Is exercise necessary for infants? Yes.
How can it be obtained? A young baby usually gets its exercise by
screaming, waving its arms, kicking, etc. It is a good plan to let baby
lie in the center of a large bed, and with his long skirts drawn up, allow
him to kick his little legs about for twenty or twenty-five minutes twice
each day or one-half hour once a day. His clothing ought to be loose for
this exercise. If the room is all right you can remove all clothing except
his shirt, stockings and napkin; change his position sometimes and let him
lie on his stomach for awhile. Of course this exercise cannot be taken
after a meal and before the fourth month. Take a large clothes basket, put
a blanket and some large pillows in it and prop baby up in a half sitting
position for a little while each day, beginning with fifteen minutes, then
one-half hour, and you can also at this time (fourth month) play with baby
for a short time every day, but never just before bedtime, and the best
time is just after his morning nap. Do not toss him in the air to make him
laugh or crow; he is too tender and delicate for that. When baby is older
and in short clothes, place a thick quilt upon the floor and allow him to
tumble as he will; a fence two feet high which surrounds a mattress, makes
an excellent place, or a box for this young animal to exercise his arms
and legs without danger of injury. Before you put baby to sleep at night
give him a warm sponge bath with a fresh band and shirt and he will sleep.
When, if ever, is crying useful in a baby? The cry expands the lungs of a
new-born baby, and he should use his lungs a few minutes daily in order to
keep them well expanded.
How much crying daily is necessary? Twenty to thirty minutes is not too
much.
What kind of a cry is it? Loud and strong and infants get red in the face
with it. Some call it a scream. It is exercise for baby and necessary for
its health.
When is the cry abnormal? When it is very long and too frequent. It is not
strong, but rather of a moaning or worrying nature or only a whine.
What causes such crying? Habit, temper, pain, hunger, illness.
What is the indulgence or habit cry? This is the cry of infants who cry to
be rocked, or carried about, for a bottle to suck, etc.
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Temper cry? This is loud and strong and is usually accompanied by kicking,
stiffening of the body, bending backward and is usually quite violent.
Pain cry? This is generally strong, sharp and quick, but not usually
continuous, the features contract, legs draw up and the baby plainly shows
symptoms of distress,
Hunger cry? This is a continuous fretful, pitiful cry, not strong and
lusty,--baby looks hungry.
The cry of illness? This is moaning, fretful, easily aroused to crying.
This can be distinguished even from a little distance before seeing baby,
if you have heard it once. A baby who cries to get things stops when he
gets them.
If baby cries at night what shall I do? See that he is comfortable,
clothing all smooth under and about him, with warm feet and hands, and
clean unsoiled napkin. If he is all right, let him cry. If it is habitual,
find out the cause.
If baby cries from temper or habit what shall I do? Let him cry it out,
you must conquer him or he will make of your life a burden. Be sure first
it is habit or temper and then conquer him. I have seen many babies who
cried from cause and I have also seen those who needed conquering.
But will not crying cause rupture? Not in young infants if the band is
properly applied and not under any conditions after one year.