The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-01-09
FOR THE NURSERY.

A screen is an indispensable article
in the household which possesses a
baby. for it is often the only solution
OF the vexatious problem OF securing
ventilation without a dTaught. Every
child should be accustomed from birth
20 the open window in the sleeping
room; yet many mothers, haunted by
the possibility OF a chill. fail 10 COM
ply with the most important OF by
gienlc rules. With the screens always
available no such disaster need be fear
ed, provided intelligent use be made
Of Il. II will also be found useful for
shielding the baby's eyes while sleep
ing, from a glare OF light from the
window or gas jet. The best screen
for use in the nursery is one made
after the hospital model. OF white
eambrie shirred on 10 a light weight
frame OF wood This can be easily
washed, an essential feature Of a nur-
sery screen. For the frame a clothes
horse. painted white. is just the thing.
The Misunderstanding habit, once form
ed. is extremely difficult 10 break. yet
Il must be broken, OF the baby viii
inevitably grow 10 maturity with a dis
torted mouth and pendulous lower
lin. The most sensible course Is not
can be cured easily enough II taken in
hand right at the start. the simple
method being 10 pin the baby's sleeves
10 his gown with a couple OF saftey
pins in such a way that he viii be IN
ahae 20 get his hands to his mouth.
Care must be taken, however. not to
placs them in a constrained position.
The little one may whimper a little
perhAps even scream for while-when
he makes his first few Intellectual at
tempts; but il not actually uncomfort-
able physically. he will quickly forget
all about II.
The cause Of the habit is. in most
cases. letting the child go 90 sleep with
the nipple of his nursing bottle in his
mouth. II IS altogether wiser TO avoid
this practice, not on this score alone, but
on the even more important one OF the
child's general health. Food consumed
while In a drowsy, semi-cOnscious con
dition is not properly digested. and the
result is fermentation in the stomach
with its Inevitable accomplishments, fiat
uIence. and collie.
When the habit OF thumb-sucking is
of long standing the oid-fashioned rem
edy OF bitter alOes, smeared lightly -sst
the OucnullE GAltAlbCEs - ASlNAA9 SAA1N-
tive II poisistently applied. II must be
used very sparingly, however. as II VIII
cause nausea II a sufficient quantity Is
put on 10 be taken into the stomach
Why mothers will take little children
out IN cold weather In that abominaDle
Invention. the go-cart, Is a problem too
deem for solution. There 81 absolutely
no way OF protecting the tiny occupant
from the biting blasts that sweep
through the streets in Winter-to say
nothing OF the germ-iaden dust that
every passing skirt brushes up from
the pavement; and the little legs. hang
ing inactiVely down. cannot be other
wise than numb with cold after an hour
or more OF such exposure. No sane
grown person would dream of riding out
In Wintry weather IN a vehicle built on
such lines, yet no one seems 10 give
thought 10 the EO-cart menace TO little
child. who is many times more sensitive
than the average adult.
Children who are too small to walk
we'll should be warmly clad about the
body ana limbs. and In cold weather
taken out for a daily airing in the old
fashioned. but eminently practical baby
carriage. with a hot water bag in its
flannel case somewhere among the
wrappings, though not IN close proX-
able 10 walk should be encouraged TO
do so, the exercise being just what they
need when in the open air. II is the
worst kind OF folly 10 permit a child 10
riae, either In baby carriage or go-cart,
Wnen II is perfectly well able 20 walk,
and the mere fact that the former mode
OF locomouon happens 70 be more con-
Eehient Tor the mother or nursemaic
uoes not excuse il In the least.