Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-12-14
LITTLE TALKS ON BABYOLOGY
By ANNA S7EESE RICHARDSON
Director of The Better Babies the WoQnS Home Companion
CLEANLINESS FOR THE BABY
By ANNA S7EESE RICHARDSON

health should not guess at the temperature of the
water. nor neglect the bath on busy days. Baby
needs this thorough cleansing as much at one year
as at one month, and from that time on he is form
ing habits and feelings which demand cleanliness
There is such thing as educating child to endure
dirt from sheer carelessness
n baby should not be laid into the tub and hastily
sponged Off The operation starts with baby laid
comfortably On a warm blanket, spread mothers
knee. First the face and head are washed with
clean gauZe and dried. If there is tendency to
scruff scales the head rub the head every night
with sweet oil, vaseline cold cream wash off gently
i'll the morning and, after drying. apply witch hazel
or alcohol and water in equal parts Never use a
fine tooth comb to remove these scales When there
is a. tendency to persistent growth of scales or milk
crust, it may be necessary to stop washing the head
and cleanse it only with oil or cold cream.
GnqN tho eyes, nose, and gentas washed
with piece of absorbent cotton wet with solution
Of boracic acid and water teaspoonul OF the acid
to pint of water. This absorbent cotton is
then burned thrown away, used again.
Now Baby is thoroughly soaped, and laid in the
tub, its head firmly supported so that the water does
not into the eyes ears. A fresh piece of alb
sorbent cotton is used to rinse off the soap, the baby
is lifted from the water dried quickly with an old,
sof towel and powdered The drying should be done
by pating not by hard rubbing, and the creases be
dried before the talcum powder is applied.
You will notice that have not spoken of washing
out the baby's mouth Doctors seem to agree that
the practice is apt to thrush and other afsc
tons Of the mucus membrane. 1t is extremely easy
to tear the delicate lining of the mouth, and Nature
has provided cleansing element in the saliva which
gathers in the babys mouth
The healthy baby will soon learn to enjoy a bath
properly given and show eagerness for it. The deli
to hohv CHI no hofho oofo
physician He may order a sponge bath only, or
oil rub Children suffering with any form Of skin
disease should not be bated unless the doctor orders
it. Eczema and rng-w are both aggravated by
soap and water bathing.
But the healthy baby should have his morning
bath between his O'Clock and o'clock feeding 1t
sends him off drowsy to his morning nap. When the
baby is year old, the hour of bathing may be
changed to $780, in preparation for his nights sleep
In this way the childs entire being demands bath,
the sensation OF cleanliness and when he is able to
battle himself he will do it as mechanically and reg
ularly as he removes his clothing to retire.
Many mothers ask whether baby should have
cold sponge after the warm bath The word, "baby"
is elastic. A child under two years is not strong
enough for the application of cold water. After two
years, sturdy child be gradually accustomed to
cold shower or douche by reducing the tempera-
ture of the rinse water rife each night until it is
the temperature at which it runs from the tap But
always the bath should be given first for cleans
ing the pores The cold water merely to
stimulate circulation and ward off colds.
The most important@habits Of cleanliness are in
culcated in child by the mothers care Of the
baby's diapers II the baby is kept dry and clean
from birth he will fret when he is wet and soiled.
And from fretting over discomfort from uncleanli-
ness he will grow into habits of cleanliness He will
learn regularity and self-control
The careless, untdy mother has right TO expect
Nature to provide her with fine, healthy child. He
may be well proporoned and healthy when he comes
into the world, but he will lose strength and
health il he is not kept clean Badly rinsed clothing
eruptions for the remains of soap, sal soda
and I've irrate the babys tender skin. Carelessly
washed diapers chatting and nervous affections.
Eczema germs will find Judgment in infamed
creases that ought to be dimpled, pink folds OF
healthy skin dirty scay scalp itches, and itch
Ing keeps the baby awake, making him nervous and
sfretfulrs lsae-*aYss,
know mothers VINO spend hours sewing on lace
and embroiderng tiny frocks, yet who hurry through
the process of bathing This is grave injustice to
the child.