Evening star., 1939-06-30
Leaving Baby
Alone Poor
Practice
Accidents Usually
Occur When No
One Is Around
BY ANGELO PATRI.

Il do all my own work, so you see
I have q problem when I need to
leave the house. hate to leave him
alone while I do errands, to 60 to
church, but it is not always possible
to take him along. Is it safe to leave
him alone? My neighbor next door
would 60 to him II he cried, but am
not sure that 1t is safe to leave him
alone in the house. What do you
think?"
1t is not safe to leave baby alone
In the house. or in the yard, or in
front Of q shop, or anywhere else
that you can think of just now. If
one could know what would happen
during the time Of absence one could
arrange for it but as this is quite i'm
possible there is, it seems to me, no
time and circumstances in which it
Is safe to leave baby alone.
Sleeping children are conscious. 1t
is likely that the child who sleeps
soundly while his mother is in the
house will waken after she leaves
because his mind is likely to take
note Of the change in the house
caused by her leaving. He will wake
up under the influence of this feeling
Of change and cry, and when his
cry brings nobody he becomes fright
ened, and it is bad to frighten
child that way. This has happened
to some babies.
Accidents sometimes befall the
child left alone. OF course an acci-
dent is something that nobody ex-
pected to happen, and no measures
are taken to protect the child to
whom the accident happens. Sudden
storms rise; loud and unusual noises
occur; strangers, footloose children,
stray animals are likely to be about.
One never knows 1t is best to be
safe and stay by the child until
such time as he can be taken along
This is hardship on mothers, one
OF the many they endure for the
childs sake. Sometimes there is a
trusted relative or friend in whom
the child has confidence. and on
whom the parents can depend. He
can relieve the mother. Sometimes
there is a trusted loyal servant who
can help TO relieve the mother. These
are rarely found in the ordinary
family whose problem this is, but
once in a while one appears: Occa-
sionally there is an older child whose
intelligence and faithfulness can be
relied upon. But for the greater part
OF the time when the baby is too
young to be taken about, his mother
has TO stay close to him. herself.
When the child cannot be taken
to church father can stay with him
during the morning service, while
mother attends, and father can at
tend while mother stays home for
the other service 1t would help
greatly, later on, when the child is
TOO young for church service, but no
longer baby in arms. if the church
provided nursery for the care of
him and his group, during service
If, on occasion of emergency.
the baby must be left alone, tell
somebody about it even if it is
stranger neighbor. He will under
stand your predicament and do what
he can. Never lock little children in
the house. If they must be left
alone inform somebody and ask for
their interest and care, and tell the
policeman, II there is one. about
them, and about what time you ex-
pect to return. But don't. no mat
ter what the conditions. lock them
in the house Accidents are always
surprises. Nobody has plans for
them. Little children are helpless.
Be as sure as you can about their
safety.