Evening star., 1938-01-21
Use Care in
Restraint
Tying a Youngster
In Bed Will Ruin
His Disposition.
BY ANGELO PATRI.
II AM having a great deal Of troubl

II AM having great deal Of trouble
with my child. He was a lovely
baby and I thought was going to
have such a happy time with him.
Now he is something awful. I get no
peace night or day. Something has
to be done or I'll go out Of my mind"
What is he doing?"
"All night he tosses and whines
| All day he has 'tantrums; he says no
before he knows what I'm going to
say. It's q battle from night until
morning, and from morning to night" {"
What is he saying mo- to most?
What is he fighting against most"
We'll. I guess it's the splints I put
on his elbow. And he doesn't like me
to pin his blankets tight across his
crib. But I have to. He makes me.
It's his own fault. If he would stop
sucking his thumbs I wouldn't have
to do it."
You bind splints on his arms to
keep him from bending them, and
you fasten his sleeves down to the
mattress. and then you pin the blan-
kets firmly about the crib 30 he can't
wriggle his hands free?"
Il simply had to. He was running
his mouth, making his teeth come in
crooked. Flattening his thumb. It's
an awful habit. My mother had q
terrible time with me, and I'm having
the same with him, suppose"
| Are his teeth coming in crooked?"
mo. But everybody says they will
be pushed out Of line, and it looks
awful to see him with his thumb stuck
in his mouth all the time. What can
we do about it? I can't stand his
constant fighting and whining and
complaining. I'm beginning to fear
there is something mentally wrong
with him."
There isn't. Let me ask YOU. How
would you like to have me tie your
hands to your back and then to the
chair and make you sit there for the
next hour or so?"
I certainly would like 1t, but you
can't let child suck his thumb?"
HAS he stopped sucking his thumb
because you tied him up?"
mo. He keeps right on no matter
what I do
And as long as you bind him, Is
long as you make him feel like 4
trussed fowl, he will resent it and
fight you and suck his thumb for
comfort in comfortless world.
children q few months old, even
q few weeks. will grow red in the
face with anger and fight with all
their might If their hands are held
tightly. Being held in bonds has the
power to rouse the most gentle soul
imaginable. Even composed and con-
trolled adults will grow furious and
tight like demons If their hands are
held. Imagine how child feels when
his arms are held stih at his sides, his
body pinned to the bed, In q straight-
Jacket Of blankets and night clothes.
It Is enough to ruin his disposition
and wreck his nervous system. Set
him free! Don't bind his arms: don't
pin him down. Leave him a free as
you are when you are ready for bed.
Make him happy. Put something
In his hand when he sucks his thumb.
Stop nagging him about it. When he
Is well and happy, with plenty Of Joy
full things to do, he will forget about
his thumb. And If he doesn't, time
and experience will teach him and
make him want to stop. And he WILL"
Mr.. Patri will give personal At
tentaon to inquiries from parents
and school teachers on the care
and Development Of children. Write
him In care ef this paper, ineles-
Ing . Scent stamped, seH.ad.
dressed envelope for reply.
(copyrisht 103SJ