FREQUENCY OF BATHS
To begin with, we never bathe either a baby or an adult immediately after a full meal. From one hour to one and one half hours should intervene.
The frequency of baths depends somewhat upon the season of the year, the vitality of the child, and the warmth of the home.
We have seen many infants who were bathed too often. The vitality expended upon the necessary reaction following a tub bath was too much for the little fellow; the daily bath was stopped and a semi-weekly bath substituted, much to the gain of the child. Of course in this instance the hands, face, and buttocks received a daily sponging.
The oil bath may be administered daily. In robust children the tub bath may be a daily affair; while in pale, anemic little folks, the tub bath is perhaps better given twice a week. In hot summer days a sponge bath may be given many times a day.
BEST HOUR FOR BATHING
Again this depends upon several factors; the warmth of the house or apartment, the vitality of the child, and the kind of bath to be administered.
An oil bath may be given any time—often it may be administered entirely under the bed clothes, only care must be taken to keep oil from the blankets.
Many of our mothers prefer to give the tub bath at five o'clock in the afternoon, when the house is thoroughly warm, and the child is thereby prepared for the long night's sleep. Before dressing in the morning an oil bath or rub may be given in such cases.
If the forenoon is selected as the time for bathing the child, then an hour just before the mid forenoon meal is the best. In either event, be regular about it—do it at the same time every day. Let the caretaker attend to her many duties, and, as far as possible, mothers, bathe your baby yourself. The folds of the skin, the creases in the neck, the clenched fists, must all receive particular care, and no one in all the world will ever care as you—the mother—cares.