The Washington herald., 1911-07-08
Keeping Baby Cool and Well
Important Summer Question

Battle regularly and properly. using
| IukeWarm water. Rinse the body well
| after the bath and then dry carefully.
Cover the body with cooling powder
Feed regularly and at stipulated hours
Don't overfeed. Time each of the feed
ing. Nurse the baby by all means
Dress lightly yet warmly. Take par
ticular care Of the dress so that baby
will not get abdominal chills Keep the
clothing clean and light Lots of fresh
air and sunshine. Watch the clothing so
| that baby doesn't perspire and chafe the
skin.
The mother OF nursing baby should
take lots of exercise, secure plenty of
! fresh air and eat and drink sparingly of
all bitter stun.
By all means keep the baby's clothing
clean and airy.
What shall l do to keep my baby from
pertshing these hot days2
This is the important question being
asked to-day by hundreds of mothers
especially young mothers, anxious to pro-
tect their children from the deadly effect
Of the heat wave. Few know the proper
way to care for the little ones many Of
the mothers, through ignorance alone,
innocently causing the death or illness by
overdressing or overlooking the babies.
The proper way to care for a baby
during the hot weather may be summed
up in the following:
Pay particular attention to their dress
ing. Don't overdress them. Battle them
carefully. Don't overfed them
Bathing the baby is one OF the chief
features in keeping the little one cool and
healthy. A prominent physician gives the
following advice:
above all things else a mother should
show great intelligence in the bathing of
her baby. Especially so in summer
months. Many painful skin diseases are
contracted during warm weather because
Of improper bathing, not only of the skin
but OF the eyes and mouth.
Skin Is Sensitive.
Most young mothers and large num-
Der of older ones make the mistake of
using too strong soap. The skin of in
fants is extremely sensitive at all times.
In warm weather it is even more sensi-
| tive because of chatting and persplration.
AT this season 1t is advisable to use
bran or salt baths in preference to soap
Of any kind. When salt is used a tea
spoonful to each two gallons of water has
been found to serve the best purpose.
When bran Is used two teacupfuls should
be placed in a bag Of cheeseclOth, and
this allowed to remain in the water used
for the infants bath until it resembles
thin porridge.
After the bath baby should be given
careful rinsing, and mothers should
not rub tn, skin too vigorously when
drying. 1t is advisable to use talcum in
all the folds OF the skin after a bath
under the arms, about the neck, behind
the ears, &c.
In very young babies the eyes should
be cleansed daily with absorbent cotton
dipped in a lukewarm solution OF salt.
About one teaspoonfuI of salt to a cup
of water is sufficient. Don't use any
more. In some instances a formation of
pus may appear. When this is the case
the eyes should be cleansed every hour,
and, unless the trouble ceases, a phy-
sician should be called in at once. A
delay at this time may mean that the
baby will lose its sight.
THE baby's mouth can be cleansed
excellently by twisting a piece of alb
sorbent cotton upon a wooden toothpick.
In this manner the folds between the
gums. lips, and cheeks may be carefully
cleaned twice a day, unless the mouth
has become irritated.
"If baby contracts prickly heat the
mother should place muslin or linen next
to the skin and sponge the entire body
frequently with equal parts Of apple vim
egar and water. Plenty Of talcum powder
and starch should also be used"
Feeding Babies.
The next important factor in caring for
the baby is its feeding Above all, moth
ers should be careful not to overfeed the
infant. This causes many complaints. es-
pecially during hot months. A prominent
physician, who makes a specially Of baby
troubles, discussing this question, said:
1.-The question of infant feeding con-
fines itself to the first nine months, when
every baby should be nursed- The nurs-
ing must be regular during the daytime.
and, during the first tree months, about
every two hours, and the baby should be
fed for about twelve to fifteen minutes
on each occasion.
THE feeding should begin about 6
O'Clock in the morning and be given
every two hours from that time until
10 o'clock at night. when four-hour IN
tervals are established.
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