Play and Toys.
—The desire for play does not develop until a child is about six months old. At this age toys that can be washed, such as those of hard or soft rubber, should be selected. A baby instinctively carries everything to his mouth,—first his thumb, then playthings, and later whatever he may find, no matter how unsuitable. For his safety and protection this habit should be overcome as soon as possible, and he must learn to put nothing in his mouth except food and drink. Relatives are nearly always tempted to give too many and too fragile toys; they merely teach a child to be destructive and constantly to expect something new. Toys are the first possessions of which a child is conscious, and through them many desirable qualities may be developed: neatness and order, gentleness and a feeling of protection toward the helpless doll or Teddy bear, and unselfishness in sharing special treasures with playmates. Later the child may be given pets and made responsible for their care; but animals should not be subjected to unintentional cruelties from small children.
EXERCISES
- What two factors are chiefly responsible for the deaths of babies under a year old? What other factors contribute? In your city or town what is the number of deaths per 1000 births of babies under one year old?
- Why is birth registration important to an individual? to a community? Is it required by law in your city?
- What is the average weight of babies at birth? Describe the rate at which they should gain.
- At what age may a normal child be expected to sit erect? to stand? to walk? to speak? When should his first teeth appear? his permanent teeth?
- Describe normal bowel movements of a baby.
- How should a young baby be dressed?
- Describe a baby's bath and toilet.
- Describe the surroundings that are suitable for a baby.
- What is the best food for a healthy baby? Why?
- Describe in detail a good daily program for a healthy baby four months old.
- What habits are desirable for a baby to form, and how may he be trained so that he will form them?
- Name all the indications that would tell you when a baby was not thriving, and in each case tell what you would do about it.
FOR FURTHER READING
- The Care and Feeding of Children—Holt.
- The Care and Feeding of the Baby—Truby King.
- The Baby's First Two Years—R. M. Smith.
- The Care and Feeding of Children—J. L. Morse.
- Preventive Medicine and Hygiene—Rosenau, Section III, Chapter II.
- Pamphlets:
- Prenatal Care, Mrs. Max West.
- Infant Care, Mrs. Max West.
- Child Care, Mrs. Max West. Published by the Children's Bureau, United States Department of Labor, Washington, D. C. (Free on request.)
- The Care of the Baby—Supplement No. 10 to the Public Health Reports, 1913, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.
- Your Baby: How to Keep It Well—New York State Department of Health, Albany.
- Publications of the American Association for the Study and Prevention of Infant Mortality—1211 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, Md. (Free on request.)
- Publications of the National Committee for the Prevention of Blindness—130 East 22d Street, New York City. (Free on request.)
Footnotes:
[1] An area including about two-thirds of the population of the United States.