Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-07-16
PUBLIC WELFAR E DEPT.
By Miss Margaret Thomas
Health Nurse
Babies and Their Care


AS this is such a vitality important
subject, | cannot give all the points
that are necessary in this space but Ill
my office l have government pamph-
lets ON the care of babies which | will
be more than glad to furnish to anyone
wishing them. The fundamental prin-
ciples of healthy living are practically
the same for all ages but from the
time when physical growth and devel-
opment are completed, until we pass
the point of greatest activity and vital
ity, we naturally have greater resist
ance with which to cope against I'M
favorable conditions.
Babies like other young animals ana
plants are exceedingly sensitive ito
their environment and succumb easily
to unfavorable conditions as is midi
Gated in our statistics which show that
from IA to % babies out of every 100,
born in the registration area of the
United States, die before one year OF
age. Yet in some Amerlcna cities
where the infant welfare work has
been extensively carried on the rate
has been reduced to below 10 out Of ev-
cry 100: while in New Zealand, as a
result of the work of the Society for
the health of women and children, the
infant death rate has been reduced to
about out of every 100. Yet today
we are still, on the whole, less success
full in keeping babies alive than we are
in raising domestic animals. This
comes from several different causes.
First we pay little attention as to who
will he the parents of our children.
We all have a right to be well born
but how many inherit that right?
Then there is the prenatal care OF
the mother and the care of her and
the child at time Of birth, both OF
which are important but which are
greatly neglected especially in a new
and rural country. Every rural coun-
ty like our own should finance a
maternity department at the hospital
where mother and babe could be cared
for. for at least two weeks at nominal
expense. 1t would be a profit to the
community.
Through the care of district nurses
associations III the large cities, the
death rate of babies in the wards where
the mothers have prenatal care and
advice. has been reduced to half OF
that in uncared for districts. Also the
rate of still births is reduced one-halt
Third. there is the ignorance or in
difference as to the care and feeding OF
babies and young children, which is
evident in the children after they reach
the school age as well as the number
of deaths before reaching that age.
This fact is brought out by Sir Ar
thur NeWShOlm, an eminent English
authority, who says: Infant mortal
| ity is the most sensitive index we pos
sess of social welfare. If babies were
we'll born and we'll cared for, theil
mortality would be negligible. The III
| FAINT death rate measures the intelll-
gence. health, and right living of faith
ers and mothers, the standards OF
morals and sanitation of communities
and governments, the efficiency of ply
sicians. nurses, health officers, and
educators"
Some of the principles for the babies
care ere:
Quiet. A baby's nervous system
is very sensitive to being handled by
people who are nervous and eXcitable.
Most. of it's time should be spent in
quiet and sleep. for it's most important
growth and development are taking
place. Nervous habits formed then
may last through life. 1t should have
it's own basket or bed and not be
rocked, jiggled, or sleep with others.
Baby should have plenty of fresh
air and sunshine, for it needs more
than anyone else, but the sun should
not shine directly in its eyes. Babies
are also very sensitive to Over-heating
and only too frequently are dressed too
warmly in the summer time and kept
in a hot close place.
3 Baby needs freedom of motion in
stead of being wrapped up tightly in
blankets or quilts and the motion as
we'll as the air denied. A certain
amount of crying is necessary for its
muscular and lung development, but
there are different kinds OF cries which
need distinction.
The clothing should be simple
and hang from the shoulders with no
binding bands around the waist or
things pinned so as to Obstruct the mo-
ton of the legs. Babies are happiest
when undressed night and morning
and allowed freedom of motion. Also
thnir nillnw or rnattresS should be flat