For the tub bath see page [63].
Dressing the baby. In dressing and undressing the baby the garment should be put on and off over the feet. This will prevent dust or other foreign particles on the clothing from entering the eyes, nose, or mouth of the baby. After the baby is dressed his nose, ears, and eyes should be cleaned by means of twisted cotton dipped in a two per cent solution of boric acid. A fresh piece of cotton should be used for each eye, ear, and nostril and should then be burned.
Development
Crying. It is necessary for a newborn baby to cry a little every day; this tends to expand his lungs.
Sight. A newborn baby is not able to distinguish objects, but his eyes are very sensitive to light and must be carefully protected.
Hearing. The hearing soon becomes acute; therefore loud and sudden noises should be avoided, as they startle and excite the baby. It is well to keep him in a room away from noise and confusion.
Speech. When six or seven months old a baby begins to try to utter words and will usually be able to say a few words when nine or ten months old. The average child, however, does not begin to form sentences of more than two or three words until he is about eighteen months or two years of age.
THE BABY’S BED
Baby’s bed. The newborn baby sleeps about nine tenths of the time. He should have a bed by himself. The first bed may be made in an ordinary clothes basket or in a light box. Table padding makes a good mattress if folded to six thicknesses, because it is easily laundered and is inexpensive. When washed it should be dried out of doors in the sunshine. If the material used in the crib mattress is excelsior, it should be made as smooth as possible, with a soft pad placed on top of it. Curled hair is more expensive, but is light, cool, and easily cleansed. The crib mattress should always be protected by a piece of rubber sheeting covered with a soft pad. The baby’s bed should be raised at least twelve inches from the floor to escape drafts.