The mothercraft manual

The Foundations of Efficiency. It is the business of the home to develop in children such vitality that they will enjoy exuberant health in childhood, acquire habits of good hygiene, lay the foundation for endurance, beauty, and longevity in manhood and womanhood, and bequeath vigor of constitution to their children. The slogan is “Prevention—Vitality—Efficiency.”

For efficiency the organs must be approximately perfect, and their functioning sure and strong.

The ultimate physical sources of power are:

• 1. Good nutrition and sound digestion
• 2. Sound, active lungs
• 3. Vigorous kidneys
• 4. Strong heart
• 5. Steady nervous system

That is, there must be ample intake of food and oxygen, thorough removal of waste, quick distribution of fuel, oxygen, and waste, economical working of the organism. The whole body must be organically sound, and all its functions must go on efficiently and vigorously.

Developing Vitality to Resist Disease. Disease may be due to:

a. Some defect of structure in an organ as the heart, spinal column, eye, tooth

b. Ineffective functioning of an organ or system, as in constipation, slow circulation, shallow breathing

c. Low resistance to disease germs or poisons, as in the contracting of influenza, diarrhea, pneumonia, whooping cough

The Means for Developing Vitality.

1. Good nutrition. This involves sound digestion and assimilation. It can be assured only through:

a. Wholesome foods, adapted to the age in quantity and preparation

b. Sound teeth

c. Regularity in feeding

d. Right conditions in feeding

Eating slowly
Chewing well
Avoiding severe exercise within an hour after feeding
Eating not less than 1 to 3 hours before bedtime
Eating in a cheerful frame of mind
Food at approximately body temperature

2. Thorough elimination of waste.

a. Through the lungs by oxidization. Deep and adequate breathing accomplishes the two ends of eliminating some of the poisonous waste (as carbon dioxide from the lungs) and bringing quantities of oxygen to the internal cells for burning up of waste. Active physical exercise and the habit of deep breathing are both necessary.

b. Through kidneys and intestines. These are Nature’s plumbing system for removing poisonous waste. Regularity in these functions should become a habit in early childhood. There should be a bowel movement once or twice a day. Abundance of laxative foods in the diet, water between meals, outdoor life and activity, are natural means of regulating these functions.

3. Regulation of bodily heat. Colds and chills pave the way for vital disorders. They are not always symptoms of an infection. They are often due to poor training of the nerves in the skin to respond quickly to changes of temperature. The training of these nerves can come only as that of any other nerves—through their exercise. Indoor and sedentary life does not supply sufficient exercise for them; for this exercise there is required:

a. A low slightly variable temperature, 65°-68° F. indoor

b. Perceptible air current

c. Air baths, sun baths, and cold-water baths administered with judgment

4. Good circulation of blood. The blood is the only avenue by which nourishment can be brought to the cells or their poisonous waste removed. So far as it can be directly controlled, circulation may be quickened by abundance of exercise, cool temperature, wise distribution of porous clothing. The child should be taught how to quickly warm hands or feet by special exercise, rolling or shaking of hands, stretching the arms and forcefully opening and shutting the hands, slowly rising and sinking on the feet, running, alternately stretching the toes and heels, rubbing the feet.

5. Protection of nose, throat, and chest. Nature has provided the nose with a delicate mucous lining that constantly secretes a fluid which has the power to destroy germs that may enter with the air. If this moist mucous lining becomes dry, it cannot function. It will not become dry unless the indoor air is too dry, as is the case in artificially heated rooms unless additional moisture is supplied by open dishes of water and by constant intake of outer air. The throat likewise suffers in a dry atmosphere.

Bundling the throat and chest keeps the skin moist and makes it more susceptible to congestion; they should be made resistant to congestion by deep breathing and daily cold sponging. Adenoids and enlarged tonsils are abnormal growths of lymphatic tissue in the nose and throat that make breathing difficult and inefficient, and that become breeding places for germs. The infection that they harbor leads frequently to colds, earache, deafness, tonsillitis, diphtheria, measles, scarlet fever. They obstruct the breathing and reduce the supply of oxygen, spoil the shape of the face, reduce the ability to think, and by their discomfort produce irritability and nervousness. They greatly interfere with the vitality. Adenoids should therefore be removed, and tonsils treated, their removal being a last resort when they are diseased.

