A text-book on hygiene and pediatrics from a chiropractic standpoint

by J. H. Craven

The nervous mechanism of the infant is a very delicate organization and often the fond parents do the child an injustice by not giving due consideration to the environment surrounding him the first year of life. The greatest development of the brain takes place during the first two years. To have the proper development of the nervous system there must be a quiet environment and the elimination of anything that will excite the child or tend to create nervousness. If the child is unduly susceptible to noise and is irritable and nervous, cries out or is too easily startled, there is a cause for this and a very careful analysis should be given and the causative subluxations found and adjusted immediately. The nervousness may be due to some disorder such as gastric, intestinal indigestion, poor elimination or directly to a cervical subluxation.

Playing violently with the young child should not be indulged in. It is a common failing of parents to want the baby to make a good appearance and therefore he is often stimulated to laughter by means that are detrimental to his health. This should not be done.

Exercise

The need for exercise is quite apparent and this need is as great in the infant as in the adult. Proper exercise is important from the standpoint of hygiene and we will readily realize this when we observe the provisions which have been made in Nature to take care of this very important process. The child gets his exercise from the natural instincts in his nature to run and play. His curiosity performs an important function in this respect. This keeps him running about to investigate the things about him. This takes care of the child that is thrown in a natural environment where there is plenty of room for him to run and play indoors and out, but it does not take care of the infant and the child in the city or apartment who gets the proper amount of exercise only where there is special provision made for it.

The infant gets his exercise by kicking, therefore the clothing should not be too tight. If it is, it prevents this natural exercise which is an adaptation on the part of Innate Intelligence. It is advisable to place the nude baby on his back for a few minutes at a time, preferably following the bath. In this way he can kick to his heart’s content. Crying is another means of exercise open to the child. The lusty cry of the infant is an advantage enabling the expansion of the lungs and the exercising of the abdominal muscles, the diaphragm and other structures that would otherwise get very little exercise. Of course attention must be given the crying child to see that there is nothing wrong. The crying may be the result of pain or discomfort from the clothing, but it does not take a mother or nurse long to recognize the different cries.

The child gets a certain amount of exercise from the handling which he receives. A child that is left in the crib and does not get the proper handling will be fretful and will not do well. Of course the infant must not be handled roughly and at no time should he be disturbed from sleep. The child who is given opportunity to exert himself and who receives the proper exercise through handling will relish his milk, digestion will be normal, other things being equal, and in every way he will present a more healthful appearance.

Children old enough to creep will get a sufficient amount of exercise in this way. Precautions must be taken, however, that the child is not allowed to remain on the floor when there are drafts or when the floor is cold as it is likely to be in winter in homes that are not provided with furnace heat. It must be remembered that the child is very curious and is likely to get hurt unless properly protected. He should not be restrained in creeping and he should be permitted to spend some time romping on the floor each day. Children should not be encouraged to stand when too young since the weight of the body tends to produce bow-legs.

Outdoor exercise should be provided for the children at an early age. This should include every sort of exercise and play. It is an advantage to have systematic games, for this not only gives a regular amount of exercise but also has an influence on the mind of the child which will aid in forming regular and systematic habits of thought and action. In early childhood there need be no difference in the exercise of the two sexes. It is necessary only to regulate the amount of exertion for the more delicate children. In this respect competitive games may tend to stimulate children to play too hard in an effort to win. Especially is the delicate child likely to overdo since no child likes for other children to know that he is not as physically fit as his playmates. There are no objections from a hygienic standpoint, for the exercise to be sufficiently strenuous to produce muscular fatigue, but it must never be so strenuous or so prolonged as to produce muscular exhaustion. The exercise should develop all parts of the body. In this way there will be a symmetrical body development.

Playroom

In stormy weather and in winter time when children can not get outdoors they should get exercise indoors. In practically every home a room could be fitted up as a playroom or nursery. It need not be elaborate and could be a bedroom used for a playroom during the day. This room should be well lighted and not kept too warm. The right temperature is about 55° F. Since an abundance of light is necessary the room should not be on the north, for the direct rays of the sun are to be desired and some provision should be made to admit them. All drafts must be avoided, yet a sufficient amount of air must be admitted so as to prevent the air from becoming vitiated. The best method of accomplishing this is by means of ventilators placed in the windows. Occasionally the doors and windows should be opened and the room thoroughly aired. This should be done while the children are absent from the room.