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The Care of Babies: Don't

Whenever it cries or is fretful, don't offer it food, but give it water. Be sure that it gets sleep and at least two naps during the day. Don't wake the baby to feed it. Don't put too much clothing on it. Bathe it in a tub every day.

Why Babies Cry.-Because they are tired of lying on one side and are unable to turn over. Turn a baby once in a while. Because their diapers are wet or soiled and therefore uncomfortable. Because their hands or feet are cold. Because they are thirsty. Babies must have water (boiled and cooled, but not iced) to drink. Because they are too warm (sweating) and possibly irritated by "prickly heat." Because they are sleepy and wish to lie down and be let alone. Because the air of the room is foul and smelly. Babies require lots of fresh air. Because their clothes are too tight, or perhaps a pin is sticking into them. Because crying is the only way they have to tell you something is wrong with them.

Of course babies cry when in pain from colic or other cause, but you should find out if it is not some of the above stated causes before deciding that it is pain which is causing the crying. Above all else, get the notion out of your head that every time the baby cries it is hungry. If you are sure that none of the things spoken of above are the cause of the crying, then the most probable cause is intestinal indigestion and the quickest way to relieve it is by an enema of salt solution (a level teaspoonful of salt in a pint of warm water).

Children often cry when put down to sleep. If they are let alone they will soon stop crying and go to sleep.

Don't get nervous about it. Don't fear that the crying child will rupture itself. Crying is one way in which children learn to develop their lungs. If children were let alone and allowed to have their cry out, instead of being tossed and petted and hushed, they would be far better for it.

Many babies suffer because they are used to amuse older people and are tossed about and excited when they should be resting or sleeping.

Try to have people leave the baby alone. Think how tired and irritable you get yourself on a hot day and shield the baby as much as possible from excitement and "attention."

Kissing. There are many serious objections to babies being kissed by other children and by older people.

Tuberculosis, diphtheria, and other dangerous diseases may be communicated in this way.

GENERAL RULES an Clothing. The clothing of infants should be simple, warm, light in weight and not too tight fitting. For the first four or five months provide abdominal band of thin, soft wool or flannel about six inches wide and twenty inches long. This will prevent serious effects from sudden changes of temperature. It should be only wide enough to cover the belly and should be wound two or three times around the body, according to the season of the year. This bellyband, or pinning blanket, should be wound smooth and free from creases or folds, and fastened with safety pins, or preferably with a few stitches of soft darning cotton. It must not be pinned so tightly as to interfere with the movements of the child's bowels or it will tend to cause diarrhea. Nor should it be wide enough to impede the free movement of the legs, else it will prevent proper exercise and make the child fretful. All the baby's clothing should at all times be loose enough to allow it to breathe and move its limbs easily and to admit of the free circulation of blood. Never use clothing with tight waistbands. Skirts should be supported from the shoulders by straps. Never, for appearance sake, put starched, stiff or uncomfortable clothing on a baby. Infants are very susceptible to changes of temperature. The clothing should be modified with each change in the weather. Either overheating or sudden chill tends to produce stomach or intestinal complaints. Healthy infants are, however, warm blooded and need less covering than adults, especially in hot weather.

Cool outdoor air will not harm them even in winter or in cold climates, if they are well wrapped up, protected from changes of temperature and kept out of drafts.