Evening star., 1942-10-28
Child Welfare
Interesting
To Audience
Baby Clinic Held
At Local Store
Offers Advice
Bv Leffice Lee Street,

The baby business Is booming!
Doctors are about to drop with
WEAKNESS, nursery needs are last
disappearing from the shelves OF
shops, because all over the coun-
try the birth rate has scared. 1t
Is said that in the District OF Co.
lumbia local births are 20 per cent
over what they were in 1941.
These new citizens may look for
ward to a better adjusted, healthier
maturity than any previous gen
Grafton. Now, In the midst OF the
toll and sacrifice Of these tragic
and perilous war times, we realize
more than ever before that the hope
Of our Nation Is in our young.
The United States Government,
editors of newspapers and maga-
zines, book publishers, writer's, those
interested in educational programs
via the radio, doctors, nurses and
persons interested in child welfare,
all recognize the deep significance
of proper care for mothers and
babies. They want to help, and are
doing so by the constant stream
of sound advice that is made avail
able to mothers and to expectant
mothers, without charge.
In the interest of future Amer
leans q most entertaining and in
structive "baby development clinic
was held recently at local store
A sizeable group watched and
listened to the lecture, moving pic
lures and demonstrations. There
were high school girls, a Red Gross
and q social service worker, sew
eral prospective mothers, mothers
on the alert to learn new and scien-
tific methods of infant care, and g
number of women who looked te
be kindly and helpful grandmothers
The clinic was conducted by MISS
Ethel w. Ransom, r. N, who al
once won the sympathy of her audi
ence by her friendly manner ano
the reasonable way in which she
presented many true and practica1
facts of prenatal and baby care.
Throughout her talk she urged
her listeners to select q good doc
tor and then to heed him and trust
him, to disregard the well-meant
advice Of family and friends. II
only every mother and expectant
mother would obey this counse'
many needless tragedies and ILL
nesses among mothers and babies
could be avoided.
The neglected husband, his nose
painfully out of joint, was not for
gotten; she asked each wife not tc
be too engrossed in the baby, but
to rest every afternoon, bathe, anc
make herself pretty so that she
would be ready to greet her hus.
barl in the evening, and to make
him feel that he matters more tc
her than the baby does.
Pretty colored motion pictures o1
an adorable pink and white baby
illustrated the easiest methods o1
bathing and dressing. Others de.
picted how to sterilize bottles anc
prepare the formula (but no medica.
advice or actual formulas were
given because only doctor can de
this for each individual mother ano
baby); how to take an older baby
on picnic, training, and baby's
first birthday party.
The spirit Of these charming NOV
ing pictures was that it is not only
easy to care for an infant prop.
erly, but that Is fun, too!
During the course of the talk
cute little girl marched solemnly
up the aisle and without any ado
Miss Ransom handed her the DEM
onstration baby-doll to hold. Th'
child did not speak, just held ul
her arms, then cuddled the dol
against her shoulder. It was 81
very sweet that no one said word
perhaps we all felt that this littl'
incident was symbolical. Their
stood a small girl, some day to b.
mother. It is up to us, all Of us
to help her, and hers, to have thei
chance,