Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-13
BETTER CARE FOR BABIES
ny FREDERIC j. HAskIN.

, sent.aily tor we'll babies and It's OBJ
(ect IL 10 keep them well; for II 10
idmehtahie fact that motherhood, the
one professional monopoly of women,
is often the least understood
Routine at the infant welfare center
runs something Ike this: the mother
or young baby hears OF the diet
,kltcntn-e!thcr she reads about il in
me newspaper, o. ncighbor tells her
about IT, or perhaps a visiting nurs.
l"f the society that used TO deliver the
milk explains it's advantages. So day
or Two later she takes tho baoy TO ons
OF the stations. Here he is register
Ell on card OF application. and III.
mother Is told TO bring him tho next
week. y baby must be brought twice
IN Two weeks before he may be enroll
ed on the records OF the station, in
, order 10 prove that the mother is ac-
tualN interested and Intends to come
regularly The second time he is un-
dressed. weighed on large set Of
scales III the front room and then car
rcd into The Kitchen 20 he examined
by the doctor. The results OF the ex.
animation arc written on large rec.
ORD card. together with his date OF
{ birth. original weight history and
hcrcdity
Bnhy Weighed Weekly.
If the baby is in good condition hs
Is returned TO his mother with instruc-
lions 10 bring him weekly To be weigh
ed. Thus each week his weight ia en-
tered on the card. in black ink IL he
has gained and in red ink II he has
lost After this. the card Is given 20
the visiting nurse OF this mothers dis
trict, who follows up the case by cali
ing a. the baby's home and noting its
living conditions. In some instances,
they are very bad For example 1, l..
often difficult 10 convince the parents
that windows arc made so that they
may be opened and that fresh air will
, not XIII their small son. Again. the
nurse IL compelled to insist that thu
baby be washed in bath-tub and
no, in the kitchen sink. Moreover, II
is often hard to make the mother un-
derstand that the baby would be better
Oft sleeping by himself and not with
the three other children. But in almost
: every case the mothers are quite eager
10 learn, and. once converted TO tho
scientific principles of hygiene. they
are careful 10 observe them. The
nurses report is then entered In rad
ink on the back Of the baby's record
card.
In ,he event that the baby is under
weight for his age and shows other
symptoms Of ma!nutrition. the doctor
diagnoses his case and prescribes
special modified milk formula. or clss
4 diet for the mother in order TO i'm
prove the quality of the milk. In every
; instance the doctors strive TO keep the
DIZZY or human fnllki IT pCSSlElS, slHCr
IL is the ideal food for him. In tha
infant welfare centers each baby il
treated as an individual and not az
class. and under no circumstances is no
called lit" If the infant is taken III
while his name Is on the records of tn"
diet kitchen, one of the staff doctors
!" detailed to take over the case and
assume the responsibility Of regular
calls.
Prenatal Conferences.
The infant welfare stations also
conduct prenatal conferences for ex-
pectant mothers, who are instructed by
the nurses in various matters affecting
motherhood. They are advised what
10 cat. what to wear what kind OF
work should be avoided. ard what per-
centaSe OF rest they should have in
! fact they are made to realize that
motherhood is their responsibility to
the race. involving the proper care of
their health in order that their babies
lmay be he"lthfui. These conferences
are often attended by women who are
more than rble TO pay their way i'm the
world; Tor the ignorance that exists on
me SUBJECT is Incredible, ami the in
iant welfare centers are the only
schools in Washington. aside from the
medical universities, which offer such
course of instruction
mere Is always great deal of RI
VARY among the women concerning
60, Pe'iection OF tnelr IN
i""ts. In order to stimulate this pride
rs much as possible the centers occa-
siohallv hold contests in which prizes
are given 10 the physically perfect, and
great is the conscious superiority OF
lhe mother whose offspring wins such
pr'%c' The centers are only two years
ol"' put IN ma time they have grown
enormously. Last month there wsra
nearly Loo babies on the records OF
me washington Diet Kitchen Associa-