New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-06-07
6be Mothers Year Book
Mrs. Washb Tells How Treat the Baby SaneyAd
Rocking and Other Alleged Unscientific Methods

hospitals. foundngs homes and other institutions
equipped with the most modern hygienic con-
venences babies whose food is sterilized and regu-
lated and whose hours of feeding and sleeping are
perfectly adjusted by rule: whose clothes COM
Portable: who have every physical advantage. do
not thrive so well as other babies In houses less
clean. with many physical disadvantages. but with
abundance of family affection. 1t is plain to every
close observer, however scientific that the child IS
not little animal from the start-or, rather, not
piece Of delicate machinery, for animals, too.
thrive on affection-but is a of budding affec-
tons and thoughts These must be cherished and
nourished. well the body, the body Itself
will not grow it should
GIVE BABY BREATHING SPACE.
Love is what the baby needs-hut not too much
petting Mrs. Washburne continues: Young trees
young plants and young children require plenty of
room. Just little plant growing under the
leaves Of larger and stronger plant fails TO get
its full share of nourshment and If il Is trans
planted TO some free- space, droops and with
ers, very young child, set too constantly under
the shadow of grown-up human beings, pines for
his own proper freedom and space. It is true that
he cannot yet maintain himself alone, and that
therefore he must have within constant reach some
one who attend TO his many wants but never
theless he needs to be let alone almost much rs
he needs to be cared for. The first grandchild in
large family is apt to be particularly unfortunate
in this respect His many relatives positively crowd
MIN out OF breathing space A weakly child
nervous under the aff1iction, and a strong one
obstreperously rebels"
In the following Mrs. Wastburne touches on an
infant characteristic which has puzzled many a
fond parent:
ITS OWN CHOICE OF TOYS
More interesting to right minded baby than
any toys bought at the store the real things in
use about the house. Many mother has made
this discovery to her cost. Many a baby has siren
uously refused play with his bought TOYS and
insisted in no uncertain tones upon playing with
the heater and other useful articles Who has
not seen a beWidered young mother offer her child
a rattle again and again, also an ivory ring to
bite on when he vociferously declaring that
the desire of his heart was to play with his moth
ers bottle Of perfumery? If has any doubt
that baby has will, and perfectly definite ideas
OF his own, let him watch some such struggle as
this and see who comes out ahead
TANTRUMs AND PUNISHMENT
To know just how TO deal with a child 'in tan
trum'-a child in the throes of one of those vio-
lent gusts of anger 10 which children are
subject, even some children who are ordinarily
gentle. and for which often not there IS no
obvious exciting cause-to know what to do in
such crisis is not easy. Here is Mrs. Wash
bUrne's advice the subject
"A child IN such tantrum is temporarily in
sane. The tantrum itself is a species of emotional
insanity. There is certainly no use arguing with
him, and still less in threatening. The only
thing do is 10 keep still and cool possible
yourself and TO act promptly You have the ad-
vantage of your size: make of it, Pick him
up. carry him 10 quiet place where there is
nothing he injure. and leave him there. Soil
tude and silence his best helpers.
Striking and punishment than use
less. Usually they do not succeed in quieting
the child. But IL they do. you have merely sub
stituted the base emotion Of fear for the emotion
anger, and that is little gained. In most cases
you will find that the real truth is that the child
has made you angry You have been overcome by