Evening star., 1942-01-26
Girls Who Only Have One Date Per Man Should Do Some SAna
Don't Spank
A Small
Child
Harsh Treatment
Will Help Upset
His Emotions
Bv Leffice Lee Street,

Bv Leffice Lee Street,
Dear Mrs. STREET.: have q baby
girl, my first, who is II months old.
My problem concerning the baby is
that she seems very nervous, and
is getting q very bad temper. She
smacks every one who comes into
the house, and whnn she Is angry
she throws her dolls on the floor.
I smack her hand very hard every
time she does this, and people tell
me that she is too small to be get
ting . spanking.
Perhaps my smacking her is max
ing her nervous, I do not know. I
wish you would publish an answer
to my problem. and tell me il am
doing right in trying to conquer her
temper while she is young.
Your column has been a wonder
full help to me; I will continue to
read it as I have q lot to learn
yet. Sincerely, MRS. H. B.
Answer-It is ut least encouraging.
Mrs. H. B., for you to admit that
you have "a lot to learn" because
this reveals that you have an open
mind. However, you are woefully
lacking in knowledge and under
standing of the care of baby. I
say this not in criticism, but be-
cause I want to help you both.
As I see it, the seed of your
problem is not in your tiny daugh-
ter. but in you. yourself You must
educate yourself in infant care be-
fore you can hope to correct the
beginnings of this unsocial behavior
in your little girl.
I wish you would write to me
asking the title of an excellent.
easy-to-read book about baby care.
1t only costs Is cents and contains
a wealth of information you should
know. Inclose a stamped t3-cent
self-addressed envelope with your
request and shall send you the
name OF the book and where YOU
may obtain it. Please do not send
the Is cents to me.
Now. about your problem: your
friends are correct when they saw
that your little girl is too young to
be spanked. Her baby mind can
not possibly comprehend why her
mothers hand strikes her.
think there is no doubt but
That the reason she attempts to hit
others is because she sees YOU doing
the same. Babies are mimics. The
way they learn is by observing the
actions and words of those who
care for them.
Inc oabys nervousness NAV be
all. or In part. due to the disorderlv
emotional scenes that follow YOUR
sharp punishment. However. I
would like you to let a pediatrician
examine your little girl to be sure
tnat there is no physical reason
ior tnls nervousness. A we'll baby
Is generally placid. with a contented
expression and a calm. wide-eved
gaze. Proper diet. adequate sleep
and outdoor exercise. regular
schedule. a happy home environ
ment and a gentle mother are es-
sentials TO sound nerves.
Loving care, a show OF affection
and sympathetic and prompt atten-
ton to a babys physical needs that
are necessary to his bodily comfort
do not spoil an infant; they helu
MIN. for he needs a devoted mother
What hurts him is a mother who
is sharp. impatient. overexactinR
and indifferent. and what spoils
him is % be picked up and petted
when he is crying from temper
and to be given anything he cries
for by overindulgent parents.
suggest that you refrain from
hitting your little girl. When she
throws her toys away in a tam
trum, or when she attempts to strike
blows with her baby fists. pay no
attention, just leave her alone. She
will soon learn that the practice
fails to win for her that which she
seeks, just as all babies do-the
center OF the floor.