New-York tribune., 1906-10-08
HALF NAKED BABIES.
Dr. Barrett Pleads for Reform in
CMLdren's Dress.

A nrotest against the half naked condition that
some poor children chiefly Of the upper classes,
cent Is entered by DR.. Howard Barrett in his book
on 1.-THE Management OF Children" George Rout-
aecge g. Sons, Limited London. and E p. Dut-
aon & Co. New York; Their bare shoulders legs
and and exposed chests may be very crafty
ing 10 the vanity of parents he says. but are most
dangerous 70 the little folks themselves. Dr. Bar
Sett lays much stress the Importance of keep
1ng children and infants Infants cannot.
as rule, be too tenderly cared for as regards
yrotection from cold. he says while the continu-
OF life in children prematurely born seems
&c depend their being kept thoroughly
warm than upon any other circumstance.
A singular belief Is prevalent among many, 1t
seems, that on account Of the activity of their
circulation children can bear cold without hurt
Few notions could be more mistaken or danger
GUS" says Dr. Barrett I'm all warm biooded ami
mails the power OF generating heat is feeblest at
birth, very gradually increasing up 10 adult life.
and declining again toward old age. II is in times
OF hard frost and during periods or long conunued
cold that we find the bills OF mortality full of the
deaths OF old people and young children Therefore
] believe Il TO be difficult 10 keep very young
baby warm. Let mother. when her infants
crying neither appeased nor understood. first
ascertain that he is not crying simply because he
ss cold as babies often do. before she pronounces
his malady TO be wind some other and more
mysterious complaint"
Children also lose heat rapidly. the book states
partly because the circulation being rapid. more
therefore more heat is radated than is the case
with the adult. Their clothing is therefore a mat
Ter OF Importance But warm clothing. DR.. Barrett
IS careful 20 explain, does not mean complicated
clothing. The endless garments that encase mod
ern babies he considers to be both ''unmeaning
and uncalled for. The number OF articles that can
oe applied the body and limbs of infant. or
their richness and costly elaboration. valua
be test he declares. ''of a mothers affection
though they may be of her wealth or love OF dis
ard fo-s > sba and nall
being OF her offspring is the surest proof Of
nal love" From personal experience Of the man
which infants and little children clad in
successive layers Of garments of complicated make
and adjustment DR.. Barrett is convinced that the
situation is ripe for reform, could any Of in
nuence be found bold enough take the initiative
Clothes that require such frequent changing and
washing" he continues should be few, warm and
comparatively inexpensive and simple. child
should always wear wooen clothing next the skin
except for two three months after BIRTH when
owing 10 the extreme decacy OF the skin the shirt
or chemise next IL should be Of soft linen II
flannel causes irritation. silk. woven in the same
manner as silk stockings, but with thicker text
ure is the best substitute Indeed as a material
for Undertaking. silk thus woven is not used as
much as IL deserves 10 be. But whether silk or
flannel is used the vest should made high; it is
Important that the upper part Of the chest ehou1d
Se as fully protected the lower.
a he s gamens 2f 9a infant should be at the
appears to be the rule. rather than the excep-
tiOn lIr III 10 De altogether diSregarded, we
zee the unfortunate little creatures packed IN
1nutifarious coverings that restrain the move
ments of their limbs, render them lstless and
1niserabe, and reduce them d condition litrle
superior 10 the mailOt pappoose which the tray-
eler views with such sincere compassion Let the
mother remember the irritation and discomfort
produced IN her own case by I'll arranged and mis-
fitting clothes. and also that her baby can never
explain 10 her the miseries it may be Suffering
from, and she will be careful not TO err in tbis
respect " go N-'-0
When the infant arrives at childhood. Dr. Bar
prejudicai extremes The one 6ei between two
so-caled hardening" the other what is COM
1nonly termed cooding. Those who survive the
hardening, he says, do IL IN spite of the treat
melt not because OF ii, while of the two extremes
tE6t or overtenderness is the less dangerous