Mother's Remedies Part 146

Can this be done in all kinds of weather? When the winds are sharp and the ground covered with melting snow, and when it is very cold, the baby should not go out. If the thermometer is below 32 degrees F., a child under four month's should not go out. If below 20 degrees F., a baby under eight month's should not go out.

What care should be taken? The wind should never blow in the baby's face, its feet and legs should be properly covered and warm and the sun should never be allowed to shine directly upon its eyes either sleeping or waking.

Does this outing do the baby any good? The fresh air renews and purifies the blood, and this is just as necessary for its health and growth as proper food.

How does it show in the baby? The appet.i.te is good, also the digestion.

The child sleeps better and all signs of health are seen.

Is it better for the baby to be carried by the nurse in this airing? No, for it can be made more comfortable in its carriage and as well protected from exposure.

Is there any objection to a baby sleeping out of doors in the daytime? No, it needs only to be kept warm and out of draughts. A covered inclosed porch is a good place.

What can be done for a child that takes cold easily? The room should be kept cool when it sleeps, the clothing should be light so that he will not perspire so freely. Every morning the chest and back should be sponged with cold water, 50 to 60 degrees F.

How should such a sponge bath be given? The child should stand in a tub containing a little warm water, and a large bath sponge filled with cold water should be squeezed over the body two or three times. Follow this with vigorous rubbing with a towel until the skin shows quite red. This may be given at least at three years old. For infants the temperature should be 65 to 70 degrees F.

WEIGHING BABY FREQUENTLY.

Why is it necessary to weigh the baby regularly? To be able to tell how it is doing. This is especially necessary during the first year.

How frequently should this be done? During the first six months every week, and during the last six months at least once in two weeks; once a month during the second year.

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How rapidly should the baby' gain weight during the first year? During the first week it loses a few ounces, after this it shows a gain of four to eight ounces a week up to the sixth month, then two to four ounces a week, up to the twelfth month.

Do bottle-fed infants gain so rapidly? Very seldom during the first month, but after that with favorable air and circ.u.mstances, the gain is quite regular, and they may gain faster during the latter part of the first year, because the nursing baby loses weight at weaning time.

Why do they not gain so rapidly at first? Because it takes a few weeks for the stomach to become accustomed to cow's milk and until this is accomplished it is necessary that the milk be made very weak or indigestion will result.

What is a baby's average weight at birth? Seven to seven and one-half pounds.

How much should it be at different months at this average birth? At three months it should be twelve to thirteen pounds; at six months fifteen to sixteen pounds; at nine months seventeen to eighteen pounds; at one year twenty to twenty-two pounds. A healthy baby will usually double its weight at five months and at twelve months it will nearly triple its weight.

Should a healthy baby gain steadily in weight during the first year? He usually does, but not regularly in every week during the year. There are periods when most infants do not gain any weight. This is most often seen from the seventh to the tenth month and frequently occurs when the child is teething and sometimes in the very hot weather.

Is gaining regularly in weight a sure sign that the child is thriving normally? Not always, some infants' foods produce weight, but not strength nor development in other respects.

Can the regular gaining in weight guide us as much in the second year? The gain after the first year is not so continuous; interruptions occur during change of seasons, sometimes without any apparent cause.

How soon should a child hold its head up? During the fourth, and sometimes in the third month, as a rule. If the body is supported the head can be held erect.

How early does a baby notice things? During the second month he shows pleasure by smiling and will turn his head in the direction of a sound.

They should be kept quiet, or their sleep will be broken.

What will it do at three months? It will recognize its nurse or mother, and will smile and "coo" when she approaches, and now for the first time the tear glands become active and the baby cries with tears. At this age when taken out he should lie out straight in a heavy folded blanket, or hair pillow, having a small thin pillow under his head; a hot water bag should be near his feet; a light woolen blanket or afghan should be put into the carriage and the baby placed upon it, then it should be carefully wrapped around him and the outer carriage robe tucked in. These wraps should be modified according to the weather. Babies should not perspire much for they will take cold readily; so the covering should not be too heavy.

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When does the baby laugh aloud? From the third to the fifth month.

When does it first notice toys, etc.? From the fifth to the seventh month.

At four months he is able to hold his head without support. He begins to use his hands better. He will often grasp an attractive object; he will throw it on the floor and expect it to be picked up for him. And also frequently shows signs of fear at the end of the fourth month, and strangers will scare him. He can now be played with for a little time every day, but never before bedtime. The best time is after the morning nap. Do not toss him about, but be gentle with him or you will make him nervous and sleepless at night.

What is baby's condition at the fifth month? He is now a bright lively fellow, and may sit in a half upright position in his carriage or in his chair for a short time each day. When in his chair he should be tied in, a soft pad or pillow should be at his back to support him. He now enjoys exercise on a bed or in a large clothes basket, and may even have one toy at a time to play with. Do not shake rattles at him. It tires him. His naps now grow shorter gradually, but he should take two daily; a long one of two or three hours in the morning and about one hour in the afternoon.

He should not sleep late in the afternoon, or he will not sleep as well at night. He now "drools." This is a sign of teeth coming, and baby will bite his fingers and put everything he can hold in his mouth. He may form the sucking habit now, and if he does, put a small toy in his hand, or dip his thumb in a solution of quinine or aloes. The habit of thumb sucking is an ugly one. Another way to stop it is to bind a piece of cardboard on the arm and long enough to reach a little above or below the elbow. Then the arm cannot be bent.

