The Cake and Feeding of Children. 807 



winter time this can be accomplished best by opening the window and 

 tacking a piece of nnisUn over the opening. The air sifts through and 

 drafts are prevented. If the child does not react to cold, strenuous 

 treatment must be avoided. 



Bathing. — After the healthy baby is a week old it should be given a 

 daily bath. The bath acts as a tonic to the healthy baby. It is com- 

 forted and filled W'ith well being in the present and braced and hardened 

 for the future. The baby's body becomes warm and often moist in its 

 many wrappings and the bath cools and cleanses and relieves. Irrita- 

 bility and fre. fulness are sometimes a direct result of a clogged skin and 

 can be quieted only by a good bath. If the baby is feeble or does not 

 react well the frequency of batliing will have to be regulated according 

 to its endurance, but the body may still be cleansed daily with a damp- 

 ened sponge. The best time for the bath is during the morning, midway 

 between two feedings, that is, about ten o'clock. It should not last 

 longer than five minutes. The temperature of the water should be about 

 blood heat gey'' F during the first weeks. This is gradually lowered until 

 at the end of the first year, a temperature of 80° F is reached. Only good 

 unscented soap should be used in very small quantities and it should be 

 thorougldy rinsed from the body. If left to dry on the body it soon ir- 

 ritates the delicate skin. Corners of the eyes and nostrils should always 

 be washed. During the first year or year and a half the mouth should be 

 wiped out with a swab or soft cloth and the teeth should be cleansed with 

 this. Great care should be given the teeth all during childhood. Teeth 

 decayed through lack of care or disease are a source of danger to the 

 child's health. They should be cleansed regularly at least twice a day. 

 After the child is two years old this is best done witli a small soft tooth 

 brush. 



Often uncomfortable chafing and irritation result from a neglect of 

 the genitals. These parts should be carefully cleansed each day, as irrita- 

 tion due to neglect may result in future bad habits and consequent ill 

 health. 



Clothing. — Nothing which concerns the baby has been more radically 

 changed in recent years than its clothing. The long heavy betrimmed 

 dresses, with irritatingly stiff rufiles and yards of uselessness have gone; 

 the pinning blanket with its diabolical power of repressing necessary free- 

 dom has been discarded. The length and strength of the binder has 

 been limited. 



The ideal to seek in providing the child's clothing is looseness, lightness, 

 warmth and cleanliness. The binder is still worn and should consist of 

 a bias unhemmed strip of flannel 28 inches long and about four inches 

 wide. This binder is easily washed, exerts an even pressure, is elastic 

 and yields to the movement of the child's body, and supports the abdomen 