6. Maintaining high count and efficiency of red blood corpuscles and of leucocytes in the blood. The red blood corpuscles carry oxygen. Evident symptoms of their inefficiency are paleness, low vitality, inertia. The leucocytes are the special blood cells that attack disease germs which have made their way past the sentinels in the nose, throat, and stomach. The number and efficiency of these bodyguards is increased by outdoor exercise, cold-water baths, air baths, sun baths, by adding more mineral food to the diet.

Additional means of preventing development of germ diseases are: (a) protection from contagion; (b) injecting of antitoxins. The greatest preventive, however, is internal resistance, since disease germs are usually in the atmosphere and are entering the system every day through the nose and mouth.

7. Storing of nervous energy. This is possible only through abundant sleep, regularity of regimen, temperance, moderation, self-control, avoidance of stimulants, narcotics, or dissipation. Nature has intended that childhood shall be a period of accumulating and conserving nervous reserve.

The effect of any regimen or any exception to a principle of good hygiene must be measured not simply by its immediate results but even more by its remote consequences. Nature is patient, long suffering, and will endure much abuse without great protest, but Nature is also an accurate bookkeeper and remorseless creditor; every debt must at some time be paid on demand,—it may be five, ten, forty years later, or in the lives of the succeeding generation. Nature makes no allowance for ignorance of her laws. Parental love cannot atone for lack of knowledge or experience. The death-rate from tuberculosis rises considerably among girls in their twenties. To what extent is this due to general poor hygiene, indoor life, lack of exercise, in childhood? During the last quarter century there has been a marked increase in the death-rate during middle age from kidney disorders, cancer, heart disease, insanity. It may well be asked to what extent these are due to habits of irregularity, overfeeding, wrong feeding, self-indulgence, nervousness, acquired in childhood.

Children’s Typical Physical Regimen

Sleep. Quantity. All the sleep a child can get is so much of fortification against the inevitable stress of later years, as well as conducive to his immediate vitality, comfort, and good nature. Children vary individually; often, however, the nervous child who needs most sleep is least willing to take it. Children should sleep as much as they want to and should approximate the following amounts as a minimum.

Approximate Average Requirements[16]

Conditions. 1. Bed alone. No one can sleep as comfortably or restfully with another person as alone. With little children, moral as well as physiological possibilities are to be considered.

2. Room alone, if possible, especially for children under six, that they may not be disturbed.

3. Outdoors if possible, on a sleeping porch, with bedding protected from dampness, and provision made for first warming the bed at night in cold weather.

4. Room cool and with current of outside air, if sleeping indoors. Temperature not above 60° F. and may be as low as 50° F. to advantage for normal children over six months, or 32° F. without harm, with ample bedding and warm night clothes. Warm wrapper or shawl should be provided to wrap around the child when taken out of bed.

5. Children beyond infancy (1½ years) should have their supper an hour before bedtime until eight or nine years of age, and thereafter two hours before bedtime. Children should be taken up for the toilet at a regular hour, either nine or ten o’clock, until six or eight years of age, to prevent bed-wetting or disturbed sleep.

6. Every condition should be provided for complete relaxation and sound sleep, not light semi-sleep. Among these conditions, besides the foregoing, are:

Lights extinguished in sleeping room;

Stationary bed that does not rock;

Story-telling before child is undressed, not after he is in bed, that the mind may not be filled with vivid images, or brain congested, when trying to sleep.

Evening stories should be quiet, restful, happy, without gruesome, melodramatic, exciting, or sad atmosphere.

Chanting, humming, rhythmic singing, is relaxing, and five or ten minutes of this after child is in bed may be advantageous, especially with nervous or unruly children.

Massaging down the back, in long slow strokes, Will relieve the congestion of the brain.

Give the child one toy to occupy his hands; prohibit more than one, to prevent mental activity.

Bedtime should not be a time of punishment, recalling of misdeeds, scolding; leave that until the child is most vital, in mid-morning or afternoon. Bedtime should be a quiet, happy time.

A thought impressed upon the child as he is falling to sleep, or directly after, especially if it is repeated for some days or weeks, is absorbed by the subconscious mind and has profound influence upon motives and action. The suggestion may be given aloud to the conscious mind while the child is still awake, or repeated softly or thought intensively, after the conscious mind is dulled by sleepiness.

The child should learn, from early babyhood, to go to sleep by himself, without a light, with the door closed. This is a most important training in self-reliance.

If these conditions are observed, sleep should be restful and undisturbed. Possible disturbing conditions may include constipation, indigestion, intestinal worms, nervousness. The matter should be reported to the physician. Bed-wetting may be overcome by taking the child up during the night, by giving no liquid after four o’clock, by promise of rewards, by mental suggestion. Circumcision may be needed. Punishment is worse than useless.

The Afternoon Nap. The same general conditions should be provided. The room or sleeping porch should be darkened, and ample ventilation and light covering provided. The outer clothing, shoes, stockings should be removed, and nightgown put on over the underwear; or the child may be completely undressed as at night. If the child is disinclined to sleep at nap time, use the spinal sponging with warm water, the spinal massage, and undress completely as at night. Even if the child does not sleep, he will receive the much-needed relaxation, and the resting of spine and heart, the work of which is greatly reduced while lying down.

Waking. The waking time should always be anticipated, and some one should be at hand to take the child at once to the toilet, to speak to him and reassure him. This is important both for physical and moral reasons. Waking should be a happy time.

Clothing. Clothing should be comfortable to body and mind; it should provide freedom of action and thought, cultivate modesty, simplicity, democracy, daintiness, avoiding self-consciousness or vanity.

Too much clothing keeps the skin moist, and is a cause of colds.

Distribute clothing judiciously; avoid overclothing trunk and chest, underclothing legs.

Underclothing. Use light-weight underwear and give additional warmth by extra wraps as needed. Adapt clothing to the actual weather conditions, not to traditions of seasons. Avoid sudden changes, as from heavy play suit to thin suit.

Underclothing may be all cotton or part wool.

Porous clothing is warm, holding a protecting layer of air; thick woven clothing is cold, preventing the evaporation of moisture from the skin. For hot weather use sleeveless or half-sleeve gauze vests.

Use side elastics to support the stockings, never the round garters. Select carefully the waist for attaching supporters; the “Ideal” waist is excellent.

Protect the ankles and legs with stockings or leggings in cold or changeable weather.

Keep the throat open, except in very cold weather, and then protect lightly.

Shoes and stockings should keep the feet warm and comfortable, not perspiring, cold, restricted.

Night clothes. A complete change should be made at night. After three years a shirt is not needed at night, except in very cold weather. When diapers are no longer needed, the nightdrawers may be worn, using those with feet for cold weather. For outdoor sleeping in cool weather a sleeping-bag of eiderdown is desirable, and a light hood. A flannel or eiderdown bathrobe and slippers should be provided for emergency and morning use.

Care. Begin to teach the child at one year to put his shoes neatly together; by two years to lay his clothes neatly when taken off, and to hang up wraps; by three years to fold; by four years to take care of all clothing as removed and keep his chiffonier in order. Provide low hooks and small, low, easy-working bureau drawers within reach of the child.

Keep soiled clothing in a ventilated receptacle, out of the sleeping room or kitchen.

Keep hats and wraps well brushed; shoes brushed and cleaned; after five years, children should care for shoes.

Readymade clothing should be washed before wearing. Much readymade clothing, whether cheap or expensive, is made in sweatshops and crowded tenements.

Children’s play clothes should be of such durable material and simple design that play may not be hampered through fear of soiling or injuring garments.

