The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-07-27
CARE OF FlYTHE BABY IN SUMMER.
Help for City Mothers in the Care of
 the Baby.

the BaOX.
 There is no doubt that the prob lens which arise in taking care of a baby in summer are more difficult for the city mother than for the one who lives in a, village or in the coun- try.
 overerowded houses. lack of fresh air, of sunshine, and of open spaces for play and out Of door life make very hard conditions under which to try to rear healthy children.
 During the. summer months in most of the larger cities there is an enormous increase in the number or sick babies. many of whom fail to survive this period. These wei-knoWn facts have led to the establishment all over the country of what are known as InfantfN elfare or Milk Sta tfons. These stations are rooms in charge of trained nurses and pfys1- clans, to which any mother who de- sires may bring her baby for help ana advice in his care
 The object of these welfare stations is to keep the babies well, and to pre- vent illness by watching the babies closely and by teaching the mothers how to take care of them If baby is found to be sick the mother is re- ferred to her own physician if she has one If not she is usually sent to a dispensary. The principal factor in keeping the baby well is to have him properly fed. Accordingly the physician who cares for the baby should direct this very carefuiiy. 1T the mother has no physician, the sta ton doctor will examine the baby and ordert a diet for him. The nurses will be glad ito assist the mother in following out his directions, and will visit her in her home for this pur- pose.
 These stations are sometimes main tafned by the city and sometimes by a. private society. The mother can find out the location of the station nearest her home from the papers, or by inquiring of the health officer
 The baby is weighed at each visit, and examined to see if he needs any special care If so, the doctor ex- plains to the mother. The baby should be brought back to the station at regular intervals in order that the doctor and nurse can watch him In this way much of the illness rom which babies suffer can be prevented and mothers and babies spared a great deal of suffering.
 The mother who is expecting the birth of a baby should go to the sta ton about once a month during her pregnancy for advice about herselI- The doctor and nurse will tell her what food it is best for her to eat, how to take care of the breasts and nipples, and help her to prepare for the baby's coming in the best way
 If she is suffering from any ai1- ment, such as vomiting, verbose veins, headache or swollen feet, she may learn what to do for these trou- bles and if she desires to go to a hospital for the birth the station doc tor will probably be able to arrange the matter for her.
 After the baby is born and the mother is up again she may, if she chooses, send word to the station nurse, who will come to see her, now and then, funti1 the mother is able to take the baby to the station again.
 Mothers who are i'll or worn out with the burdens of home may find in a visit with the baby to such a sta ton unexpected help in their prob lens. Some effort is made to teach mothers the rudirnents of domestic science in the home, when this is needed.
 Mothers especially who go out to work by the day, should try to send the baby to the station by a caretaker, for such babies need the welfare sta tion's help even more than others.
 If some member of the family is sick, other than the baby, and the baby is registered at the station, the nurses and doctors there will usually be able to advise her where and how to seek assistance.
 These infant welfare stations are intended for the use of all mothers in the neighborhood who need help in the care of their babies, and no one needing it, should fail to avail herself of this opportunity