How does a room that is kept too warm affect the baby? He becomes pale, loses his appetite, has some indigestion, gains no weight, perspires very much and takes cold easily.
How early in baby's life may airing indoors be commenced, and how long continued? When the baby is one month old. For fifteen minutes at a time at first and may be lengthened ten to fifteen minutes daily. This airing may be continued in all kinds of weather.
Will the baby take cold? Not if the period is at first short and the baby becomes accustomed to it gradually. It is a cold preventive.
How should such an airing be given? The baby should be dressed with bonnet and tight coat and placed in a crib or carriage which should stand a few feet from the window; all the windows should be thrown open for baby's airing. Doors should be closed to prevent draughts.
[558 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
How soon can baby be taken out of doors? In summer when one week old, with eyes thoroughly shaded. In spring and fall usually in about one month; in winter, when about three months old, on pleasant days, and kept in the sun and out of the wind.
What time of day is best? A baby may go out almost any time in the early summer and early autumn between 6 A. M. and 7 P. M. In winter and early spring a young child only between ten or eleven and three.
Can this be done in all kinds of weather? When the winds are sharp and the ground covered with melting snow, and when it is very cold, the baby should not go out. If the thermometer is below 32 degrees F., a child under four month's should not go out. If below 20 degrees F., a baby under eight month's should not go out.
What care should be taken? The wind should never blow in the baby's face, its feet and legs should be properly covered and warm and the sun should never be allowed to shine directly upon its eyes either sleeping or waking.
Does this outing do the baby any good? The fresh air renews and purifies the blood, and this is just as necessary for its health and growth as proper food.