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grounds, and the standard of cleanliness in the "baby minder's" house is usually
below that of the average of the neighbourhood.
In a report of the London County Council, the advantages connected with
creches were shortly summarised as follows:—
The creche is usually healthier and cleaner than the child's home, the
treatment is more enlightened, and the method of feeding better adapted to
the child's tender years.
Every creche can show children who have come there miserably
anaemic, and suffering from rickets, whose health has visibly improved
after some weeks of the creche's treatment. Where no creche exists, the
mother, who is obliged to go out to work for her living, is compelled
either to leave the child during the day where it cannot be properly cared
for, or to place it out to nurse—in either case at a cost in excess of her
means.
At the creche the child is taught cleanliness and good habits, becomes
stronger and healthier, and is given a better chance in life.
Creches are under medical supervision, and the promptitude with which
a case of sickness is treated, often prevents more serious consequences.
The mother is required to bring the child clean; better methods of
feeding are learnt; and the cleanliness and discipline of the creche insensibly
react to the advantages of the home.
Fortunately, in this Borough, five creches have been established, viz.:—
Dr. Barnardo's Home; Nursery for Jewish Infants, New Road; St. Paul's
Creche, Wellclose Square; George Yard Creche; and 154, St. George Street.
At the creche attached to Dr. Barnardo's Home, children are looked after
and fed for twopence a day, and in the case of widows for one penny per day.
The number of infants that can be accommodated is limited to 50, the average
number being 40 per day. The distance whence the babies are brought is also
limited to the radius of one mile from the creche. During the school holidays
the creche is closed, as it is found that the babies are looked after by the other
children. When the babies cannot be thus accommodated at the creche, the
mothers state that they usually pay about 3s. a week to women for looking after
the babies for them.
There are no means of isolation at Dr. Barnardo's Creche, but each child
is washed on its arrival and put into clean clothes, which are supplied to it.
If there are any signs of a rash the child is taken home at once. There is no
open playground.