Typical Schedule

Conditions. Season: June Age of Baby: Four Months

A.M.
5:30 Wakened; changed. (Some babies will sleep until 6:00, others will waken early, and should be changed but not fed; may be given water if they cry, and left to play in bed.)
6:00-6:15 Feeding
6:30 Urinated (cuspidor)
6:45-8:00 Slept
8:00 2 teaspoons water; stool (cuspidor) normal
8:00-8:30 Kicking in bassinet (or on nursery table); crying 10 minutes
8:30 Weighing, exercise, rub
8:40 Urinated (cuspidor)
8:40 Bath (temperature 98° F.); cool sponge (84° F.); dressed; crying 10 minutes
9:00-9:15 Feeding
9:30 Put outdoors; asleep
11:55 Wakened; changed
12:00-12:15 Feeding

P.M.
12:40 Urinated (cuspidor)
12:45 Put outdoors
1:00-2:00 Slept
2:00 Changed; 2 tablespoons prune juice
2:00-3:00 Kicking on nursery table (or in pen) in open air
3:00-3:15 Feeding
3:30 Urinated (cuspidor)
3:30-4:30 Put outdoors; slept; crying 10 minutes
4:30-5:30 Cuddled
5:00 2 teaspoons water
5:30 Urinated; stool (cuspidor) normal
5:45 Rub; sponge bath (90° F.); dressed for night
6:00-6:15 Feeding
6:30 In bassinet, asleep (Change if wet)
10:00 Changed
10:00 Feeding
Totals. Sleep: 17 hrs. Water: 3 T. Stools: 2. Crying: 30 minutes.

Clothing. The designs previously suggested for the baby clothes (page 83) are adapted to ease in dressing, laundering, making, and to freedom of movement. With these, the baby need be turned only once in dressing, or not at all, if the dress is fastened in front. Use only flat, protected safety pins, no common, straight, or ridged pins. With tapes and snappers, pins may be eliminated.

It is much easier and more comfortable to dress and change a baby on the nursery table than on a low bed or the lap.

The clothes should be put on and off over the feet, not over the head.

The clothing should be changed completely at the morning bath and at night. The day outfit is the same as the night during the first three months. Later the day slip is worn, as the baby is awake longer. The nightgown may be of Viyella flannel, the petticoat then being unnecessary, except with the temperature below 40°-50° F.

Overdressing, like overfeeding, is a common and serious mistake. If the baby’s skin is moist to the touch, he is overwarmly dressed and thereby made highly susceptible to “colds” and pneumonia. If his feet are cold, skin “goose-fleshed”, and lips blue, he needs more clothing. With a room temperature of 68°-70° F., duly humidified, a baby four months or over usually needs only a diaper, cotton or quarter-wool double-breasted shirt, flannel petticoat and cotton slip. The binder is needed only until the navel heals,—about three weeks. It should be loosely applied, fastened by tapes rather than by pins or sewing. If applied tightly or worn longer it hinders the development of the trunk muscles, interferes with digestion and breathing, and, contrary to superstition, will not prevent but may cause rupture. For babies under four months or with a room temperature below 68° F. a wrapper, sweater, or sack should be added. The cotton petticoat is only for ornamental purposes with fine slips.

On warm summer days (over 72° F.) he may dispense with the petticoat. In very hot weather, also, substitute a cotton, half-sleeve vest for the long-sleeved shirt, or after three months dispense with all but the diaper while awake, adding a cotton slip during naps, and a cotton shirt at night.

For outdoors, he should not be bundled until the minute before he departs. A thin cap of cotton, linen, or silk may be worn in warm weather (or none at all after three months) and a double one for winter, not thick enough to cause perspiration. For the first twelve months a kimono-sleeved coat, with drawstrings at shoulder and wrist, will provide protection, with the blankets, for cold weather. The nightgown pattern may be used to make a sleeping bag of eiderdown, broadcloth, or flannel. This allows much more freedom than the usual type of sleeping bag, and is better ventilated. The hood should be of lighter fabric, knitted or of flannel, broadcloth, cashmere; eiderdown or angora is overheating.