The Washington times., 1924-08-12
PARENTS LEARN
BABIES Thrive
IN WATER
Swimming Cures Sickness,
and, Taken Up in Time,
Prevents It
By international News Service.

BY International News Service.
BOSTON, Aug. 12.-Modern moth.
ers and fathers are learning that
the old rhyme was all wrong. In.
stead Of making it. their motto they
have turned for guidance to an old.
fashioned fairy tale that wasn't
such a fairy tale after all-Charles
Kingsley's charming story, 1.-THE
Water Babies"
Within the whimsical account of
the chimney-sweep who fell into the
river and became a water baby
and healthier and happier than he
had been in all his life before,
scientists now decide a great fun.
damental truth lies.
Water, they say, Is the natural
element of youngsters. Expert
ments prove. that babies should be
dropped into the water almost as
soon as they open their eyes-and
taught to swim at about the same
moment they are taught to walk!
Babies are naturally amphibi.
Gus" explain physicians, instruc-
tors and children's experts. "They
take to water like little ducks,
given the chance And now that
, we are. discovering how much
strength and healing the water
holds for them, we plan to turn
them loose in sea and lakes and
rivers"
OF course, the movement to make
water babies of American children
upsets many old.fashioned notions
Of fathers and mothers.
But Don't Go Near"
Not very long ago they were
careful to see that baby's swim.
ming" stopped at the wet line of
the beach where the waves rolled
in. Baby was allowed to dig in
the sand-but he wasn't permitted
to go near the water.
Accordingly, many boys and girls
have grown up with a curious fear
of the sea. They never have
known how to swim. The result is
that they are getting out of life
only half of what they might, as
the new teaching insists, and as
Mr.. Kingsley's old story proves.
Every baby in the land can have
what the water has given those
children" they say. Bathing and
swimming is almost a panacea. 1t
hardens the muscles, increases
weight, tones up appetite. creates
blood, stimulates circulation, i'm.
proves the skin, develops the chest,
quickens the faculties. 49,
"A perfectly healthy baby NAV
safely look forward to long, sue
cessful hfe. And health is the
greatest OF all the treasures we
have taken out Of the sea-"
Modern Water Babies.
Most modern water babies are to
be found on the beaches OF Florida
ana California resorts. Little Gloria
Caruso, daughter Of the late tenor,
was one of the best child swim
mers at Palm Beach last season.
She is pink and white five-year-
old, dainty as a flower. Yet she
never in her life has had a days
illness
Young Jackie OFT, also five. is
called "Miami's Marvel" because
of his prowess as a swimmer. Every
day, hot or cold, Jackie spends his
three hours bathing, swimming and
making high dives from a mans
size springboard.
There is another point in favor
or the pro.water scientists.
1T should not be necessary to
each a baby to swim,' they say.
IF babies are put into the water
when they are young enough to
have no fear, they will learn to
swim naturally. When they be-
come accustomed to the new ele-
ment. they will take the strokes.
just as they move their arms and
legs in creeping to get from one
place to another.
IF the child is old enough TO
sense the difference between water
and the land and is likely to be
struck with the terror of the un.
known. water-wings or some such
mechanical aid to keeping on the
surface may be given him.
Relaxation Important.
But as soon as the younester
can keep afloat the wings should
be taken away. For they suggest
the need Of fear and prevent the
baby from relaxing as he should.
And, OF course, relaxation is most
important. Fighting water destroys
all the benefit Of the swim"
In his works on Bathing for
Health" DR.. Edwin F.. Bowers
states that many diseases of chill.
dren are healed by water. Among
them are ricketts, and other diseases
resulting from mal.nutrition, which
improve when treated by short,
cold dips.
DIR. Bowers likewise recommends
longer baths for childish fits of
temper" Indeed. it is possible
that the new water baby may be
corrected and punished as was Tom
the chimney.sweep, by being
dropped into quiet pool and
ordered to remain there until the