Avoid:

Ample size is especially important with growing children, and easily overlooked or neglected as they outgrow their clothes. Rubber in legs of readymade rompers is always too tight, and is better removed.

Bathing. Each child should have his own wash cloths and towels. Have a separate wash cloth and towel for the face, another cloth and Turkish towel for the body. Dry and sun wash cloths every day; boil them weekly.

Temperature of bathroom about 70° F. (65-70), with no drafts. Before the child is undressed, have everything ready, including the clothing to be put on.

Water and soap are irritating to eczema; use oil or, occasionally, water bath with bran.

The Cold Bath. The daily cold bath is of vital importance in training the skin to react quickly to temperatures, increasing the circulation, increasing the white blood corpuscles, and maintaining a high degree of vitality and resistance to illness, especially to colds, croup, coughs, pneumonia, and tuberculosis.

By careful attention to details, the cold bath can be given with a minimum of shock, and children enjoy it. It should be made as enjoyable as possible, and persisted in, even under protest. It should not be given, however, in a cold room. If the child has a cold, or the skin is cold and clammy, it should be given only to the throat, chest, and back. If the child is in a low vital condition, or does not react well otherwise, it may be preceded by a quick hot bath (98°-100°F.) to furnish body heat. The mildest form is to give it while the child lies in bed, quickly bathing and drying one part at a time. Ordinarily it can be given as follows, the whole procedure, including rubbing, not taking more than five minutes.

Let the child jump, run, or exercise vigorously for a few minutes before beginning the bath. Remove clothing and give a vigorous allover rub with hands or Turkish towels, rubbing from extremities toward the heart; let the child help in this and do it himself after four years. The child may stand with his feet in lukewarm water, or on a bath mat, not on a cold surface.

Temperature of the water should be at least down to 70° F. and as much lower as the child can take and react well. Salt (1 tablespoon to quart of water) gives a better reaction and lower range. Tepid water gives no tonic and may leave a chilly reaction. Have the wash cloth wet but not dripping. Wash quickly in the following order: (1) hand, arms; (2) neck, chest; (3) back, beginning at lower end; (4) legs, beginning with soles of feet; (5) abdomen. In this way the reflexes are bathed first, and the feeling of shock reduced, but the same valuable tonic results obtained. Dry quickly, rubbing with Turkish towels and hands. In cold weather, or if the skin is very dry, rub in quickly a little cocoa butter, olive oil, or cold cream. A spray with weak force, or pouring from a cup may begin in the second year; a strong spray or shower not until the fifth year.

The Warm Bath. For cleansing, the warm bath is needed two or three times a week in winter, and every day in hot weather. The body surface is relatively greater in children than in adults, and because of their greater activity and more rapid circulation, a relatively greater quantity of perspiration and waste material is constantly being poured out upon the skin. If this is not removed, it clogs the pores and thus keeps poisons within the body and prevents the normal absorption of oxygen through the skin.

The warm bath is best given at night, as a tub bath, before the supper, or an hour afterwards. When the bath is not given, the neck, ears, armpits, hands, and feet should be well washed. The water temperature should be 96°-98° F. A mild oil soap should be used moderately, such as Castile or Palmolive. The bath should be given in three minutes. Let the children splash in the tub for another three minutes, trying to swim. Always follow with the cold water to close the pores and prevent colds. This may be poured into the tub, to reduce the temperature to about 70°, or poured from a pitcher, or given with a spray, at 70°-80°, or given as a quick sponge at that temperature. Dry quickly and thoroughly, putting on a wrap to avoid chilling. If the child sleeps outdoors, the bath should be given an hour before bedtime in cool weather, or the oil rub may be given instead of water bath.

In hot weather children may have three or four sponge baths at 70°-80° during the day, or five-minute splashes in the tub at due intervals after meals.

The daily air bath is as much needed as the water, and should be given, with exercise and rubbing, if the water bath cannot be taken at the regular time. It is a tonic for the skin and gives the exercise to the nerves that cultivates resistance against colds.

