to have them long enough, giving
the toes plenty. of room to grow straight.
Let the feet of stockings be plenty long
also. If the nails are neglected the child
may have ingrowing toe nails, hang-nails,
or step mothers as a consequences.
Anoth thing which should have our
attention Is the little ones carriers. A
child should never wear garters which
fasten around the leg, either above or be-
low tho knee, Tor they must bs tight in
order to hold up the stockings, and If they
are too tight, they prevent free circula-
ton of the blood, to say nothing of the
discomfort to the poor little child. The
garters should be fastened to the under
waist, or to a yoke made for that pur-
pose. Carriers made in this way can be
bought suitable for children OF any age,
but we think a strip of elastic, with a
buttonhole worked in each end. will do
Just as well, as 1t fills all requirements.
One end may be buttoned TO the under
waist, while the other may be fastened to
button sewed to The top OF the stock
ipgs.
Like Courtesy
One Of our living bishops, well known
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