Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-18
CAMPS FOR SICK BABIES.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

Gods out-of-doors was made for ba-
bies no less than for babies grown up,
and we children of a larger growth who
have II In our physical power to hinder
or to help the growing child are coming
more and more keenly to realize our re-
sponsibilities in this direction. Under
present social conditions many babies
are born and must live in crowded city
tenements. In places where there Is little
air and that little contaminated. To take
an infant from such surroundings and
give him even a few days Of free air Is
at least to minimize his sufferings In
the heated summer, and often 1t is to
save his life.
Thus 1t is that baby camps have
come to be a part of the regular charity
summer work in many of the large cities
of the country. Wholesale transfers of
the youthful inhabitants of baby asy-
lums from stuffy institutional buildings
In the city to open-air camps for the
summer months have been successfully
tried In many cities. Camps for the ac-
commodation Of mothers and their babies
are well established features of summer
charity work in many others.
The ideal camp is not too large. Half q
dozen tents each accommodating a dozen
babies are better than one large affair
where there are fifty or sixty little ones
land inexpensive. Sometimes an old
building can be rented for a nominal
price which will form the ideal nucleus.
A two or three-room cottage in any
healthy rural locality, where there Is
shade and a sufficient supply of pure
water. will meet the requirements. The
outdoor life strengthens the babies so
that many adjuncts necessary in the
home may be dispensed with. as, for ex-
ample. the hot water supply which is
essential for any building in town In
which any number Of human beings are
to be cared for. The bathing facilities
for a dozen babies may be provided by
the natural water supply tempered per-
haps for the very youngest babies by a
little hot water heated in a teakettle.
Half dozen tin or enameled bathtubs
costing less than dollar apiece are
quite sufficient to give all of the young
The other equipment consists of
keeping
Refrigerator and Stove milk at
Are Necessary Equipment. ~ , .a,,
perature after it has been prepared upon
the kitchen stove, which stove serves also
to prepare the meals of the nurses in
charge Of the camp. Sometimes a porch
will serve for a sleeping room. but when
porch room is not available tents can be
added as needed. The idea is that the
babies should spend all of the twenty
four hours out of doors, If possible. Even
a light summer rain will not hurt baby
If it is properly cared for afterward. For
any prolonged rainy spell suitable shell
ter must, of course, be provided.
baby camp recently opened under the
auspices of the Associated Charities in
the District of Columbia also has under
taken to care for the babies mothers
The baby camp is located within easy
reach of summer camp for older chill
dren. SO that a mother having a sick
baby and several other children may give
her own personal care to her baby and
also be able to see her other children
each day. This camp has several unique
features. 1t will accommodate fifteen
babies with their mothers, and could
take in few more if necessary. Most
of the guests go there for a period of
two weeks, but this time may be ex-
tended If the condition Of the baby seems
to warrant it. A woman physician is in
attendance and watches carefully over
the health of the mothers and babies,
especially the nursing mothers. because
of the effect their health has upon that
of their little ones.
ne ulOIueIS are tdu6iI LII tu0 SIN
plest manner possible all that they should
know. Each mother bathes her own
baby each morning under the direction Of
the nurse and is guided as to the amount
of clothing to be put upon the child for
the day. During the greatest heat this
should be reduced as much as possible.
The sweltering flannel bands which old
fashioned mothers will cling to are now
taboo. and the little body is left as UNI
incumbered as possible to soak in the
fullest quantity of oxygen from the out
door air. If the day is chilly. heavier
clothes are provided, but these are of the
simplest kind and within reach of every
mother.
). x
When the babies have been properly
bathed and are placed in a shady spot