The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1916-01-22
Care Of the Baby in Winter
prepared by the Children's Bureau,
u. S. Department of Labor)

u. .. department. VI LdUOI J
So much emphasis is constantly |
placed upon the necessity for special |
care of the baby in summer, when !
the heat is excessive and diarrheal
diseases at their worst, that the fact |
that winter, too, has its special dan
gers for the baby is sometimes over
looked.
But the combination of heat and
diarrhea is hardly more serious for the
baby in the months of July and Aug
ust, than are cold and respiratory dis
eases in winter.
1t is plain then, that the winter care
of the baby deserves special attention
from everyone interested in his health
and well-being.
1t has been demonstrated quite con-
clusively that large part of the
deaths from summer diarrhea are
needless, because this disease may be
cured in many cases, and prevented
entirely in many more by the proper
care and feeding of the baby during
the heated months. The same doc
trine is now being applied to the
group of what are commonly called
winter disease" of babies and chill
dren, namely, bronchitis, pneumonia,
colds, and the like, which are, like
diarrhea, to large extent, prevent
able by the intelligent care of the
baby, and by surrounding him with
Droner living conditions
These proper living conditions con-
sist both in winter and summer of
suitable food, in the right amounts,
at the right times, cleanliness, suffi-
cient sleep, plenty of fresh, clean air
to breathe, and protection from expos
ure to infectious diseases. 1t is chief
ly the lack of these two latter re-
quirements that causes the winter i'll
nesses among babies.
1t is not the cold of. winter which
makes people sick, ordinarily, but
rather the stale over-heated air inside
our houses and public buildings,
which we breathe and re-breathe, thus
passing disease germs about from
one to another. Babies are partic-
ularly liable to be infected in this
way because they spend a large part
of their time indoors, and because
mothers are apt to feel that to keep
the baby warm the rooms must be
kept shut tight.
A mother should use every means
IN her power to protect her baby from
stoI noId - ac &c nnnan1nn1xy do.
scribed Colds" are due to a germ
and are very contagious, being easily
passed from one person to another in
coughing or sneeZing. A nursing
mother with a cold should tie thin
cloth or veil over her mouth and nose
while nursing the baby, and should
be careful never to cough or sneeze in
! his face, nor kiss him on the mouth.
/ She should be particularly careful not
to use her own handkerchief for the
baby, nor sleep with him, while the
disease lasts. Many babies contract
/ these colds by being taken up and
/ kissed by visitors, and it is a wise
rule to keep the baby away from
/ the presence of people who are
coughing and sneezing. The reason
/ for this great care as regards baby
is that contagious cold is very often
! the forerunner of bronchitis and
pneumonia, which diseases cause the
babies every year, and which are in
finitely easier to prevent than to cure.
| Fresh air is the most effective
weapon with which TO fight the dis
eases of the respiratory tract. This
does not necessarily mean cold air
for cold air may be stale, and warm
air may be pure. The ventilation OF
most American houses is faulty
since in order to keep them warm
enough to suit us we shut them SC
tightly as to make the air unfit to
breathe, after a few hours. TIC
counteract this tendency mothers
should see to it that all the occupied
rooms of the house are thoroughly
aired at least twice every day in the
coolest weather, while in moderate
weather there should be as nearly
constant a supply of fresh air through
OuL Tic hOuoS, hi6nI anu udJS 40 Noh
be managed.
When the temperature outside is
very low, the baby should be taken
into a warm room while his nursery
is being aired, and at night, his bed
should be shielded from direct
draft. If there is communicating
room, the window in that room may
be opened, if there is danger of chill
ing the air of his sleeping room.
II the cold is excessive, or if there
is raw, damp wind blowing or rain
or snow is falling, the baby should be
given his daily airing in room with
the windows open, or on a protected
porch, dressing him warmly in out-of
door clothing He should be taken
out during the middle of the day, fol
little while, never long enough tc
run the risk of chilling him. This
applies especially to young and del
icate babies. AS a child gets old
enough to walk about and thus exer
else himself, he can be allowed to
play for some time in an open room
or where he is sheltered from the
wind
But an airing every day does moi
take the place of fresh air in the