The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-06-18

(Ry L. A. Riser, M. D., in charge
Department Rural Sanitation and
County Health Work, S. c. Board
of Health).
The Care OF slae Baby.
This article is written for the moth
ers and fathers, and sor the boys and
girls, too, for the latter are often the
ones WHO have a great deal of the
care of their small sisters and broth
ers, and it is very necessary that tney
know something OF how to keep the
baby we'll and happy. A well BABY
is always a happy baby and most OF
the sickness of babes is entirely un-
necessary for it is too often due to
improper care, improper food ana
improper clothing.
The baby is very sensitive to heat
and cold. In our hot summer wealth
er we very often keep the baby too
hot. AS the hot days come on we
should think not Of how much heat
we can keep in, but how much we
can let out, and We let QUIT his heat
by light thin clothes. Bad colds come
on more often after the baby has
beer made too hot than after it has
gotten too cold.
During Baby Week. which was re-
Gently observed by one Of our coun-
ty health departments, the doctor IN
charge wrote me Of 2 baby which was
brought to the clinic clad in three
heavy flannel skirss made long so
they could fold back and thus double
the amount Of wrappings, over TINS
was put the infants dress and then
it was wrapped in heavy wooden
shawl This was in May in one OF
our southern courties. Every baoy
should have a bath once a day. lt
should be put in tub of water
neither too hot nor too cold. only the
head being kept out Of the water.
lie the baby have plenty Of fresh
air, keep all the doors and windows
open and be sure they are screened
| to keep out flies and mosquitoes. 1t
seldom gets too cold in South Carolina
to take the baby out in the tresn
air. wrap it up and keep strong sun
light out Of its eyes.
Baby should haze plenty of sleep
and should not be disturbed Let the
baby sleep by itself. Everybody is en-
titled to two things. his own tooth
brush and his OWE bed. 1t you
haven't a small crib take clothes
basket. This makes dandy BED
and you have no IDEA how baby will
enjoy it until you try it. Please don't
give the baby pacider or soothing
syrup. 1 know you are sorely tempt
ed at times. The baby is not toy
don't handle it like one-be gentle
with it.
The best food in the world for a
BABY is mothers milk. Sometimes
artificial feeding is absolutely neces-
sary. Great care is needed in hot
weather when a baby is bottle fed. Ten
bottle fed babies die to every one
breast fed baby. Ii cows milk is fed
it should be pastueriZed. Pastuerlz-
ers can be had for q few dollars, but
if you can't get one milk may De
pastuerized by putting the proper
number of feelings for twenty-four
hours each in separate bottle. put
some absorbent cotton in the bottles
for shoppers. Then put them IN warm
water in a deep covered vessel. orl1 :;
it to the boiling point. then take OH
the fire and let the bottles remain IN
the water thirty minutes. rms IS
better than boiling. After three
months of age aroage juice should
be given to bottle fed babies. a
ia tablespoonful or more may be taken
once day.
Don't forget to give the baby wa
ter. Boil the water and then cool 1t.
Babies suffer for drink of water IN
hot weather just as grown folks 90.
If you have cough or cold keep
away from the baby. and even II you
are we'll. don't kiss the baoy on the
mouth. Contagious disease is often
given the baby in this way. It the
baby gets sick send FOR the doctor
don't put it off. :;