The Washington times., 1915-06-15
Bdby'sF Full Tub Bath Each
Morning Proper Start To
Offset Heat Of Summer
Some Suggestions to Mothers Care of Infants During
Heated Season Offered by Chldren's Bureau Bulletin.
Other Articles Will Appear in Columns of The Times.

A baby must be kept as cool as pos
sible In summer, because overheating Is
a direct cause Of summer diarrhea.
Even breast-fed babies find IL hard to
resist the weakening effects of ex-'
cessive heat. Records show that thou
sands of babies. most of whom are
bottle-fed. die every year in July and
August, because OF the direct or indi-
rect effects of the heat. Next in inn
.portance to right food In summer are
measures for keeping the baby cool
and comfortable: frequent baths, light
clothing, and the selection Of the coolest
available place for him to play ana
sleep. .-,..!.,.. ..
, A baby should have a full tub bath
every morning. II he is restless and the
weather is very hot, he may have In ad-
dition one or two sponge baths a day. A
cool bath at bedtime sometimes makes
the baby sleep more comfortably. For a
young baby the water should be tepid,
that is. It should feel neither hot nor
baby 1t may be slightly cooler, but
should not be cold enough to chill or
frighten him. .
II the water is very hard tablespoon
full Of borax dissolved in a little water
may be added to three quarts of water
to soften It. Very little soap should be
used. and that g very. HAND, simple
SOAP. like CASTLE. Never rub the soap
directly on the. bahy.s skin, and be sure
very troublesome. skin. disease. may. re-
suit II harsh soap is used or If soap
is allowed to dry on the skin.
Hints For the Bath.
Use a soft wash cloth made from a
piece of old table linen. towel, knitted
underwear. or any other very soft ma
terial. and have two pieces. one for the
face and head and one for the body.
The towel should be soft and clean also.
Even in summer the baby should be
protected from a direct draft when
being bathed lest he be too suddnly
chilled.
A young baby should be carefully held
while in the tub. The mother puts her
left hand under the baby's left arm and
supports the neck and head with her
forearm. But an older baby can sit
alone and in summer may be allowed to
splash about In the cool water for few
minutes. ~
When the bath is finished the baby
should be patted dry, and the mother
should take great care to see that the
folds and creases Of the skin are dry.
Use a little pure talcum powder or
sifted corn starch under the arms and
IN the groin to prevent chafing. If any
redness. chafing. or eruption. like
prtckly heat, develops on the skin, no
soap at all should be used in the bath.
sometimes a starch. or bran. or soda
bath Will relieve such conditions.
Bran bath-Make a little bag ~sof
cheesecloth and put a cupful of ordi-
nary bran in 1t and sew or tie the top.
Let this bag soak in the bath. squeezing
1t until the water is milky.
Starch .bath-Use a cupful of ordinary
cooked starch to a gallon Of water Uf
the laundry starch has had anything
added to 1t, such as salt. lard, OIL blu
ing. 1t must not be used for this pur-
pose.)
Soda bath-Qissolve a tablespoonful Of
ordinary baking soda in q little water
and add 1t to four quarters of water.
, Clothing-Do not be afraid to take off
the, baby's clothes in summer. All he