South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-09
From Trundle Bed
To Modern Nursery
Sunniest Room in the House
Should Be Fitted Up
for the Riddles.

even the nursery of % years ago,
with the nursery of today? That way
back nursery would be a nightmare
in this enlightened age. 1t was usual
~ an open attice with rafters and
tiny window at each end. AS a rule
the children did not sleep there Little
trundle beds were used, which were
kept under the beds of the parents or
nurses during the day TO get them out
of the way and pulled out at night,
just as berths in sleepers are, all
packed away under and over the seats
during the day. Convenient, perhaps,
but not the healthiest way in the world
to keep bedding.
The up-tO-date nursery, however, is
very different matter. The very big
gest and sunniest room in the house
should be chosen. If the children are
to sleep in the nursery, care should
be taken that it is thoroughly aired at
every pportunity-during meals and
when the children are out for their
airing. The furniture should be white
enameled. Iron white enameled beds
or cribs should be used, and all furni-
ture should be painted with white
enamel. This is not only from the
artistic point of view. but because of
sanitation. ParadoXical though it may
seem at q glance, when we take into
consideration that white shows every
little finger print, it is for this very
| reason that it should be used in a
nursery. The finger prints will be
washed off the white almost as quickly
as they appear, while II the wood is
dark they are very apt to remain for
| the weekly or monthly reno ating.
Sand COlOred Paper Best.
With white for the foundation for
| the nursery, the next thing to be taken
into consideration is the wall paper.
| Is perhaps best 1t has proved less
trying on the eyes than other cdlCrs
| and has not the glare of white, and
| the glare of white walls is injurious 10
| the eyes. The sand color, too, is a
very good neutral background for the
nursery pictures in which TO brinS out
the bright colors children love.
Hangings and bed coverings in the
nursery should be of the lightest ma
| terial procurable. and washable. Gre
tonnes with figures are good for up
, holstering, and window curtains can
! be made of any light, airy wash goods
| that can be purchased for few cents
| a yard.
For the bed or crib the down silk
| coverlet is very pretty, and also appro-
| pirate as it is very dEht. 1t is good
/ idea, however, TO make an extra cover
! for it, either of cheeseclOth or of silk,
| from time to time. This should be
4 simply a big bag to fit over the COM
| Portable, open and fastened with rib
/ bon at one end.
Now that the child has an attractive
/ spot to sleep and play, the next thing
! to consider is a place for the toys.
! This is next in Importance to the COM
! fort and sanitation of the room, for
! from earliest babyhOod a child may be
taught the value of everything in its
place by simply providing the place.
Ordinary wooden dry goods boxes
may be used for attractive window
! seats and toy receptacleS for the
| babies Have q carpenter hinge the
! covers to the boxes. Pad the cover
we'll and use cretOnne for the top COW
| ering fastening it down with brass
upholstery tacks. The sides of the
1 boxes should also be covered with the
same material. This will give seats not
( too high for the comfort of tiny chill
| dren, and at the same time place for
them to put their smaller toys. Each
| child should have its own.
Low Table Important Adjunct.
| Another adjunct to the nursery, and
! a very important one, is table low
| enough for the child to reach, and for
| the parent or nurse to sit down 10
/ when dressing the baby. About 20
! inches from the floor is a good height.
/ 1t has been found more convenient
/ and safe to dress the baby on a table
rather than in the lap, as the child
\ can be moved about more readily,
without danger of straining the arms
/ or legs in getting them into civilized
! garments. The 2O-inch table Will also
/ be found low enough for the children's
! nursery meal.
table for the baby learning TO
walk will also be found useful Just
as soon as a child finds its feet and
/ legs willsuppOrt it, those feet and legs
are put to use constantly. There is
! nothing n baby so loves as to make
| the circumference of a table sup
| porting the wabbly little legs by the
aid of its hands, providing the table
| is low enough.
/ Children are often backward in
! learning to walk through lack of con-
/ fdence. though they will stand if you
give them a chair. The low table will
be found to greater advantage, as II
I does not move so readily from under
1 the child. and as the child does not
4 have to stoOp to reach 1t. TOY
placed on a table just the rl5ht helent
/ will so interest the child that II VIII
/ unconsciously support itself and take
| the first steps. and it is better than
/ the patented walking machine. Care
should be used not to let the baby
| stand too long.
Another point for the nursery and
the teaching of order early in life Is
! the nursery closet. Unfortunately the
hooks in the ordinary clothes press
are out of reach of children. 1t Is
/ largely due TO this that children early
\ learn to leave their things about. The
/ nursery closet should have rows Of
hooks low enough for the youngsters
to reach. The upper part OF the closet
can be filed UP with shelves, which
n will be found most useful for storing
things away when not in use.
Remember. always, in fitting up
your nursery, that the main thinS Is
10 give the child every convenience
conductive 20 self-eXpression, ano
guide rather than lead your children