The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-09-11
BACKFOoT SEPTEMBER H. 1914
BETTER BABY CONTEST

Babies are coming back into style.
Have you baby in your house?
Or has your next door neighbor
baby of whom you are fond?
If so, you will be interested in
the better babies contest to be held
at the fair in Blackfoot on Tuesday
morning, nine o'clock. Examinations
to take place at the City hall.
The public in general is just be-
ginning to realize that great deal
depends upon just your baby or your
neighbor's baby. The health of the
nation is built on the health of each
baby and physicians will tell you that
with proper care and feeding of
children the entire health of the ma
tion can be built up. Healthy babies
mean healthy children in the public
schools. Thus the expense of try
ing to educate defective children is
reduced for the tax payer. Healthy
children in the school room grow in
to healthy, vigorous, satisfied work.
ers in the industries and professions.
And best of all, healthy babies mean
peace and happiness in the home and
rare-free parents.
For good many years babies
have not been receiving the attention
they deserve We have been read
ing about pets like lay dogs, Angora
cats and trained monkeys. We have
heard that women of fashion, who set
the pace for other women to follow,
have been going in for all sorts of
records, golf tennis, swimming,
mountain climbing, bridge, etc. But
nobody has been talking much about
making a record in raising healthy
babies.
Then suddenly, people discovered
that neglecting babies was a bad
thing for a nation. Social workers
began to organize mother clubs in
the congested districts of the cities
for the purpose of interesting
mothers in the proper care of their
babies. Then along came Mrs. John
Hays Hammond one of the country's s
recognized social leaders, with So
ciety for the better education and
training of rich children. In the
suburbs of richest New York little
woman started a school Of mother
craft. What was the result? Mother
and baby came back into style and
now everybody is talking about bet
ter babies.
The Womans Home Companion, a
magazine which reaches all classes of
mothers, was the first to recognize
the Importance of making babies
fashionable. 1t organized the Better
Babies bureau, whose object was to
spread the better babies contest idea
all over the country. The publishers
recognized that the best way to
preach this beautiful gospel was
through the state and county fairs
This contest is scientific medical
examination of children one year old
and under one year, for physical and
mental development according to
weight and measurement. The judges
are physicians who pass on the baby's
condition. Sturdy limbs, firm flesh
steady nerves, good digestion-these
and not pink cheeks, soft hair and
dimples, make a better baby and a
prize winner. Such a baby is of in.
calcuable value to parents and the
country, for healthy, normal baby
means a healthy desirable citizen.
If you think your baby is in this
class, phone Mrs. Frank DeKay, the
superintendent of the better babe!
contest, who will appoint the houl
for your baby to be examined. II
your baby is up to the standard, II
will win a prize, and even II 1t does
not win a prize, 1t will be given 9
certificate of examination, showing
that it has joined the ranks Of the