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37
Babies' Welcome
Th is is carried on by the members of the Infant Care
Association. Meetings are held from two to five on Tuesday
and Thursday afternoons at the School Clinic. The waiting
room is used for general assembly purposes, and the consulting
room for weighing and examination of infants. The weighing is
performed by the Health Visitor in charge, and simple advice
is given to the mothers on clothing, feeding, etc.; any infant
whose progress is not satisfactory is examined by the Medical
Officer of Health. A cup of tea is provided for each mother by
the members of the Infant Care Association. The holding of
an additional meeting on Thursday afternoons was commenced
towards the end of last year, as some mothers found Tuesday,
owing to domestic duties, an inconvenient day. This practice
resulted in an increased attendance. In the year 1913 the
average attendance per week was 18; in 1914 it had risen to
25; during the warm weather the weekly average was 30 to 35.
The number of individual mothers who attended during the
year was 244, of these 42 attended once only, the total number
of attendances being 1,159, making an average attendance of
four per mother. There are many who come regularly, either
weekly or fortnightly, but the number should be larger. Regular
attendance is most necessarv, as far more can be done for
'
such a child than for one who is only brought up when it begins
to show signs of wasting. The most regular attendants are
those with "first" babies.
Speaking generally these mothers seem greatly to appreciate
the opportunity for obtaining advice with regard to feeding,
clothing and so on. Great interest was shown in a model
set of baby clothes (made in the workroom for unemployed
women, from material supplied by the Council), and a
"banana crate" cradle. Paper patterns of these garments
are given to those who wish for them, and many mothers have
availed themselves of this opportunity.