The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-17
Theories About Babies.


 "I must tell you of a book I have just been reading upon the care and training of children. called Little Talks for the Mothers of Little People. IL expresses my views exactly so far as my experience goes. That is up to the age of my eldest blessing. I have four, and the senorest of the lot Is just 10 years old.
 We spent last year in Germany and l am just aching to tell the author of that bewitching book of device wish she had known of when she wrote 1t. II goes under the name of a nickel commode. but that does not describe 1t. As I wish American mothers would make practical test of its merits, am writing to represent these as well as can.
 Ut looks like a broad topped washstand. full of drawers. and covered with hair mattress. It is just the right height for the convenience of the mother who lays her baby upon 1t to be washed and dressed, and bandaged and tended generally. At first laughed and would have none of the ma tress, but took the commode for a nursery bureau Then sheepishly bought the mat tress-'just for fun'-and brought the whole affair home across the sea to show how they QO L0ttt lHlISS III 1tffHdl9E &fOW-i would rig up a table in like manner if l couldn't get my commode. Our baby, who is under months old. squirmed off 1t once So that may happen. and we are trebly careful since the mishap.
 :" If any mother once makes trial of the foreign contrivance she will never try to wash or dress baby upon her lap again. It saves a nervous baby from the fanced terrors of slipping off the mothers or nurses knees. and spares the mothers back which means more to the young mother than to a robust nurse. Yet my nurse says she would make commode of dry goods box rather than not have one
 Another thing I have learned: I dress Cor undress) a baby but once day for ever so long after It is born. It wears the band only as long as is absolutely necessary; a little soft shirt, a yeager twhen can get iO a flannel slip like wrapper. It k-s sleeves. but is cut wide without plaits or any full ness. Then a straigh., plain gown of fine nainsook with five box plaits in front anc back, and plain full sleeves. Around the neck and cuffs sew bit of the finest valen- ciennes 1 can buy-just a wee. tiny edging. I have nire new ones for each new baby. and six flannel slips. The slips are fin- fshed with flat seams and trimmed with briar stitching to cover raw edges instead of turning in or facing. Then lhave squa. es of soft flannel which put over the napkin as some use the barrow coat. I like 1t bet ter. as It may be changed without undgess- Ing the child di~ rafefully put on does quite as we'll.
 My belief fl fue mother learns by instinct fc lie ecseif s lat is best for her baby, and tl tA@ larye percentage of failures Is de e 4e iack of realization of ones own <ab iss and exercising ones own jut sMan with regard to ones onspring v.st possible to make women-especialig yruak healthy women normal hurna hzlNgz 4t the mother sex see how wond riul -ness nspoiled instincts are! If some 9t fif fr .nds need heavier clothing than rrs4 res not follow that I should over If with cimbrous wrappinss be- ass tf have had experI- ence.
 And tell h-r 5a some babies ere spanked lit ,hey scream out ot sheer temper. tired to sleep-it will start the esl and give them something heal of. After they are out of long lct ley may have to be broken of ''se hsits Before that while they are ss--- ings-is the ttma a