THE NEWBORN BABY
=Suggestions for demonstrations.= =1.= Demonstrate the washing of
the baby’s eyes. =2.= Demonstrate giving the baby the oil bath. =3.=
Demonstrate giving the sponge bath. =4.= Show how to make the baby’s
bed and how to place the baby in it.
=First care of baby.= The hands should be carefully washed before
handling the baby. When the baby comes his eyes must be washed with a
two per cent solution of boric acid.[1] The proper care of the eyes at
this time may be the means of preserving the eyesight. A fresh piece
of cotton should be used for each eye. Always wash the lids from the
nose toward the outer corner of the eye; then burn the cotton. The baby
should then be placed upon his right side, with his head a little
lower than his body.
[Footnote 1: See Appendix B, p. 109.]
=Oil bath.= When the baby is born there is on his skin, particularly in
the creases, a white cheeselike substance that can be removed only with
oil. Therefore the baby’s first bath should be of warm olive oil or
vaseline, applied with a piece of soft cotton and allowed to remain for
an hour or more and then very gently wiped off. A water bath should not
be given until the second day.
=A sponge bath.= A sponge bath should be given daily up to the sixth
or ninth day, after which the warm tub bath should be substituted.
Essentials for the bath are:
1. A warm room (72° F.)
2. A bath thermometer
3. A large flannel bath apron
4. Two basins of warm water
5. Two soft washcloths
6. Two large soft towels
7. Olive-oil soap or pure castile soap
8. Pure talcum powder
9. Two per cent boric-acid solution
10. Absorbent cotton
The toilet articles should be kept on a white enamel tray, which is
easy to clean. After everything is prepared for the bath the fresh
clothing should be warmed. The mother puts on her apron and takes
the baby in her lap; she then undresses him and wraps him in the
bath apron. The temperature of the bath should be 100° F. by the
thermometer, and this should never be guessed at, because the water
feels very much warmer to the sensitive skin of the baby than to the
hand of an adult. The head and face are first washed with the warm
water and carefully dried. The body is then bathed with the warm water
and soap, rinsed with clear water, wrapped in soft towels, and dried
by patting. Great care must be taken to dry thoroughly all the folds
and creases of the skin. A little lanolin or sweet oil should then be
gently rubbed into the folds or a little talcum powder may be dusted on
the neck, behind the ears, under the arms and knees, in the groin, and
on the buttocks. Wipe away all superfluous powder, as it is apt to get
wet and cake, and will then irritate the skin.
For the tub bath see page 63.
=Dressing the baby.= In dressing and undressing the baby the garment
should be put on and off over the feet. This will prevent dust or other
foreign particles on the clothing from entering the eyes, nose, or
mouth of the baby. After the baby is dressed his nose, ears, and eyes
should be cleaned by means of twisted cotton dipped in a two per cent
solution of boric acid. A fresh piece of cotton should be used for each
eye, ear, and nostril and should then be burned.
DEVELOPMENT
=Crying.= It is necessary for a newborn baby to cry a little every day;
this tends to expand his lungs.
=Sight.= A newborn baby is not able to distinguish objects, but his
eyes are very sensitive to light and must be carefully protected.
=Hearing.= The hearing soon becomes acute; therefore loud and sudden
noises should be avoided, as they startle and excite the baby. It is
well to keep him in a room away from noise and confusion.
=Speech.= When six or seven months old a baby begins to try to utter
words and will usually be able to say a few words when nine or ten
months old. The average child, however, does not begin to form
sentences of more than two or three words until he is about eighteen
months or two years of age.
[Illustration: THE BABY’S BED]
=Baby’s bed.= The newborn baby sleeps about nine tenths of the time.
He should have a bed by himself. The first bed may be made in an
ordinary clothes basket or in a light box. Table padding makes a good
mattress if folded to six thicknesses, because it is easily laundered
and is inexpensive. When washed it should be dried out of doors in the
sunshine. If the material used in the crib mattress is excelsior, it
should be made as smooth as possible, with a soft pad placed on top
of it. Curled hair is more expensive, but is light, cool, and easily
cleansed. The crib mattress should always be protected by a piece of
rubber sheeting covered with a soft pad. The baby’s bed should be
raised at least twelve inches from the floor to escape drafts.
=Pillows.= The baby’s head should not be elevated, as he will take more
air into his lungs when no pillow is used. If the mother wishes, she
may place a folded soft cloth under the baby’s head.
=Birth registration.= See that the baby’s birth is promptly and
accurately registered. Later he may need his birth certificate to prove
his
1. Identity
2. Legitimacy
3. Right to inherit property
4. Right to enter school
5. Right to seek employment
6. Right to vote
7. Right to hold office
8. Privilege to travel in other countries
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| Registry Department |
| |
| CITY OF ________ |
| |
| County of _____, State of _____ |
| |
| CITY HALL |
| |
| The following is an abstract from the RECORD |
|OF BIRTHS in said City: |
| |
| _No._ _____ |
| |
|__________________________________ {SON} |
| {DAU.} of |
| |
|____________________________________________ |
| |
|was born in ________________________________ |
| |
|I hereby certify that the above is a true copy |
|from the RECORD OF BIRTHS in the Custody of the|
|City Registrar. |
| |
| +------+ |
| | CITY | |
| | SEAL | |
| +------+ |
| |
| _City Registrar_ |
+-----------------------------------------------+
MODEL BIRTH CERTIFICATE
=Protection against flies and mosquitoes.= The baby must be protected
from flies and mosquitoes because malaria and other diseases may be
transmitted in this way. Flies are carriers of filth and disease germs
and therefore should never be allowed to touch the baby’s lips or the
baby’s bottle.
It is important that netting be placed over the baby’s bed and be large
enough to tuck in under the mattress. It should not hang down over the
sides of the bed.