Getting ready to be a mother

by Carolyn Conant Van Blarcom

The baby should have maternal nursing if possible, during the summer, for breast-fed babies fall victim to summer complaint much less frequently than de bottle babies. Quite evidently, then, you should regulate your own life with even more care than usual—for the baby’s sake. He should be fed with absolute regularity, and as a rule, no matter what the nature of his food, it should be reduced one quarter to one third in amount when the days are very hot, and he should have an increased amount of cool, boiled water to drink. His weight may increase only slightly, or even stand still for a short time, as a result of his decreased food, but you need not worry about this if he keeps well, for the important thing is to avoid digestive disturbances. It is just the same as with grown people who are advised to eat less and lighter food than usual, while the weather is very warm, in order to keep well.

Cleanliness, as at other times, applies to the baby’s food, clothing and surroundings. Many doctors think it safer to have all milk boiled during the summer, and of course expect scrupulous cleanliness in its preparation and administration.

The baby’s soiled napkins should be placed immediately in a covered receptacle containing water, or a disinfecting solution and not left for even a moment where they may be reached by flies. They should be washed, boiled and dried in the open air and sunshine as promptly as possible.

The baby should be protected from flies and mosquitoes by screens in the windows and netting over his crib and carriage, both because these insects make him restless and irritable and because flies, particularly, are carriers of filth and disease—the kind of disease that kills so many babies during the summer. Accordingly, you should regard dies with deadly fear.

The baby should be kept away from dusty places and from cats and dogs. And since he will put his fingers into his mouth, in spite of you, it is a wise precaution to wash his hands several times a day.

The baby should be in the country, in the mountains or at the seashore, if possible during the warmest part of the summer at least, but if he is in town there is much that you can do to keep him cool and comfortable. His clothing at this season must be adjusted to his condition and the temperature of the moment just as it is in cold weather. A thin shirt, band, diaper and cotton slip will usually be enough for out-of-door wear, while in the house he may often dispense with the slip, and sometimes with everything but his diaper.

It is usually best to take the baby out of doors early in the morning and late in the afternoon, but to keep him indoors during the warmest part of the day, when it is likely to be cooler inside than out, particularly if the blinds are closed.

During excessively hot days, the baby will usually be more comfortable if he has two or three cool sponge baths, in addition to the soap and water bath, one of the sponges being given just before he is put to bed for the night. He should sleep on a firm mattress, preferably curled hair but never feathers, and in the coolest, best ventilated room available.

He must not be played with, held on hot laps nor subjected to the entertainment and attention which well-meaning but misguided mothers and friends are so eager to lavish on a hot, fretful baby.

Prickly Heat. Very often during warm weather a fine rash, known as “prickly heat” or heat rash, appears on the back of the baby’s neck and spreads over his head, neck, chest and shoulders. As this rash is due to too warm clothing or to the hot weather or to both, less clothing and frequent baths will often give relief. If the baby is very uncomfortable he may he greatly soothed by being immersed, for two to four minutes in baths, at the temperature he is accustomed to, containing soda, bran or starch in the following proportions: