Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-07-22
eABYs GAME OF "soAP FISH,"
Methods of Bathing Big and Little Babies
-What Fun the Tots Have In the Tub.

Methods of Bathing Big and Little Babies
What Fun the r'ots Have In the Tub.
Bathing child! very simple thing,
one would think, to tell the proper way
of bathing child? Yes, if children
were all the same age; if they would
only stay put" as my old nurse used
TO say. But d little baby must be
bathed in one way, and big baby in
another, and growing child" in an
other.
The first rule in regard to bathing
should be that golden one which well
known water-cure physician had in
scribed on every door in his establish
ment:
100 NOT COLD INTO ANY BATH y
The child must be warm, or harm
may come instead of good
Another rule is that no bath should
be taken soon after eating. The rule
for older persons is two hours after a
full meal, but little baby's meals are
so quickly digested that the time may
be somewhat shortened, never, however,
10 less than one hour The room should
also be warm, about 6So and there
should, nay, there must be no draughts.
The first bath of the newborn baby
are taken in the lap Of the nurse, who
washes the tiny creature with warmed
water and u little soap. After two or
three days the nurse pours the water IN
a large basin, and lays the baby in 1t,
supporting his head and back carefully;
and probably she will tell the young
mother afterwards how he stretched
out his arms and legs and enjoyed the
bath Just Hike real person, bless his
little hearth
The basin bath is generally given for
week or more, but before the mother
takes care of the baby hersel3, he should
be we'll accustomed to the fullfbath In
the nursery tub.
The tub may be of tin, porcelain or
india rubber (this last material is very
convenient for people who are liable to
move or travel about a good deaD, and
should be long en- ough for the child To
lie at full length.
To give u child It's bath the mother or
nurse (but it would better be the
mother; why should she lose one OF the
most delightful things IN all baby tend
ing?) ties on her flannel apron.
She spreads piece of felt, or oil
cloth or an old blanket on the floor, so
that baby may splash as much as he
likes without spelling the carpet, and
clothes are laid ready on a chair close
on this she sets the tub. The
at hand, where she may reach them
without moving-each article in the or
der in which it is to be put on that
there may be no delay in hunting for
this or that, while the basket stands
ready with safety pins, vaseline, pow
der, brush, etc.
If the baby be little one the Their
mometer will be needed, and the water
kept at blood heat, cold water being
added little by little as the child grows
older and stronger.
By and by the mothers thermome-
ter" the elbow, will be exact enough,
and later still, when the child Is two or
three years old, may come the refresh
ing shock of the cold water-in summer,
that Is; in winter the first chill" should
always be taken off, though not the
freshness and coldness.
Now the water is poured into the tub,
and all is ready. The mother takes
large square of cotton flannel and lays
it over her apron, then she takes up the
child, washes his face and ears careful
ly, dries them thoroughly, and then
puts him into the tub.
Why does she wash his face first? Be-
cause il is not comfortable to have ones
face wet and water trickling down ones
nose and into ones eyes all the time one
is taking ones bath. Try 1t and see!
Once in, let the business be got
through with frstl Tilt him oack
against your left han d, supporting him
well, and wash his h cad; do this quick
~, for he probably detests It Rub with
soap such parts as needs It l like to
use a soft cloth for this, as soap makes
the sponge Shiny and unpleasant.
Here some one may say: "But somany
doctors say nowadays that soap is bad
for the skinl"
know that; but 1 do not believe the
doctors are in the habit of washing
children, or they would know that one
cannot keep their hands and their knees
and the backs of their precious necks
clean without H.
Business over the fun begins. The
mother squeezes the sponge over the
plump shoulders, over the dimpled
arms; fills it full and squeezes it again.
This is 1.-THE game of Niagara Falls"
The baby chases the soap here and
there catching it, losing it, screaming
with delight
This is the game of soap fish" He
lies at full length, kicking his heels,
while the mother supports his head and
makes him comfortable; he rolls over
on his stomach and kicks again, jubi-
liant, enraptured, young amphibian in
his native clements.
But the wise mother will not let him
stay In too long The brief delight
over, he Is lifted out, sleek and drip
PIN; enveloped instantly in big
towel Smooth if he be little. rough if he
be big), which lies ready at hand, and
rubbed nightly.
The mother spares no strength in
rubbing. Every part must be thor
oughlv dried with the towel; when this