The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-03-19

6AAOdiu OV Q tuU OatAAs <A S0D ID Rt - ferablc to the sponge bath for sew eral reasons. It can be done more quickly and thoroughly, and the baby is not so liable to take cold. The room should be warm, 70-70 degrees fahrenheit, and free from drafts; an open fire is desirable in cold weather. The water should be comfortably warm but not hot, about 90 to 95 degrees fahrenheit. The temperature of the baby's bath may : be tested with the bare, elbows, never with the hand. However. bath thermometer is the best method of testing the water.
 Equipment - Everything needed for the bath should be in readiness before baby is undressed. It is well to have small wicker basket paint ed white, which will contain all the articles necessary for baby's toilet. In this should be kept cake of pure white castillo soap, a small bot tie of olive, pure talcum powder, boric acid, four dozen safety pins of assorted sizes, and roll of ab- sorbent cotton. Besides this, there should be in readiness a clean wash cloth, clean towels, full set of clean clothing.
 Undressing-To undress the baby, take the clothes off over his feet. If held on the lap, a large bath towel should be placed acros the lap to prevent his tender skin from coming in contact with the rough or worsted dress, and to receive him when he is lifted out of the tub. A more con- venient way of bathing the baby is to undress him on table instead of the lap. After undressing the baby, wrap him in a small blanket or large haf1 rx,I,i1 al, tv1ev hfc for
 Washing baby's face-Before put. ting the baby into the tub, wash his. face, head, and ears, being careful not to get Soap into his eyes and mouth. Very little soap is needed for baby's skin. It is most impor- tant that the skin should be rinsed Thoroughly. Pat the skin dry with a soft towel taking care to dry well back of the ears and in the soft folds of the neck.
 Do Not Wash Month
 Do not wash a healthy baby's mouth, on account of the danger of infection. When the teeth appear, however, they may be cleaned with a soft, clean cloth, and when the baby is older, with a soft tooth brush and cooled boiled water.
 The inner corners. of the eyes should be cleansed with small pad of absorbent cotton dipped in boric acid solution.
 Crusts are removed from the nos- trils with an applicator dipped in sterile olive oil. An applicator is made by twisting small tuft of ab- sorbent cotton upon the end of a wooden tooth pick in such a way as to make.a rounded pad. If made correctly, the cotton will not slip off readily. Be careful not to 'njure the ears. It is better to ask your physician or the nurse to show you just how to cleanse the ears cor rectly.
 The tub bath-It is wIll to lay a bath towel in the bottom of the tub and put only small amount of water in at first so as not to frighten the baby. If baby is plunged imme- diately into a tub of water, 1t be- comes startled and may never enjoy a tub bath; whereas if the water is added gradually; the baby's attention in the meantime being attracted to something else. he soon learns to en- joy the morning dip.
 Before placing baby in the tub, soap tke. entire body thoroughly; then place him in bath. holding him with the left forearm under the neck and shoulders, the left hand under
  legs with right hand. Support the baby while in the tub with the left hand and arm. Sponge the entire body with the right hand; then lift the baby out and wrap nlil 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 :han the palm of the hand. A little pure tall cum powder may be used in the creases and folds of the skin, under the arms, and around the buttocks, but 1t 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 towel.
 Same Hour Each Day
 The baby's bath should be given as nearly as possible at the same hour each day and timed to be fin- ished just when the next feeding IS due. At first the duration of the bath should be only about three minutes. Later it may be five min- utes, and as the child grows older and stronger he may be allowed to play in the water for about 15 nlin- utes as the skin absorbs some water, which Is beneficial to the system. Be- sides this, the water relaxes the mus cles and aids in overcoming many wrong conditions. Muscles that have been contracted by disease will be benefited by the warm bath.
 After the bath, the baby should be nursed, placed in the crib or basket