The Jersey City news., 1906-06-07
It Induces Nervousness and
Converts Sturdy, Placid
Youngsters Into Irritable
Ones
FURNITURE FOR SUMMER
HOMES AND BUNGALOWS-TO
MAKE HARLEQUIN SANDWICH
ES

Is it injurious to the health of infants
to rocked?. Or is the swaying motion
soothing and beneficial? Nurses and
mothers for several years have argued
these questions, and while some have abb
solutely refused to allow their little ones
to be rocked, others have swung them tc
sleep in a cradle or hammock, rocked
them in a comfortable armchair every
time they cried, in the old-fashioned
way. and in both instances some of the
babies have grown strong and sturdy and
others developed into nervous, excitable
children.
As to the harm rocking actually does,
one physician declares it depends entire
ly upon the constitution of the infant.
"Some babies thrive on it. while the mo-
tin undoubtedly irritates the stomachs of
others. ''.-she says.
'I can think of no better plan if the
welfare of the little one is uppermost
than to try gentle swaying movement,
holding the baby in ones arms. If the
infant laughs or goes TO sleep immedi-
ately there need be no fear that swing
ing in a cradle or rocking it in a chair
will be injurious, unless its stomach is
QUITO order. when the motion will often
: undoubtedly cause kind of seasickness
such a s grown-ups experience on a
merry go-round, when crossing the sea,
or frequently when riding in an elevator.
But the baby whose stomach is too
sensitive ITO sand eing rocked will often
cry when first put into the cradle. be
cause the motion just at the start is
mos sockening and causes the little one
real nausea, or if it is swayed in it's
mothers arms when she rocks vigorously
it will sometimes show unmistakable
signs of nervousness by twisting its
head from one side to the other and
.squirming around as if TO get into a
comfortable position.
Il do not know that rocking has ever
really yharmed the brain of child, but
i am confident that it has made excitab.e
infants excessively nervous and irritable
and in that way has done them untold
injury ne
My opinion is that the more quiet
and comfortable babaies can be made the
better off they are physically, and for
this reason l always advise mothers and
nurses TO keep the little ones lying in
their cots as much as possible, instead of
placing them n a cradle that rocks, or
putting them to sleep by swinging with
them in rocking chair or swinging them
in a hammock There is no doubt in my
mind that the infant who is always put
on cot and left there to to sleep gets
a much more refreshing rest than the
little one who requires a lot of nursing
and coddling before it will close its eyes.
ssThe last phase is purely nervousness
and habit, for if a,sbaby, even if it is
only two month sold, is rocked to sleep
once or twice, and likes the sensation, it
will remember and cry if the same at
tention is not layished on it every time
it gets sleepy, and often by wailing will
get itself into such an excitable condition
that rest is impossible for hours until
from sheer exhaustation it drops asleep.
Habits of sleep once formed in a
baby are difficult to break, whether the
infant has learned to go to rest quietly
and alone or by incessant rocking with
continual strain of some soft lullaby in
IFS ears So the mother who would not
only do what is best for the nerves CT
her child, as well as for her own peace
of mind, will do well to train the young
ster to go to sleep quietly and without
any attention such as rocking and sing
ing.
1ya11 11oI.x slfr
not giving it the same sensation as
swinging, etc., is another motion that /
believe has a tendency to make child
nervous. The ceaseless tread of the feet
up and down, the turn at certain angles,
the rythmic step, frequently make
grown person irritable, and must be al
most intolerable to an excitable infant,
who cannot choose, but be tramped with,
out Of a mistaken idea that the walking
is soothing
IF babies could only talk, feel sure
that most of them would beg to be left
in their cots, or. when held. kept in
quiet arms and not swung or rocked as
if they were out for amusement"
Attractive lampshades in new designs
are always desirable for all parts of the
house, and especially for the drawing
room and boudoir. Many of them are
easily made at home. and rne No1n is
extremely attractive, because it may
readily be completed and will show re-
suits which are really important in house
hold decoration instead of being like the
fifth wheel to a coach, as is the case
with a lot Of fancy work.
Among the newest lampshades of Pa
risian design which have lately been inn
ported are those made of fine white net,
which is shirred over a colored silk shade
The effect is very soft and is much pret-
tier than when the color is not covered
with white.
These shades have first paper foun-
dation of any desired shape.
On top of this paper shade a thin col
oreG silk is shirred The silk dones not
have to be very full or of very good quail
ity, China silk, which can be had for
forty cents a yard, being quite good
enough One or two ruffles of tbs silk,
not very deep, are sewed around the bot
tom of the shade.
Over this again the thin, fine white net
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