The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-11
BABY CLOTHES.

"A bahys clothes should he drawn over
It's feet, and not slipped over it's head"
said Miss Mariana Wheeler. superintend-
ent of the Babies Hospital OF New York
city" whose long experience In training
nurse maids makes her an authority on
all subjects pertaining TO the care OF In
fants. Nothing IL more awkward than
to attempt to dress a young baby In a sit
ting posture. II should lie on the nurses
lap until quite able to sit alone II the
clothes are put on as describe there will
be no fighting and crying. but instead the
child will be fond OF being dressed For
the first four months there should be "a
snug flannel band over It's bowels. Later
this should be replaced by n ribbed knitted
band, of wool, of course. and made like
the top of sock. II must be drawn
over the feet and should be worn through
the second year.
I am sure that nearly all intestinal
troubles In young children are caused by
their bowels getting cold. 1t Ii tine one
pace which must be protected II you
would have healthy child. There are
three weights OF these bands, which rec
emnend. medium. thin and gauxe. The
very heavy sh 'u'd never he put on, and
the same rule should be followed I'm select
ing flannel garn ents.
IL is most Important that a hahv,s
clothes should fitsthe body. II too tlgh,
they frequently produce vomiting after
feeding. while II too large they crumpie
into folds and cause discomfort. No pins
or buttons should be used but all hands
about the body must be basted. whe OPEN
ings should be neither In the back nor
trent. but under the arms, where any fr.
regularity Will he least felt BY the child
disapprove very decidedly OF putting
wells over baby's face. when the wealth.
er is so cold or 30 windy as 60 render "A
veil necessary no young child should be
sent out of doors, hut instead given it's
airing In n weli-ventilated nursery. Wells
affect the eyes. and as a rule unclean.
~. In the majority OF Instances a mother
never thinks OF having the baby's veil
washed. They wear one ven an entire
inter. so you can imagine the condition,
Then, aside from thie. a chlld's face il nil
the better for being exposed To the air
not only because II allows II 20 breathe
more freely. but II is healthy for the
complexion
] ain In favor OF covering a chlia.s foe,
and legs and prefer stockings TO the fan
cy bottles So much used Stockings are
snugger, warm enough and should he
fastened 10 the diaper. This latter afso h
garment for which I have reaaons ~
dimer from the majority of mothers ana
nurses. Cotton IN the best aud only ma
terial which should ever be used Linen
and elk are too cold while wool - too IT,
large, Is most comfortable and healthy
cotton cheese cloth. white, az course. 4.
about the best material babies bones
are soft and n mother wishes her child
10 have straight legs she must see 10 IN
that its diapers are not too large
The greatest care should BE- taken NOT
10 Keep children too hot. and while light
wraps may. and as rule should La kent
on them in the sarly morning ana al.
afternoon, In the middle Of the aay they
should Be removed. A common rnIataks
among mothers, especially ia furnace
heated city homes. IL asiug sNrewglv.g,,
heavy clothing Tor their children They
usually live In warm nursery, their err
.AAtlon - aeuFe ana they psrsplr. more
freely than a grown person. For 30.
reasons the heaviest fannsls should nnvey
Re used, even IN very cold eiinafea t,-,t
extra heavy wraps be pat on when ,hsy
are taken out LAFAYETTE