Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-16
1000 LITTLE MOTHERS
TAUGHT CARE OF BABY
Child Federation Supervising
Practical Demonstrations to
Glasses in Hygiene.

More than 1000 "little mothers" IN this
city, the majority of them less than "
years old are learning how to care iof
their baby brothers and sisters through
the hot summer months by witnessing
| practical demonstrations in baby ny
| giene" on a life-size baby doll.
| The work of instruction is being carried
on by the Child Federation, under the
supervision of Mrs. William N. Bradley.
| She has organized a new branch of the
| Little Mothers League" in an effort to
| reach the thousands of homes in the
poorer sections of the city, where the
sweltering heat brings the infant mortal
lily rate to an appalling high figure. y
| The baby-saving classes are intensely
popular. They are conducted every Tues
| day afternoon, the majority Of them out
doors. in 80 well-chosen locations, such as
school play grounds, recreation centres,
settlements, hospital dispensaries and Vo-
cational schools. Each class is under the
direction of two teachers, who follow
plan of instruction outlined by physicians
connected with the Child Federation, and
I detailed methods of practical instruction
given them each Tuesday at a teachers
class conducted at the School for Social
Service, 425 South 18th street.
LITTLE MOTHERS" PUPILS IN PAST
The little mothers" were not unac-
quainted with work done by the Child
Federation In lettering conditions in their
neighborhoods. They had attended
classes in which general sanitation was
taught during the winter, and when 1t
was announced that the Little Mothers
League would convene for its first sum-
mer session July the news spread rap
idly. On that day girls trudged for miles
over the hot city streets to attend the
demonstrations.
They were not disappointed. On the
contrary, they were astonlshed to find
their instructors equipped with a baby
doll, Just like 1t was real" baby clothes,
sleeping basket, bath tub and all other
paraphernalia necessary for the thorough
care. of the baby The first lesson was on
lifting and handling the baby, the next
on dressing, and Tuesday of next week
the "little mothers" will be instructed
in the sanitation of the baby's home.
The league will continue its summer
course until early in September, and in
the meantime the lessons are becoming
more and more popular and there Is an
ever increasing demand for instruction in
localities not touched at present But the
cost of establishing such classes is an
important item. The Child Federation
this week opened a Little Mothers
League" branch at the Southern Home
for Destitute Children, and the equip
ment, costing S2O is the last at its dis
pOsai.
. TAKE PRIDE IN ORGANIZATION.
The children take great pride in their
organization. Each wears blue and
gold button encircled with the words,
Child Federation" and enclosing the
legend, Little Mothers League" At
tendance is recorded and at the end of
the summer each of the pupils will re-
ceive a "sure-nuff certificate" signed by
Albert Cross, managing director of the
federation, and Mrs. William N. Bradley,
their supervisor.
When the girls have been graduated"
they will have learned to look for pins
when the baby cries; they win know that
to lift child by the arms may disloint
the shoulder blades; that to kiss a child
on the mouth is to endanger it's health,
and that the fly is deadly enemy, TO be
''swatted" on every occasion. They will
recognize the "wnoop" of whooplng
cough and the spots denoting measles.
The little mother will be competent to
care for the babies feeding bottles, baths
and clothing, and will know that pacl-
fiers are to be regarded with suspicion.
They will not "spoil' the baby by picking
1t up whenever 1t cries, nor Will they per-
NIT the sucking of thumbs or other bad
baby habits.
Mrs. Bradley pronounces tho Little
Mothers League" terrific success -
and asserts that there are no longer any
doubts as 10 the permanency of the work
THE mothers of these little girls are
hard to reaeh," she said. MANY of
them do not even speak English, but by
following out our plan of prevention
rather than cure, a work is being ae-
complished which will have a telling eff
feet on future generations, when these
girls themselves have become mothers"