The Washington times., 1906-09-19
MOTHERS SHOULD GUARD
AGAINST BABIES SITTING UP
No Child Should Be Permitted to Stand Till 1t Is a
Year Old or to Sit Up Before Six Months.

Don't let a baby stand too soon,
Don't allow an infant to sit up before
the muscles in it's back are strong
enough To support the bony frame or
il may develop a weak chest and il is
almost sure 10 have round shoulders.
Standing before the muscles in the legs
are properly developed is what causes
so many bowlegs and knock-knees
among children. declares the home ply
sician Of a babies hospital
''No child should be permitted to
stand before IL is year old, and eX-
perienced motheers and nurses never
islOw babies 20 sit even with pillows
at their backs. before they are at least
six months of age" he says. "If this
age rule for standing and sitting were
closely observed by all parents there
would be fewer weak chested boys and
girls. who often develop into invalids
simply because when infants they We're
allowed TO sit up before the muscles
were strong enongh 20 bear the weight
of their bodies, while round dropping
shoulders are more often the result of
careless bolstering Of young children in
TO sitting pOstures than from habits ac-
quired after boys and girls begin TO
grow up As 10 bOUlegs and knOCk-knccs
they are so uusighuy and IN many
cases real deformities, no one can dis
pute that they are directly caused by
permitting young children 10 stand be-
fore the muscles in the legs are proper
ly developed.
Il know OF several cases where bow
legged boys and girls became cripples
because the bones and muscles We're SO
weakened from being strained and bent
hs.H TI
bear the bodies. forcing the little ones
to walk with difficulty. often limping
Occasionally these afflicted children had
10 stay i'm bed for days at time until
The pain was gone from the muscles
I'll mothers realized what it means
not only 20 the personal appearance Of
child. but also 10 its physical health
believe few would let a babe under one
year stand on It's feet. even when uu'
usually strong. or would allow young
child 20 sit up before its back was
properly developed. OF the two evils
sitting too soon is the greatest, ior
KNOW or many persons VINO nav
suffered all their lives with broncla
affections, and weak lungs, the results
of being placed in sitting pOsJures De-
fore the muscles were strong enough tt
support the bones and keep them lf
place, AS result of this weakness 1T
The tenduus, the shoulders naturally
drOop, the chest becomes contracted
and IL these positions continue and are
NOT corrected they dishgure the young
ster FOR life besides often lmperillnE
lts health, for with narrow chests tht
respiration is impaired, lung eXpan
sion ls difficult and the little ones ar,
reilly "a prey to tuberculosis.
Never force "a small child to sianc
or sit Remember that when it is really
capable OF sitting or getting onto it.
1eeJ nature VIII exert such a strong in
uuenCc that the little one win get UI
OF us own VoluOn and stand beside
chair or sit on its couch After a babi
has shown that 1t Is strong enough t,
raise itself into a standing position d'
not even then encourage il TO take th'
posture too often lest the muscles ht
strained. Instead leave the "gettinl
up and sitting up 10 the infant. q
knows its own strength hest and Few
of them Will oVerdO or attempt to si
or stand when they begin to feel tired
and never work over their new ac
uusitions until exhausted unless a nurs,
or mother coaNes them
'If taken in time bow legs and knock
knees can be corrected by daily mas
sage. but the process is a slow an,
10 preVent than to cure that 1 shOuh
think every thoughtful parent shoul
be ccreful of her little ones
''TO straighten slightly bowed leg
take the little limbs In both hands an
bend them gently. but firmly, in Tn
opposite direction Ia which they curve
They must not be bent enough [
give the infant pain, Yet ccnSiderabl
strain must be put on the bones an
muscles or the work viii not be effeC
tive. After bending Them touch III