Should the baby use an ivory or rubber ring to bite on when teething? A special cracker is now made in the form of a ring; it is quite hard and composed mostly of malt sugar and is intended for teething babies to bite on.

MOTHERS' REMEDIES.-1. Teething, What One Quebec Mother did for.--"Rub paregoric on the gums. This always eased my children."

2. Teething, Novel Canadian Method to Aid in.--"Put a thimble on your finger and when holding the baby rub his gums gently with it, and let him chew on it. This cuts the gums and starts bleeding when the baby doesn't think of it."

How early should a baby be able to sit and stand alone? At seven to eight months he is usually able to sit erect and support his body. He first attempts to bear the weight upon his feet at nine to ten months, and at eleven to twelve months babies can stand without a.s.sistance.

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When should a child walk without help? At twelve to thirteen months he attempts to walk. At fifteen to sixteen months the average child is able to run alone.

What conditions postpone this? Premature birth, a delicate const.i.tution, or prolonged illness and especially chronic or digestive disturbances.

Rickets is a common sign of late sitting, standing or walking.

Should you urge a child to walk? No; his muscles and bones may not be ready. He will walk soon enough if able.

How early does a child begin to talk? Generally a child can say papa and mamma at one year. The end of the second year the average child is able to put words together in short sentences.

If a child does not attempt to talk in two years, what should be suspected? Child may be a deaf-mute or mentally deficient. It is sometimes seen in children who are very backward.

SPECIAL CARE OF THE BABY.

Baby will be sensitive to light, even the first day. Do not allow the sun to shine in his eyes, or gas or electric light if that must be used. The baby's skin may change to yellow for a few days, but this soon pa.s.ses away and frequently there is scaling. The fine soft hair usually comes out and is replaced later by a second growth. The open spot on the head should not be touched. When the head is out of shape or is swollen, this need not cause worry for it will soon disappear. Mold it a little. Do not allow the baby to lie in one position, as the soft skull may become flattened or all the hair rubbed off in one place. The baby sleeps about nine-tenths of the time, but he should be wakened regularly for his food and kept awake while taking it. This will soon become a regular habit to him, and he will wake of his own accord in a short time. Do not allow the baby to fall asleep nursing at the breast or while taking food in his bottle. He will not get enough nourishment and will want to nurse too often. Also if he is bottle-fed the milk is apt to grow cold and cause colic. He should be taught to nurse slowly and if he tries to nurse too fast the breast or nipple should be taken away for a minute, and then given again. The baby should nurse from fifteen to twenty minutes. A certain amount of crying is necessary for a baby if he is to be strong and healthy. It exercises his lungs. "Soothing syrup" should never be given to quiet him.

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THE CRY-HOW TO DISTINGUISH IT.

The cry of pain is strong, sharp, but not continuous, often accompanied by contractions of the features and drawing up of the legs. The cry of hunger is a continuous, fretful sound, after feeding or sometime before the next feeding. The cry of temper is loud and strong, accompanied by kicking or stiffening of the body, and, this should never be given away to from the first. The cry of a sick child is feeble and whining. Baby should not be rocked to sleep, nor carried about the room.

Baby's First Meal.--He should be placed to the breast as soon as the mother can have him. He will not get much milk for the first few days, but he should be given the breast four or five times daily. He needs what is then secreted and it is also good for the mother to try to nurse as soon as possible. The baby may be given a few teaspoonfuls of boiled water between nursing, but no teas. At the third day the milk is usually established, and the baby should nurse regularly every two hours up to 10 p. m., and twice at night. He should not sleep in his mother's bed, but have his own crib and be taken to her at nursing time. There is danger of baby being smothered sleeping with its mother, and it will not sleep so well. As a rule it is best to wash baby's mouth out before nursing, and the mother's nipple should also be wiped off with a little boric acid solution.

Baby's Bed.--As before stated, baby should sleep in his own crib, an iron or bra.s.s crib without rockers is best. A screen or plain white curtain of some wash material may be used to protect him against draughts. If this cannot be had, he may sleep while very young in a large clothes basket placed on two chairs. The crib should have a good woven wire mattress and a pair of heavy airing blankets should be placed on top of the crib, folded so as to fit the mattress; a square of rubber or any waterproof material should come next, then a cotton sheet, a quilted pad, a second sheet, a pair of wool crib blankets and a light counterpane. This should be removed at night and a comfortable afghan be used in its place. The pillow should be of hair, never of feathers or down, about one inch thick.

The bed clothes should be aired thoroughly and the heavy airing blanket be washed occasionally and thoroughly dried and aired before it is again used. The blanket can hang on a line out of doors on a bright sunny day for an hour or two; in this way the blanket will be kept cleaner and will last comfortably until baby is three years old. The baby should never be put in a cold bed; warm the sheets before the fire just before putting baby in his bed (or crib) or place a hot water bag between them until they are warm. Now (second month) the baby is old enough to use his chair, not to soil his napkin. Place a small chamber on the mother's lap and hold the child on it, supporting his head and back. Do this exactly the same hours every day, morning and afternoon, directly after a meal. This training should be continued, as the position alone often goes a great way in helping to over-come constipation or any tendency to irregularity of the bowels that may exist. They cannot be taught not to wet the napkin until they are some months older.

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