Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-28
Proper Bed for the Baby,

Never let young infants sleep on mat
tresses. They are unhealthy because they
are unsanitary, and others who want their
little ones to grow strong should not put
them on any kind of a pad, for they all
absorb impurities, whether of hair, wool
or cotton. declares the head Of babies
hospital.
Blankets that may be aired every day
and washed once q week or once IN TWO
weeks, when folded three or four times to
make comfortable pad for the body. are
sufficiently thick to supply the need of
mattresses and when placed over good
wire springs such as are usually put in an
infants cot, make an easy resting place
for even very young children" she says
Next to the blankets there should be
soft rubber sheet, for hygienic reasons. and
over it another of soft cotton. The cover
ings should consist of a top sheet similar TO
the used under the sleeper and a
blanket of sufficient thickness to keep the
little one comfortable whether in cool fall
weather or during the winter time, so 1t
will be necessary to have the coverings OF
several grades Of weight, for all emer-
gencies. No spread need be used, for the
coverings should be as light and yet as
warm as are required to make the babies
comfortable. Never make the mistake OF
Weighing a little one down with too many
blankets ETC.. for too many coverlets are
worse than too few, the latter may
cause the infant some discomfort, but VIII
make it tired in addition, as Is always the
case when too many clothes are put over
a sleeper, especially a very young one
"As to the care of a cot, it should be
well aired in the sunshine every day, and
each piece of bedding removed and shaken.
The sheets should be put on fresh every
day, If convenient, if not, then every other
day, for that is long enough for an infant
to use them.
pillows, if any are used. should not be
more than two inches thick, and may De
either Of hair, which will make them quite
hard, or of down that is decidedly SOFT
Personally do not believe in putting any
pad under babys head, for think they
do not need any such support ana am
confident that in many cases II mas
tendency to give them round shoulders.
Never use cradles, particularly those
with rockers, that may be upset accidental
ly and not only frighten but seriously IN
lure the little one asleep. Don't get cots
with high sides. for though side pieces are
necessary to prevent child from rolling
off, they should not be wide enough to
keep the air from circulating freely around
the sleeper.
LAS to the room babies occupy at night.
the temperature should never be more than
60 degrees Fahrenheit, and there should al
ways be a current of fresh air let in from
the tops and bottoms of the windows. care
should be taken, however, to keep the
little one from a draught. Don't let a
young child sleep in the same room with
grown persons, and never in the same bed,
for the grown ups take the vitality from
the young ones and leave them weak Then,
too, In my opinion, 1t Is dangerous Tor an
infant to be in bed with older persons.
for during sleep the babies may be rolled
on and injured. as is often the case, and I
have known OF several instances where
real young children were smothered to
death by getting under their mothers
arms or beneath her pillow.
Before putting baby to bed. always
give Il a lukewarm sponge bath, the water
to be not more than ninety-six degrees
Fahrenheit, the temperature Of the body.
Pat the flesh dry gently with soft towel
and then use plenty of talcum powder to
keep the skin from chatting.