The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-06-15
CARE OF THE
 BABY IN SUMMER
CPrepared by the Children's Bureau,
 U. S. Department of Labor)

 A baby must be kept as cool as
 possible in summer, because over heating is a direct cause of summer diarrhea. Even breast-fed babies find it hard to resist the weakening l effects of excessive heat. Records show that thousands of babies, most | of whom ace bottle-fed, die every year in July and August, because of ! the direct or indirect effects of the heat Next in importance to right 1 food in summer are measures for keeping the baby cool and comfort | able; frequent baths, lighter clothing, and the selection of the coolest avail able place for him to play and sleep. 1 A baby should have a. full tub bath 1 every morning. If he is restless and the weather is very hot, he may have in. addition one or two sponge baths a day. A cool bath at bedtime some | times makes the baby sleep more water should be tepid, that is, it should feel neither hot nor cold to l the mothers elbow. For an older baby 1t may be slightly cooler, but should not be cold enough to chill or frighten him.
 If the water is very hard a, table spoonful of borax dissolved in a lit- | tie water may be added to three quarts of water to soften it. Very little soap should be used and that ] tile. Never rub the soap directly on the baby's skin, and be sure that 1t is thoroughly rinsed off, as a, very troublesome skin disease may re- suit if a harsh soap is used or If soap is allowed to dry on the skin.
 Use a. soft wash cloth made from a piece of old table linen, towel, knitted underwear, or any other very soft material, and have two pieces, one for the face and head and one for the body. The twoel should be soft and clean also. Even in sum ner the baby should be protected firm a direct draft when being bath ed. lest he be too suddenly 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-sp1ash about in the cool water for a 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 ta1curn powder or sifted corn starch under the arms and in the groin to prevent chafing. If any redness, chafing or eruption like prickly heat, develops ons the skin, no soap at all should be used in the bath. Sometimes a starch, or bran, or soda both will relieve such conditions.
 Bran bath-Make a. little bag of cheesec1oth and put a. cupfuI of ordi- nary bran in it and sew or tie the top. Let this bag soak in the bath, squeezing it until the water is milky.
 Starch bath-Use a cupfu1 of or dinary cooked starch to a gallon of water. Of the laundry starch has had any thing added to it, such as salt, lard, oil. bluing. it must not be used for this purpose.)
 Soda bath-Disso1ve tablespoon full of ordinary baking soda in a lit tie water and add it to four quarts of water.
 Clothing-Do not be afraid to take off the baby's clothes in summer. All he needs in hot weather are the dia- per and one other garment. For young baby this may be a. sleeveless band which leaves the arms and chest bare, and for an older baby, only a loose thin cotton slip or apron, or wrapper, made in one piece with short kimono sleeves. Toward nightfaI1 when the day cooIs, or if the temper ature drops when a. storm arises, the baby should, of course, be dressed in such a way as to protect him from chill.
 Cotton garments are best for the baby in summer. All-woo1 bands, shirts, and stockings should not be worn at any time of the year, and in hot summer weather only the thin nest, a1l-cotton clothing should touch the baby's skin unless he is sick when a very light part-wool band may be needed. In general neither wool nor starch should be allowed in the baby's clothing in summer. Wool is too hot and irritating and starched garments scratch the baby's flesh. The baby should be kept day and night in the coolest place that can Io Irif 3eT he hottest room in the house, especially if coal or wood is burned for fuel. While the mother is busy with her work the baby should be kept in an other room, or better, out of doors, if he can be protected from flies and
 mosquitoes.
 A play pen, such as is described in Infant Care, a booklet published by the ChiIdren's Bureau and sent free on request, makes it possible to leave the baby safely by himself on the porch or in the yard, after he is old enough to creep
 A screened porch on the shady side of the house is a boon to every moth CT. affording a cool, secure place for the baby to play and also to sleep Let him have his daytime maps on the porch and sleep there at night during the heat
 Do not be afraid of fresh air for the baby He can not have too much of It. N1SnC ar Is SOInoI1IneS even pet ter than day air, because it has been cooled and cIeansed of dust by the dew.
 The essentials in the summer care of babies are:
 Proper food, given only at reg u1ar intervals.
 "A clean body.
 Fresh air, day and night. 4-Very little clothing.
 5-CooI places to play and sleep in.
 Do not give the baby medicine of any sort unless it is ordered by the doctor. Never give him patent rem edies which are said to relieve the pain of teething, or to make him sleep, or to cure diarrhea, for such medicines are likely to do the baby much more harm than good, especially in summer when the digestion is so