The Connecticut labor news., 1922-03-24
Whence-Why-What For!

1 The room should be warm; an open ; fire is desirable in cool weather. The water should be comfortably warm l F. Ii may be tested with the bare elbow, never the hand. However, a l bath thermometer IS best.
 Everything needed should be in readiness before baby is undressed. In small wicker basket, painted white, should be kept a cake of pure white castillo soap, a small bottle ot olive oil, pure talcum powder, borlc acid, four dozen safety pins of assort- ed sizes, and a roll of absorbent cot ton. A clean wash cloth, clean towels, and full set of clean clothing should also be in readiness.
 To undress the baby, take the clothes off over his feet. If held on the lap, large bath towel should be used to prevent his tender skin from coming in contact with the rough or worsted dress and to receive him when lifted out of the tub. More conveniently he may be undressed on table.
 Before putting the baby into the l large towel, and wash his face, head, l and ears, being careful not to get soap into his eyes and mouth. Very l little soap is needed. It is most inn portant that the skin should be rinsed thoroughly. Pat the skin dry with a soft towel, taking care to dry l we'll back of the ears and in the soft 1 folds of his neck. The eyes should be cleansed with absorbent cotton dipped i'll boracic acid solution. An applcator is made by twisting a l small tuft of absorbent cotton upon the end of wooden toothpick iu such a way as to make rounded pad. If made correctly, the cotton will not slip off readily. Be careful not to in 1 jure the ears. It IS better to ask your physician or the nurse to show just how to cleanse them correctly. ! It is we'll to lay bath towel in the bottom of the tub and put i'll only a
 small amount of water at first. If baby is plunged immediately into a
 tub of water, he will be startled and
 may never enjoy a tub bath; but if ! baby's attention IS diverted to some l thing else, he soon learns to enjoy the morning dip.
 First soap the baby's entire body ] thoroughly; then place him in the
 bath, holding him with the left fore ! arm under the neck and shoulders, the left hand under his arm, and lift
 ing his feet and legs with the right
 hand Support him while in the tub
 with the left hand and arm. Sponge l the entire body with the right hand l then lift him out and wrap him in a
 bath towel. Dry carefully with the
 soft towel, batting the skin gently.
 Never rub the baby's tender skin with
 anything less smooth than the palm
 of the hand. A little pure talcum powder may be used in the creases of the skin, under the arms, and around the buttocks; but it should ! not be used so freely as to clog the pores of the skin and never should be used until the skin has been dried
 as thoroughly as possible with the l should not be used.
 1 The bath should be given nearly
 as possible at the same hour each day, at least an hour after feeding, and at first should last only about three
 minutes; later it may last five min l utcs. AS the baby grows older and l stronger he may be allowed to play l in the water for about I5 minutes, for the skin absorbs some water,
 which is beneficial to the system, re- l laxes the muscles, and aids in over
 coming many wrong conditions.