Evening star., 1941-12-31
Sensible Use
Properly Initiated
Baby Will Never
Be Afraid of 1t
Bv Leftice Lee Street,

IL y LChbtC LCC or etst
Young mothers who are raising
their first babies are not only kept
busy by their infants daily care
but also by the necessity Of ad-
justing themselves to their babys
rapid development. While the
daily routine stays about the same
for quite a long time the manage
ment and handling OF the baby
himself changes with each month.
One very important period dur
ing the first year of life arrives
when the baby starts to show a
desire to creep and to pull him
self up to standing position. This
time comes anywhere from the
sixth to the eighth month and
because such an active, wide
awake young fellow is apt to fret
II he is left indefinitely in his car
riage or cri6, and because his haz-
ardous travels around room must
be watched every moment, his par
ents generally decide to invest IN
a play pen.
There are pediatricians who
somewhat frown upon play pens.
their reasons being that the babys
back may become too tired from
sitting unsupported for too long a
time, or that his legs and feet may
be put to undue strain from pulling
himself up too soon or from stand
ing too long, or that the area OF
the pen is net large enough to al
low the baby sufficient space for
creeping and exercise.
But if a mother does not abuse
the help the play pen affords her,
and uses it sensibly. it should not
hurt her baby. Unthinking young
mothers who are careless or mex
perienced are too apt to dump their
precious offspring into a play pen
and then forget them, thinking that
all is well. A baby who is treated
this way has every right to raise
a terrific fuss.
The correct use Of this most help
full piece of nursery furniture starts
with its selection. 1t should be big;
3 by feet at least. with wooden
floor over which may be spread a
pad covered in washable material.
This cover should be kept clean.
The sides Of the pen should be high
enough to prevent the baby from
toppling or climbing over them.
The bars should be close enough
together so that the baby can
not poke his curious little head
through them, and the wood should
be finished with a hard varnish or
a non poisonous paint. Personally I
think that pens made of vanished,
unpainted wood are the best.
Having selected the pen, the next,
and most important, point is how to
use it. At first the baby may OBJ
ject, particularly if mother goes
away. 1t is therefore wise to stay
in the room the first few times the
baby is placed in the pen, and to
leave him there for only 10 or Is
minutes. He will not feel strange
If he sees mother sitting nearby, or
busted about the room, smiling and
talking reassuringly to him.
When the baby is left in his pen
in q room alone his mother should
be sure that his inquisitive fingers
cannot reach any harmful object
through the bars, and the pen should
be placed we'll away from an open
fire, electric or telephone cords, a
hot stove or heater and so on.
When the pen is used out of doors
it should be placed in a sheltered
spot and it should not be used when
the ground is damp or the weather
windy and the air moist. In sum-
mer great care should be taken that
the baby is not left for too long a
time in the hot sun.
A baby will enjoy his play pen If
he Is given an assortment of inter-
esting playthings. These do not all
have to be toys, and if his mother
does not neglect him by leaving him
in the pen until he becomes tired.
bored and peevish. he will enjoy
learning the shape and color OF
many articles. The purpose Of the
pen is not only to relieve the mother
but to provide the baby with more
freedom and a welcome change of
scene.
The woe-begone face of a for
gotten little prisoner behind his
play pen is a sad sight that should
never be.
We have compiled a Classified
Food Table Of Average Foods
Suitable for Young Children
which will be sent to you upon
request. Address the Woman's
Department Of The Evening Star,
and inclose . Scent stamp with
your name and address.