Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1895-08-03
A NEW WOMAN ON BABIES.


Views Of "a Mother who Is Also Progress.
slve Woman.
II motherhood means anything, II
should include the duties Of q relation
ship dating from the conception of the
child TO the close of the life OF either
mother or child.
Yet the average mother concerns
herself, II not wholly, then chiefly,
with ministration to the merely physic-
oil needs of bsbyhood.
From the time the child leaves her
arms the bond OF relationship ceases to |
develop, and with the growing years |
the child Is more and more isolated
from mental or spiritual association
with the mother.
The inability OF the mother to real
lie her grown-up son rs anything but
her baby" her 'little boy" has its
sentimental and poetic side, and 1t Is
put to frequent literary use. But that
mothers do actually fail so completely
to keep In touch and In intelligent and
adequate maternal relationship TO the
child, as Il develops from babyhood
into manhood. Is q fact TO be deplored,
not applauded.
Even during babyhood, the period
met with some degree Of efficiency by
the average mother, the standard OF
good motherhood seems based totally
upon consideration Of the physical
needs only Of the child.
A consuming passion of maternal
tenderness, an inordinate vanity. and
a profound ignorance or disregard OF
hygienic principles Is the equipment OF
the usual mother In her attempt to d.
rect the be ginning Of her child's life.
A never failing flow OF affection. and
q Jealous watchfulness, q hysterical
anxiety and n generally unbalanced
emotional condition create the mental
atmosphere In which the childs nature
develops.
Baby mustn't be allowed to cry q
minute II any conceivable gymnastics
can stop him. That Is accepted Us
canon of nursery government from the
beginning. The rule elastically pro-
viding that II gymnastics fail food may
accomplish the soothing effect, or.
when the happy infant has attained
month or so of discretion, allowing
him his own way, whatever 1t is, must
be resorted to, the high and mighty
mandate being that the darlin' mustn't
ky, no indeeiy.".
All this is wrong An outrage to the
child's physical and mental and moral
well beiny, and fearful reflection up
on the intelligence OF the parents.
From the time the child Is out of the
doctors and the monthly nurses"
hands let IL alone us much as possible.
Wrap IL loosely in light flannel.
Don't let 1t perspire and don't let 1t get
chilled, and don't overfeed II. 1t should
do little more than eat and sleep for NJ
least ten days. 1t shouldn't be handled,
or koochied, or pulled about,or chucked
or made TO "'mile TO its granny" 1t
should be let alone. Handle II as little
as possible. It really isn't thoroughly
alive yet, and no matter what gasping
wagglements the combined assaults Of
all its relatives may induce, II does not
"know its papa" and II doesn't want to.
II he cries something Is the matter
with him. To swoop upon him and yell
in his ears that he wants e muvver-
ruvver SO e did. and TO skirt dance him
around the chandelier and yell ut him
will only make more the matter with
him.
OF course he may stop crying, but 1t
will be because he Is scared to death.
or is so confused he forgets which end
he ought to cry with. but the original
cause of his discomfort Is probably not
removed, but only fearfully aug
mented.
The we'll ordered baby, who is being
let alone and not overfed, cries for
some perfectly simple reason. Maybe
he wants turning over; perhaps his
clothes have grown tight while his last
meal digests; maybe he is thirsty and
wants little water; possibly it's pin.
Probab bly, his di-de-lumpsies-call them
what you like, IL you only attend to
them-want changing. II he is prop
erly treated baby ten TO one 1t Is one
of these troubles that produces the cry;
It isn't collie, because he hasn't been
overfed, or banged about after eating;
IL isn't because The wanted to dit up
and havver little womp wiz muvver,"
because he didn't II isn't because he
fought he muvver had done often left
i'm" because he doesn't care a bit
whether she has or not II probably
isn't because he is 'juss as mad as he
tould be-" though II is likely enough
to be that after you have waved him
about in the air for awhile and
screamed gibberish Mt him.
1t may be nice and pretty to sit for
hours with the child In your arms.
watching It while 1t sleeps. But 1t
isn't good for the child. Or for you
either. He will sleep much more
wholesomely on nice blanket covered
hard bed. And while you may make n
charming "mother and child" picture
hanging over him, you will be asphyxi-
atiug him at the same time by breath
ing in his face.
And that is what Is happening when
all the relatives on both sides Of the
house hang over his poor little quicker
ated face and say: "Wazzer bessid
little lammie: bidder lower rantie, SO
he diddie." So he dontie. poor thing.
The only wonder is you don't kill him
before he is pair of weeks old. And
I have no. doubt he often wishes you
,youll and mt him ont of his misery.-