Evening star., 1941-09-29
Segegang Children Offers Absolutely No Assurance of Their Safety
TakingCare
Is Fun
Practical Fathers
Can Learn the
Fundamentals
BY Letfice Lee Street,

~
I am sure that many a father re-
CARDS his newborn infant with
alarm if any one suggests he per-
form some task for the baby, or
even asks him to hold the wobbly
little thing.
Some mothers, not realizing this
normal, fatherly apprehension, ag-
gravate the situation by either
jokingly or seriously making re-
marks like this: BE careful! Don't
drop him Look out for his head
support his back" Or "Oh, you
big, clumsy thing, you don't know
how to handle a baby, here, let
me have the poor little mite"
The moment any one of us becomes
self-conscious and uncertain as to
our ability to perform a task we
are rendered totally incapable of
making our best effort. Ridicule
or impatience on the part of our
instructor leaves us completely un-
done
A man is every bit as able to
handle a baby as is a woman. Men
accomplish some of the most deli
cate and intricate of the world S
work.
If a father shows an interest
In his baby he has every right to
be allowed to take an active part
in the infants care and he should
be encouraged to do so. Men who
never see their babies except when
they are all powdered and prettied
miss great deal. Undoubtedly
there are no happier moments in
our lives than those spent in caring
for our own.
1t is practical for father to learn
the details of taking care of his
baby. Suppose the mother should
fall i'll, have an accident or be
called away suddenly?
A man might say, We'll, perhaps
you are right, but if so. what should
I do? What should 1 learn?"
The fundamentals are:
l. How to handle the infant. Do
so as little as possible, pick him up
slowly and gently, support his back
and head on one arm.
2. How to change diapers. This
Is easy for the man who has been
taught, but to face an inexperienced
father with the necessity of per-
forming this simple duty is the
sort of thing that makes strong
men faint.
The diaper should be a rectangle
made by folding it in the center
then about one-third of the end
should be folded under. Place the
diaper on bed mot the crib or on
top of the baby's bathinette, and
put the baby on it. Pull one end up
between his legs and pin it to the
other end and to his band at the
side. Do the same to the other side.
3. How to bathe and dress the
baby. This has to be learned by eX-
perience, so you might try it some
Sunday morning under your Wifes
guidance.
4. How to give the baby his bottle,
how to mix the formula and sterilize
the bottle, nipples and utensils. The
doctors directions for the formula
should be tackled up on the kitchen
or pantry wall so that it will not be
lost. 1t is wise to have the doctors
name. address and telephone num-
ber on this paper, too, in case an
emergency arises while the mother
is out of the house
What is the use of having a baby
If you do not know him, and serve
him only as stranger who makes
money? You miss all the fun, and
besides, a father is needed for a
great deal more than supplying
money.
1t is not foolish to say that almost
any man alive gets big kick out of
the cute and comical personality of
his own child and of watching his
baby's interesting development.