The Care and Feeding of Children Part 1

The Care and Feeding of Children.

by L. Emmett Holt.

PART I

THE CARE OF CHILDREN

BATHING

_At what age may a child be given a full tub bath?_

Usually when ten days old; it should not be given before the cord has come off.

_How should the bath be given?_

It should not be given sooner than one hour after feeding. The room should be warm; if possible there should be an open fire. The head and face should first be washed and dried; then the body should be soaped and the infant placed in the tub with its body well supported by the hand of the nurse. The bath should be given quickly, and the body dried rapidly with a soft towel, but with very little rubbing.

_At what temperature should the bath be given?_

For the first few weeks at 100 F.; later, during early infancy, at 98 F.; after six months, at 95 F.; during the second year, from 85 to 90 F.

_With what should the bath be given?_

Soft sponges are useful for bathing the body, limbs and scalp. There should be a separate wash-cloth for the face and another for the b.u.t.tocks.

_What are the objections to bath sponges?_

When used frequently, they become very dirty and are liable to cause infection of the eyes, mouth or genital organs.

_Under what circ.u.mstances should the daily tub bath be omitted?_

In the case of very feeble or delicate infants on account of the exposure and fatigue, and in all forms of acute illness except by direction of the physician. In eczema and many other forms of skin disease much harm is often done by bathing with soap and water, or even with water alone.

GENITAL ORGANS

_How should the genital organs of a female child be cleansed?_

Best with fresh absorbent cotton and tepid water, or a solution of boric acid, two teaspoonfuls to the pint. This should be done carefully at least once a day. If any discharge is present, the boric-acid solution should invariably be used twice a day. Great care is necessary at all times to prevent infection which often arises from soiled napkins.

_How should the genital organs of a male child be cleansed?_

In infancy and early childhood the foreskin should be pushed back at least twice a week while the child is in his bath, and the parts thus exposed washed gently with absorbent cotton and water.

If the foreskin is tightly adherent and cannot readily be pushed back, the physician's attention should be called to it. The nurse or mother should not attempt forcible stretching.

_When is circ.u.mcision advisable?_

Usually, when the foreskin is very long and so tight that it cannot be pushed back without force; always, when this condition is accompanied by evidences of local irritation or difficulty in pa.s.sing water.

EYES

_How should the eyes of a little baby be cleansed?_

With a piece of soft linen or absorbent cotton and a lukewarm solution of salt or boric acid,--one half of an even teaspoonful to one pint of water.

_If pus appears in the eyes, what should be done?_

They should be cleansed every hour with a solution of boric acid (ten grains to one ounce of water). If the lids stick together, a little vaseline from a tube should be rubbed upon them at night. If the trouble is slight, this treatment will control it; if it is severe, a physician should be called immediately, as delay may result in loss of eyesight.

MOUTH

_How is an infant's mouth to be cleansed?_

An excellent method is by the use of a swab made by twisting a bit of absorbent cotton upon a wooden toothpick. With this the folds between the gums and lips and cheeks may be gently and carefully cleansed twice a day unless the mouth is sore. It is not necessary after every feeding. The finger of the nurse, often employed, is too large and liable to injure the delicate mucous membrane.

_What is sprue?_

It appears on the lips and inside the cheeks like little white threads or flakes. It is also called thrush. In bad cases it may cover the tongue and the whole of the inside of the mouth.

_How should a mouth be cleansed when there is sprue?_

It should be washed carefully after every feeding or nursing with a solution of borax or bicarbonate of soda (baking soda), one even teaspoonful to three ounces of water, and four times a day the boric-acid solution mentioned should be used.

SKIN

_How should the infant's skin be cared for to prevent chafing?_

First, not too much nor too strong soap should be used; secondly, careful rinsing of the body; thirdly, not too vigorous rubbing, either during or after the bath; fourthly, the use of dusting powder in all the folds of the skin,--under the arms, behind the ears, about the neck, in the groin, etc. This is of the utmost importance in very fat infants.

_If the skin is very sensitive and chafing easily produced, what should be done?_

No soap should be used, but bran or salt baths given instead.

_How should a bran bath be prepared?_

One pint of wheat bran should be placed in a bag of coa.r.s.e muslin or cheese-cloth, and this put in the bath water. It should then be squeezed for five minutes until the water resembles a thin porridge.

_How should a salt bath be prepared?_

A teacupful of common salt or sea salt should be used to each two gallons of water.

_How should the b.u.t.tocks be cared for?_