Evening star., 1938-07-11
Comfort and Health Mark the Summer Camps of the Girl Scouts
Watch Clock
|WhenCaring
For Baby
Routine Essential
For Physical and
Mental Health.
BY ANGELO PATRI,

A CLOCK Is one OF the most neces-
"A sary articles in . mothers out
At. The baby's schedule must be at
tuned to the clock. A little child
thrives best on . routine, the same
thing at the same time every day. It
won't do to say. I'm q few minutes I'll
feed him." He must be fed on the
dot-when the clock says it Is time.
This Is not being fussy. 1t is be-
ing wise. BY doing the same thing at
the same time In the same way the
baby learns to live easily, surely. He
looks forward to the things that make
him feel easy and comfortable. So,
feed the baby in the same way at the
same time each day, and feed him
yourself. That is very important.
The same person should tend the
baby during the early months of his
life. He grows accustomed to the
presence, the hands. the voice and
the manner Of the one who takes care
Of him. He learns to love and to
trust that person above all others
and. Of course, mother should be that
person. She Is the one to establish
this intimate relationship.
Doing the same thing at the same
time daily sets the habits of the body.
Properly trained, the body will take
over the habits Of eating, drinking,
sleeping. eliminating at certain fixed
hours. provided those hours are set
by the clock
Habit formation means q great deal
to the mental health of q child, and
I am praying that this generation of
mothers will consider gravely the
mental health Of their children. Body
health cannot be perfect unless mental
health Is perfect too. The health of
the body has been largely assured by
nature. The normal child Is endowed
with health from the start He has
within him powers Of resistance and
recuperation. II he Is i'll he helps
himself to get over it, and with a bit
OF care he is we'll again. II he hurts
himself he soon heals. But mental
health once lost is not so easy to re-
gain. We know that certain influences
are bad for the mental health of a
child. Fear Is one of the worst. So
do your best not to frighten the baby.
No loud noises. no shouting, no un-
usual experiences. Any emotional
shock, anything that upsets the baby
Is bad, very bad. Avoid 1t. Keep the
baby on an even keel Of living and
you will protect his mental and
physical health. You will insure his
growth and his future success.
Following the schedule as set by
the clock Is one Of the best ways Of
saving the baby from the unexpected
Carefully write down the orders of
the doctor and the nurse; ask their
help in setting the schedule. and then
follow It As you would the Command
ments. If you do that you surround
the baby with an atmosphere Of Sc
curity, serenity, faith. hope. In that
atmosphere your baby will grow in
strength. intelligence and beauty.
When you routine the baby's day,
you routine your own. In that way
you save yourself wear and tear. The
clock saves you from slavery Watch
the clock. Follow the schedule.
Mr.. Patri will give personal at
tention to inquiries from parents
and school teachers on the care
and development of children.
Write him in care Of this paper, in
closing Scent. stamped, self
addressed envalope for reply.
(Copyright, 193s)