The Washington herald., 1908-07-19

URING the hot weather all babies
suffer. but the amount Of dis
comfort depends mainly upon the
knowledge or ignorance OF the
mothers in whom they must trust
Young mothers usually imagine that
The instinct Of motherhood IS theirs. Just
as it is with animals, but that this IS
an erroneous opinion IS shown by the
fact that the infant mortality Of this
country is nearly 20 Per cent. Every
woman has a preconceived notion Of how
10 dress her baby. but somehow she al
most always goes to extremes
One mother viii swathe her infant in
flannel and cover II with warmest af-
ghans. even in midsummer. This means
that priekIy heat viii result and that the
vitality of the child viii be reduced
Another mother viii take all ba0y's
clothes Of and leave It no protection
from vagrant breezes. a condition which
tmpairs the digestion and frequently
causes the death Of the baby
The first rule n dressing baby is that
the band shall always be left on The
band is the first little garment. usually
aIl-wooI OF silk-and-wool. with low neck
and no sleeves The shirt goes over this.
IN really hot weather. the shirt, and even
the flannel skirt, may be left OF, but
never the band At the sesshore, dur
Ing the first and second summers. it is
better not TO remove the shirt Merely
IL ~Hy-
Young babies aIways-or almost always
wear flannel tops 10 their skirts In
summer. these skirt bands may be made
OF double thickness of muslin, which viii
be neither too thin nor too thick
Give baby plenty Of exercise, and al
low the limbs plenty Of freedom. Jump
ers are perfect garments for children Of
u year and older Long clothes were
never intended for summer. so. If pos
sible. put baby into short clothes when
warm weather comes
Knit socks are too warm for summer.
and with long dresses no covering for the
feet is necessary. With short dresses
white cotton stockings are sufficient. but
do not put a newly Shortened baby into
short socks unless the climate is eQuable,
and never at the seashore, OF rheuma-
tisn will be sure 70 result
Bathing Is the most important factor
Of baby's toilet The water should be
warm, but not hot. and the temperature
may be determined by the mother testing
it with her elbow, which IS almost as sen
sitiye as baby's skin.
After the bath baby should be pow
dered, which does not mean that the
child should be deluged with talcum-
Only the joints. knees, arms. elbows. and
neck need be sprinkled.
Prickly heat and other irritation may
be cured by adding e little b!carbonate
OF soda TO the ordinary talcum powder;
bOraCic acid powder added TO the taIcum
is also excellent, especially for chafng
At night the child should sleep on a
pad. and there should be three on hand.
so each may be well aired As baby's
bedclothes are difficult to keep in place.
it is a good plan TO tie baby into the
nightgOwn, but It must be plenty long
to allow the tiny legs TO be quite free
4 sheet IS not necessary to use as
cover for the baby; a thin blanket is
almost as cool and does not become damp
In hot weather even this may be omit
ted II the tied-up gown IS used
When baby's clothes are washed they
should always be hung up TO air and
thoroughly dry for at least a day and
half after they are ironed. Freshly
washed and ironed garments are never
absolutely dry Baby's clothes, too.
should never be dried on the grass, for
they seem 10 absorb some OF the earth's
moisture and cause croup.