Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-12-28
LITTLE TALKS ON BABYOLOGY
By NJ N STEESE RICHARDSON
Director Of The Better Babies Bureau OF the WounanS Home Companion
No. TO-.
Fresh Air and Exercisefm the Baby
bu ANNA STEESE RICHARDSON

exclusive of sleep, understand, should last AN hour
and the time should be gradually increased until az
five or six years, he plays the greater part OF the
time outdoors by habit.
II the day is inclenent, rainy, blustery, at least
open the nursery window and, dressing the baby, cap
and all, as for his daily ride, let him breathe the AR
for a half hour or more. In winter, the daily r'de
should be given during the sunniest time Of the day.
In summer, choose the cooler hours, early morning
and just before bed time.
when should my baby begin to sit up"
"How soon should ! let my baby Walk?"
These questions are frequently asked of physi-
clans at Better Babies Contests. They form part OF
that important factor in a. babys np-bringing. exer-
else.
The normal, healthy baby. properly clad, given
legitimate freedom will choose its own form OF exer-
else and gain strength through a God-given instinct.
The parent who retards it's activities or stimulates
them makes a grave mistake.
For a few weeks after its birth, the only exercise
+. a baby has or needs is crying. Crying in moderation
is good, healthy exercise. At two months, If ne is
still sturdy, he should begin to have what might be
termed play periods. All his clothing except the
~belly.band or. shirt should be removed. Then with
the temperature of the room at 20 degrees F, he
is laid on a bed protected from %draught, and permit
ted to kick and roll as his fancy dictates When he
is tired, he will stop. Babies know better than
grownlps how TO conserve their energies.
At four months, the healthy baby holds up his
head and shows a tendency to sit UP with support.
At six months he does sit up with a pillow at his
back. At nine months he should be able to sit alone
on the floor, with no pillow supporting his back, and
about this time he will make occasional efforts to
creep.
This is a critical time in baby's career. He is so
cunning, so enticing, that parents and relatives are
very apt to urge him on faster than Nature DEGREES.
AS soon as he begins to creep, adult hands offer to
help him stand erect. He is oyerpersuaded to take
the funny, t~ottering steps before the bones and mus
cles are strong enough to support his growing body.
This may result in bowlegs, knock-knees, fiat feet,
pigeon.toeing, ali sorts of defects in gait that are
sad crosses to bear in later years.
Encourage, but do not urge your baby to activity
during these months OF, rapid development. Let Ma
ture direct his progress. She knows the condition OF
his bones and muscles better than you do. When ne
discovers that his feet were made to walk on, he
will drag himself to an upright position by a chair or.
stool. If he is walking at twelve months. he Is de-
veloping rapidly enough and taking sufficient exercise:
If very heavy, and he does not walk until fourteen
months, do not worry. Nature is watching ana
guarding him. But if he is not walking at eighteen
months, his condition should be examined by a ply
SlCldn. lie may uHu DdChWdIus McuCdl yMPCoAAo =
One thing which often retards a babys walking
is heavy, bunglesome diapers. At one year, a baby's
habits should be such that diapers can be laid aside
for drawers and rompers, which facilitate walking.
Another factor of daily life which interferes with
Baby's development is the pressure of duties on the
average mother. She has so many other things to
do that she cannot zslperintend her baby's, exercise.
So long as he is safe from danger and amused and
quiet, she does not realize that he is suffering from
lack of exercise. l have seen babies strapped In
carriages and high chairs for long stretches ofstime,
without any change of position, without any oppor.
tunity to use their muscles, simply because they
we're amused and quiet, not disturbing Mother An
occasional change of toys, a cracker, or a sweet, even
a "%pacifer' are offered in lieu Of what the child needs,
exercise of it's cramped muscles. This sort Of child
does not learn to creep or walk as 1t should, because
it is given no opportunity.
Many women ask me whether their babies should
be exercised" If this means a system of rubbing,
working Of muscles. artificial exercise and stimulation
for the normal baby l should say most emphatically,
"NO." Calisthenics Of any sort should not be forced
on a young child, and many a wellmeaning father
With physical culture fads has developed a normal
healthy child into a nervous, pallid baby by attempt
ing to give it exercises designed for sluggish adult
systems. Even a good thing like physical culture
can be misapplied. -sE
If a baby is listless,, puny and backward, consult
|. a physician, do not apply your own particular meta,
DDS Of stimulation What your child may need Is
better nourishment;s not exercises that will weaken
it further.
The next talk will answer this question:
What should you know about your baby
and Standardization of the reformers. The only
trouble with this statement is that it is too sane T.
strike a popular chord.
Secretary Bryansssays the people should BE allow