Evening star., 1947-01-01

WHEN SHOULD A BABY BE
LEFT ALONE IN THE HOUSE?
Never, awake or asleep. Don't leave
q baby alone while you go to the
store or to neignbor's, and don't
leave him with only small children
to take care of him. Allow only an
adult to take him out in q carriage.
Never leave him alone while he is
in a bathtub.
A responsible person, NOT A
CHILD, should stay with the baby If
parents wish to go out in the eve
ming. An adult is much more able to
meet emergencies. Parents may be
able to arrange to take turns with
other parents in staying with the
children.
In keeping the baby safe, every
one in the family should see that
nothing is brought near him that
might injure him. Scissors and
knives should be kept out Of his
reach, with the older children trained
to remember this, and the younger
ones should be trained to let matches
alone, for their own safety and the
baby's.
A play pen will keep the baby
away from many dangers.
CAN STEARATE OF ZINC HARM
THE BABY? NEVER use baby
powder containing stearate of zinc,
because if stearate Of zinc is inhaled,
a serious and often fatal form OF
pneumonia develops. Never give a
baby canof baby powder as play
thing, even one that seems to be
empty. If he puts the top in his
mouth, he may inhale the powder.
A wise mother keeps her finger
nails, as well as the baby's, short
and smooth. She also does not put
pins in her mouth, for If an older
baby sees her do this, he may do
it, too.
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PRE-
VENT SMOTHERING? Special pre-
cautions should be taken. Babies
have been smothered when in bed
with an older person who, while
sleeping, rolled onto the baby or
pulled the covers over him. A baby
should sleep alone. Sometimes a
baby is smothered when his head
becomes buried in feather pillow
or a feather bed; neither Of these
should be used for baby.
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PRE-
VENT CHOKING? Straps for keep
ing the baby in bed, and drawstrings
at the neck of sleeping bags and
outdoor garments have caused chok-
ing as result of their getting
twisted and tight around the babys
neck. He may also choke on any
small object. Small toys and toys
with small parts that might come
off, should not be given to him;
small objects should be kept away
from him, and he should not have
small hard things to eat, such as
peanuts.
AND TO PREVENT BURNS
Prevent accidental fires in the house
and keep the baby away from dam
gerous things such as heaters, hot
lyauids and flames of all kinds.
AND TO PREVENT POISON
ING-Keep all medicines and pills,
and especially all poisons, in medi-
cine cabinet or on high shelves. Do
not leave lye or kerosene on the
floor or where a creeping child
might get hold of it. Lye causes
type of burn in the mouth and
throat that may cause death.
Boric acid is not usually thought
of as a poison, but it is poisonous If
enough is swallowed. If it is used,
it should be painly labeled and kept
with the medicines, not with the
food or household supplies.
Chewing a painted toy, a crib, and
so forth, may give the baby lead
poisoning. If such articles are
painted in the home, use only paint
that the manufacturer says is harm
less to children if swallowed. Some
things are guaranteed by the manu-
facturer 70 be painted with harm
less paint.
To avoid gas poisoning, be sure
that gas fixtures do not leak and
that any gas flame that might be
blown out accidentally is not left
burning. When gas is burning in a
room, see that the room is very well
ventilated. Never leave baby alone
in a room with lighted gas heater
or gas stove.
AND TO GUARANTEE AGAINST
FIRE-The chief cause Of home
fires are careless use of matches and
cigarettes, careless burning of ref