Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-06
CLOTHING BABIES
TO PREVENT COLDS
Most Frequent Causes Are Lack
of Proper Clothing for Outing
and for Sleeping.

This is the twelfth of series of articles
for the Mothers Column, contributed by
the medical consultant Of the state
Reconstruction Commission, and submit
ted by the commission through the clear
ing house of the Delaware State Program:
COLDS.
A cold as we know is caused ny germs
These germs are present at all tunes on
the mucus membrane (the thin covering
on the insidel of the mouth and nose
These. however, would not cause a cold,
IL something did not lower the vitality ot
this membrane so that it-could not resist
the germs. The cause of this lowering OF
vitality is the exposure of some rather
larger portion of the skin to cold.
Now what are the most frequent causes
of colds in babies? One of them Is the use
of the pretty. lacy, flmy baby caps which
are in common use. The baby on beng
dressed for an outing, is swathed IN guam
titles of clothes. but the large surface OF
fsce and head is hardly covered at all.
Thin skull caps should he used during the
cold weather, under the ordinary cap.
Another frequent cause Is the kicking oil
of bed clothes The baby Is put to ted.
The temperature OF the room Is from ~
10 Is degrees, Fahrenheit During the
night the temperature falls. The baby
kicks off the bed clothes. In dong so, he
gets up a perspiration. Alter getting the
clothes off, the skin surface cOols rapidly,
causing a lowering OF vitality and subse-
uuent cold. The remedy for this is TO
PIN the clothes on the bed, to keep the
room temperature from falling below 90
to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and to provide
sleeping suits for the use of the baby.
A third FREQUENT cause is allowing the
baby to play on the floor without ample
protection from drafts. This Is a partcu-
iarly bad practice, for not only IS he liable
to catch cold, there always being drafts
near the floor, but there Is always some
dust and dirt there, which in great many
instances carry harmful germs. In ar
ranging a place for the baby TO play dur
ing the day, it IS often impractical to keer
that careful watch over his movements
which is necessary If ne is allowed to PLAY
on his bed or chair Therefore, very
rood arrangement is to have a pen Will
high sides which can he draped or paddcC
in such n manner as to prevent drafts iron
striking the baby. The ideal arrangement
i probably that of CRIB with high sides
such rs are on sale at nearly every tuTnl
ture or department store. his combine:
all the advantages of the pen on the t1ool
and raises the baby above any possible
floor drafts.
Regarding the treatment Of colds, there
is very little that can be done without ad
vice from doctor. 4 cold IS a very diff
fcult disease 70 treat, but it IS condition
which should not lie neglected. Every
mother should have a thermometer, anc
if YOUR baby has cold, keep . careful
watch of his temperature, and i It goei
m to over 100 degrees. be sure and see ;
doctor If YOU have not already done so.
Colds are contagious. Therefore, II th'
parents or other members Of the family
have cold. be sure and keep the baby
away from them Never use the sam,
handkerchief to wipe the baby's nose
that is being used by another member o
the family Even the youngest infant has {
right To his own private one.
Remember that the best way to avoid
colds in your baby IS to dress him warmly
for out Of doors, with sufficient head Gov
ering; be sure that he keeps covered a
night; do not let the temperature Of tn,
room get too low at night; keep him Of
the floor and avoid contact with person.
suffering with colds