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17
[1908
red for a few days after birth, let a doctor see them at once. Delay is dangerous,
for one or both eyes may be destroyed if not treated immediately. The
discharge is infectious.
Bathing Baby.
Give baby a tepid bath night and morning, using a little curd soap. II
accustomed from the first, the youngest infant will enjoy it. Sponge and
wash gently with flannel, and dry with a soft cloth, especially the folds of the
skin, and use a dusting powder.
Dressing Baby.
The clothing should be warm, and fit easy, with flannel next the skin.
Tight bandages are not necessary and are hurtful. If possible use strings and
not pins, and if the latter, only safety pins.
Weaning Baby.
The baby should be weaned by degrees and as a rule should not have the
breast after the ninth month.
A good plan is to begin at the end of the ninth month by substituting
milk for the breast once each day during the first week; twice during the
second week ; three times during the third week ; four times during the fourth
week; and five times during the fifth week. In the sixth week baby might be
fed altogether on milk.
Do not wean baby (1) if it is debilitated ; (2) in hot weather, especially in
the months of July, August and September; and (3) if the teething is painful
and the child is fretful.
The baby should never be given a share of its parents food. It is a bad
habit, for tea, toast, meat, fish and the like ruin a baby's constitution, and
cause many deaths.
A Crying Baby.
If a baby cries, search to find out if anything is hurting it. It may be
that a pin, or a tight garment, or the chafing of the napkin, or a wet napkin
is causing pain. It is not always hunger that causes it to cry.
Fresh Air and Exercise.
Infants suffer from badly ventilated rooms. Therefore open the windows
a little at the top. Take the infant out for a walk every fine day. Do not
take it out at night and in wet weather.
Sleep.
Do not accustom the baby to be rocked or nursed to sleep, or to sleep on
your arms. It is best to put it to sleep in a cot or cradle rather than in a bed
with the parents, where it may be smothered. If you have not a cradle, use a
clean box or a clothes basket.
Washing Baby's Clothes.
Do not use soda in washing baby's napkins or flannels as it irritates the
skin.
BB