Milford chronicle., 1920-03-12
MOTHERS COLUMN
Contributed by the Medical Consult
ant of the State Reconstruc-
ton Commission.)
BABY'S FIRST MONTH
PART THREE

Next we will consider the matter
of the baby's clothes. The list found
later in this article may be useful 1t
is confined to only the bare necessi-
ties. and may be elaborated to almost
any extent. There are some very def
mite rules, however, that are to be
carefully regarded.
The old-fashioned long clothes
should never be used as they hamper
the baby's movement and thus inter-
/ fere with his only means of exercise.
/ Clothing should be loose to permit
growth, and free movement of the
/ limbs. The underclothing should be
made of some loosely woven material
and not of heavy goods which will
prevent ventilation. OF course, the
goods will vary in weight with the
time of the year In summer, wool
and cotton or cotton may be used-in
winter, wool or wool and silk. All
clothes should be fastened with tapes
and not with pins. The only pin that
is allowable is the one that fastens
the diaper.
On hot summer days it is good
plan to remove all the baby's clothes
in the afternoon for a short time and
let him cool off, being careful, OF
course, not to permit him to be in
draft This applied to babies of all
ages after the first two weeks.
List of clothes follows: Three fan
mel binders (1-2 yd. of q in. fiannel);
three shirts of wool and cotton or
wool and silk; two flannel petticOats;
two flannel or knitted sacques; two
pair of worsted socks; two dozen dia- /
pers, 22X24 in; four white muslin /
slips; one cloak; one warm cap; one /
pair mittens; one veil; two blankets;
one can of talcum powder; two pack
ages of safety pins assorted sizes); /
two bath towels; two soft towels; soft
pieces of cloth for face, ears, etc.
'Layettes," or sets of baby clothes,
may be purchased at some of the
Child Health Centers. The nurses will
gladly advise you in the matter of
clothes if you will inquire there
All clothes should be put on over
the baby's feet and not pulled on over
his head.
Regarding the baby's bed! He
should always sleep alone. 1t is ex-
tremely bad for him to sleep with his
parents. Many babies are suffocated
in bed every year. This can happen
more easily than can be imagined, ;
and is one of the saddest mishaps that
can occur. {
The baby should sleep in crib, not !
in a cradle. Rocking either in a era
die or in the arms is very injurious. A J
large clothes basket can be made into 7
a very attractive crib. A mattress, {
not necessarily an expensive one, is
placed in the bottom of the basket I
md covered with blanket and a rub
DER protection sheet A great pile of t
bed clothes should not be put on the t
)aby to keep him warm. The room d
should be warm enough without this {
md the weight of great many
clothes will interfere with his move S
nents. Netting should be provided v
or use on the crib in summer as no =
natter how well a house or room is
screened it is practically impossible
o keep out all flies or mosquitoes,
10Th of which often cause diseases
hat are very dangerous.
Handling of the baby should be
voided as much as possible. 1t is a
reat temptation to take him up, rock
nd pet him when he cries, but it
hOuld not be done. 1t is the surest
Iay to spoil your baby, as it makes
IN fretful during his waking hours.
his in turn worries the mother who
robably has other things to do, af-
scts her digestion and thereby her
lilk. Thus you can easily see what
,r-reaching affects a spoiled, fretful r.
lcy may have on his own and his
lother's health