Nursery Rules
1. Keep temperature of nursery 68° to 72° F. 2. During bath, keep temperature of nursery 75° to 80° F. 3. Temperature of bath water 98° to 99° F. 4. Never use a diaper that has not been laundered. 5. Tie case number on child’s arm before leaving delivery room. 6. Watch cord for hæmorrhage. 7. Record temperature, stools and urine. 8. Give water freely between feedings. 9. Put to breast twelve hours after birth, and every three hours thereafter until the child begins to gain, then one and possibly (?) two night feedings may be omitted. 10. Change binder daily. 11. Oil bath first, then shower bath on subsequent days. 12. Dress cord with alcohol 95 per cent, dry and apply bismuth subnitrate and boric acid powder (equal parts) into crevices beneath clamp or tape and under edges of the crust. Change dressing daily. Cord should fall off fifth day. Report failure to do so. 13. Clamp may be removed on second day.
Routine for the Child.—
1. Temperature. 2. Undress. 3. Weight. 4. Shower bath. 5. Dress cord—record condition. 6. Binder daily until discharged. 7. Diaper and dress. 8. Sponge eyes with boric solution. 9. Cleanse nostrils with albolene. 10. Brush hair. 11. Drink of warm water. 12. Observe case number daily.
Clothing.—(See Infant’s Outfit, p. [101].) The clothing must be light, loose, warm, and not irritating to the skin. The outside garment should have wing sleeves which permit free motion of the hands, but do not permit them to reach the eyes.
The band of plain outing flannel should always be worn for the first few weeks.
Birds-eye linen makes the best diapers on account of its superior absorbent qualities.
The feet must be kept warm by stockings, and artificial heat, if necessary. On hot days much of the clothing may be removed and the shirt, band and diaper may be all that are needed.
The care of the shirts and bands is part of the daily duty of the nurse. They must be washed daily, either by the nurse herself or under her supervision, as they are easily injured. After washing, in soft water, if possible, and with wool soap, they must be dried on a stretcher. Diapers must be put directly into cold water. Fæces may be brushed off with a whisk broom, and the napkin rinsed, boiled and again rinsed. No diaper should be used a second time until this has been done. No bluing may be used on the diapers and the soap must be mild, otherwise chafing and intertrigo will follow.
The infant’s toilet basket must contain: