The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-02-01

If these talks of mine were with eX-
perienced mothers / should say nothing
about how TO give baby his bath, but
am much more interested in trying
TO help mothers who & are working
through their initial experince. More
than one letter in the past few weeks
has asked me precisely the best way
this part OF the morning dressing should
be done. and II is so important and at
the same time such a jolly part OF the
day that il gives me pleasure TO tell
about Ii.
The room must be warm, and the
articles necessary are a screen about
the tub and chair in which the person
sitting bathes the baby. a low chair that
is more comfortable than a high one,
the tub itself, which. if>it has not a
stand of It's own. may be on a chair
OF low table. and another table Tor the
baby's basket. The basket. of course.
contains all the little things connected
with dressing, including threaded needles
with which 10 sew on abdominal bands
and flannel skirt.
BY the tub should be Caustic, palm
or other pure oil soap, a bath Their
mometer. which is inexpensively bought
at any toilet department; cheese cloth
wash cloths a soft towel. a couple OF
new wire hairpins with a little alb
sOrbent cotton fastened around the end
tthIs is done by merely twisting it will
mold ITSELF, a pitcher o. warm water,
another Of cold and a basin OF warm
water. The tub, more than halI tuli'
should be at 90 degrees Fahrenheit and,
II the tub is tin. there should be a thF-
flannel laid I'm the bottom.
IL possible a bath should Dc given be-
fore fire or radiator and on rack
or chair near the tub should be- all the
baby's clothes. so hung that each viii
be warm when put on The nurse or
mother wears long flannel apron. ana
has flannel sheet where she can pick
il up easily.
The tub filled and everything ready.
the screen is spread around % Keep OF
the draught and baby Is undressed and
quickly covered with the flannel apron
lie is not put into the tub until after
six weeks OF age.
Whether younger or older the head is
first washed. the body being carefully
covered with the flannel. Wash the
face. using no soap and the water from
the basin. Dry tHc face, soap the cloth
and carefully wash the head. ears and
neck. and rinse. using a fresh cloth and
water ia the Tub which. Of course. is
quite clear. the soapy ater being i'm
the basin.
II the haby is OF an age for #. he
may then be pul into the tub quickly
and carefully washed with soap on che
cloth. and, taken out wrapped IN the
fresh flannel sheet and kept covered
while he is being dried with a soft towel
The drying under such circumstances is
necessaF ilv slow, but mo- air should
strike the childs skin while il is wet
If he Is toe young for the tub he is
washed under the blanket. the cloth be
ing well soaped, and each and every
part Of the body gone over, still not un-
covering at all A fresh cloth and fresh
water are used Cor riusins, which IS
done in the same Wav as the washing.
and as soon as the Tinsing IS completed
the damp flannel Is slipped out the dry
nanTel sheet puT under ana the Wiping
Is the same as when tEbbed.
Stili covered, the bod IS busted with
talcum powder IN the neck and grOius.
or olive oil may be rubbed IN the latter
creHzes If desired. and subuitraUe of olz-
muth Is busted about the cord Take "a
piece Of linen four inches wide and
longer than the flannel band IS wide
Lay this linen over the cord so that each
end OF tie cloth comes abnve and below
the hand. In this way the linen can be
stretched quite smooth. The flannel
hand Is hasted ever this. the under
clothes put on AT once and baby is put
ON his oack for the finishing process.
Wrap a pice OF absorbent cotton