The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-06-24
BABY'S GAME OF "SoAP FISH,"
Methods of Bathing Big and Little Babies
What Fun the Tots Have In the Tub.


| What Fun the Tots Have In the Tub.
Bathing child! A very simple thing,
one would think, to tell the proper way
of bathing a child? Yes, if children
were all the same age; if they would
only stay put" as my old nurse used
to say. But 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 a well
known water-cuN physician had in
scribed on every door in his establish
ment:
| go NOT COLD INTO ANY BATH -
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
full meal. but little baby's meals are
so quickly digested that the time NAV
be somewhat shorten ed. never. however,
to less than one hour. The room should
also be warm, about go. 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 little soap. After two or
| three days the nurse pours the water in
large basin. and lays the baby in it.
supporting his head and back carefully;
and probably she will tell the young
! mother afterwards how he stretched
out his arms and legs and enjoved the
| bath just like a real person. bless his
| little heartr
The basin bath is generally given for
week or more. but before the mother
takes care of the baby herself. he should
be well accustomed to the full bath in
the nursery tab.
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 good deaD, and
should be long en- ough for the child to
lie at full length.
To give child its 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 a 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 a 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 a
large square of cotton flannel and laws
1t 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 firsto Be-
cause it 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 it and see.
Once in. let the business be got
through with first! Tilt him back
against your left hand, supporting him
we'll and wash his h cad; do this quick
ly. for he probably detests it Rub with
soap such parts as needs it. | like to
use a soft cloth for this. as SOAP makes
the sponge Shiny and unpleasant
Here some one may say: But so many
doctors say nowadays that soap is bad
for the skim"
| know that: but 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 it.
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 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" lie
lies at full length, kicking his heels.
while the mother supports his head and
makes him comforta bile; he rolls over
on his stomach and kicks again. iubi-
liant enraptured, young amphibian N
his native elements.
But the wise mother will not let him
stay in too long The brief delight
over, he is lifted cut. sleek and drip
ping; enveloped instantly in big
towel (smooth if he be little. rough if he
be bigl. which lies ready at hand. and
rubbed nightly.
The mother spares no strength in
Every part must be thor
oughly dried with the towel: when this
is done she rubs him with her hands. up
and down and all over. and then She
claps him all over with swift. light
strokes percussing" is the proper