The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1916-05-12
Department Of Health
and Sanitation
Conducted By N. F. Chapman, Of
Myndus, N. NJ, EI-Sanitary In
spsetOr Of State Of Arkansas
AIR AND SUNSHINE
FOR BABY'S GROWTH

Babies need fresh air day and
night. The influence of air and
sunlight must not be neglected in
their nourishment. Fear is some
times expressed that the child TAX
en- into the open air after feeding
may fall asleep. No better thing
could happen to il than to sleep
il properly protected, in the open
air in bright. clear weather. 1t
should be shielded from the wind
and shaded from excessive heat in
summer. but in cool weather the
rays of the sun should be allowed
to fall directly on the body, only
the face being shaded.
In winter newborn babes are not
taken out ordinarily until they
are four weeks old, but in the sum
mer they may be taken out when
they are only two weeks old. Keep
the baby warm when taken out,
unless in midsummer, for the lack
of movement makes it necessary to
protect the child more than if it
we're active.
Sunshine, But Not Glare
GlariRg sunlight is not healthful
sunshine. have seen sleeping
babies in the open air turn and
suuirm in their coaches in an effort
to get away from the bright sun
light. 1t may seem incredible chat
any one should expose an infant in
that way, but il is true that many
ignorant mothers allow the child
to be thus treated and then won
der at its failing eyesight.
Babies living in the country may
take their nap on the veranda in
mild weather and thus get plenty
of fresh air. In order to get his
lungs strengthened, and his blood
purified. a generous supply of oXy-
gen is just as essential as his daily
food, but he must be very gradual
ly accustomed to it. This can best
be done by airing the room thor
Oughly twice a day, and oftener,
if possible. Meanwhile remove the
baby to another room, bringing Il
back again when the room has been
rewarmed to its proper tempera
ture.
In summertime or if living in the
south, the baby may go out for an
airing in his carriage when one
month old, providing the sun is
shining or it is not windy or damp.
but i'm the north it is not often ad
yisable to take the baby out unit
two or more months after birth.
Indoor Airing Beneficial
Many famous baby specialists
say daily airing should take place
in the following manner: Dress the
baby exactly as if he were going
out, put him in a baby carriage,
in a where the windows are
all wide open from the top, close
the doors, so that there may be no
draft, and wheel him around the
room for a quarter of an hour.
gradually lengthening this time
to an hour or two, morning and af-
%ternoOn.
In this way his lungs become
gradually accustomed to taking
in cold air, his color and appetite
will improve and he will be less
likely to take cold than if forced
to breathe furnace heated air all
Hats lAnn AffnH a faV. l,,r. r
Of indoor airing, the child can be
taken out in the open on a mild.
sunny day, but this should not be
done under the age Of four months,
II the temperature is below freez
ing, nor on DAYS when il is 20
degrees or below, until he is a year
old.
In fine weather he should be out
-four or five hours each day. I'm
winter the best hours for this
firing 7 from 10 a. m. to 3 D. m.
in spring and autumn from Q a..
m. to 4 D m, and in midsummer
weather his outings should be TAX
EN- in the early morning and the
evening. He must, however, never
be kept out when the dew begins 10
fall. In the heat of the day he is
better off on a cool veranda.
Damnness and Overheating
The only times when it is not ad-
vtsable to send out a healthy baby
over four months Old, are on foggy
or very windy days. when il is
raining, showing or if the tenn
nerature is below 20 degrees. or
If II is cloudy and there is much
melting snow on the ground On
days like these the indoor airing
can always be substituted. An in
door airing will be preferable af-
ter AN illness, when it is not ad-
vlSable to take a child out in the
open.