Sun Baths. Sun baths, judiciously given, are also of great vitalizing value. In warm weather (70°-90° F.) children should be allowed to play outdoors with minimum of clothing, as sandals, white rompers or bathing trunks, and a light sun hat, for several hours a day, avoiding exposure of too hot sun (over 80°). Children not accustomed to this must begin gradually and may have a preliminary oil rub, to prevent either chill or sunburn. In cool weather, this may be given in the house, although the benefits are not so great, as the most effective (the violet) rays do not penetrate through glass. White or light colored clothing permits the penetration of light rays to the skin, and dark clothing prevents this; the former, therefore, is of greater vitalizing value. The sun and light baths are of great therapeutic value with nervous or anemic children. The tanning of the skin gives remarkable resistance.

The development of resistance through judicious use of baths and light, combined with deep breathing, would greatly reduce the mortality from colds, pneumonia, tuberculosis, which are the chief causes of death after infancy.

The Hands. Cleanliness of the hands is highly important both for sanitary and moral reasons. Therefore teach the child from babyhood, by example and precept, to always wash the hands:

The finger nails should be cleaned with an orange stick once a day, and before meals whenever dirty. To prevent hangnails, press the cuticle back around the nail every day. Trim finger nails round. A soft hand brush and Hand Sapolio, almond meal, or corn meal may be necessary for very dirty hands. Always dry thoroughly to prevent chapping, and in cold weather apply a lotion.

The Feet. Wash the feet every night when a bath is not given. Dry thoroughly between the toes. Perspiration is acid and soon causes soreness if it remains. Once a week trim the nails, cutting straight. If the feet are cold, put in cold (75°-80°F.) or hot (96°) water for three minutes, apply a 25 per cent. solution of alcohol, rubbing dry. If cold from exposure, always use the cold water. Chronically cold feet indicate wrong shoes, poor general circulation, or need of more exercise for feet. Corns, callouses, bunions, or misshapen toes can be prevented by using shoes that are comfortable and adapted to the shape of the foot.

The strength of the arch should be increased by foot exercises: (1) Rising slowly on the toes and slowly descending, keeping the weight of the body on the soles; (2) Alternately stretching the toes and the heel; (3) Massaging the ankles. Braces in the shoe prevent development of ankle muscles. Braces and arch supporters should be worn only on the advice and prescription of a physician, if possible, an orthopedic specialist. Much harm may be done by their wrong use.

Care of the Hair. During the second year the head should be washed two or three times a week, or oftener if scurf appears. Use Castile or Palmolive soap and rinse thoroughly to remove all soap and prevent formation of scurf. If a crust appears, gently rub in fresh lard, olive oil, or liquid vaseline at night, and wash off in morning; never use a comb or harsh rubbing to remove. During the third and fourth year shampoo weekly, and thereafter every two or three weeks.

The shampoo should be given in the daytime, when there is ample time and means for drying quickly and thoroughly, preferably in the sun. The scalp should be massaged five or ten minutes every day, through childhood, to promote good circulation in the scalp and keep it loose and clean, and the hair brushed thoroughly to remove dust. This is Nature’s own tonic, and more effective than any bought at the drugstore. If the hair is thin, olive or cocoanut oil or vaseline rubbed into the scalp will stimulate new growth. Going without a hat (except, of course, in cold weather or hot sun) is beneficial for the hair. The hairbrush should be soft, and brush and comb should be cleaned every week. Tangles should be patiently and gently brushed out; braiding will prevent them.

Curly or straight hair is hereditary, and curls can be only temporarily produced in naturally straight hair. Heated irons, metal curlers, tightly rolled curlers, dampening the hair, are all injurious. For curling, only soft rags, or kid, on which the hair is loosely rolled, should be used, and these not applied at night around the head, to interfere with comfort in sleep.

When hair is trimmed, it should not be shaved off close at the base of the head, as is sometimes the fashion, leaving this most sensitive part of the head and neck suddenly and unduly exposed.

If the eyelashes or eyebrows are short, stubby, rough, light, they may be improved and darkened by daily application of vaseline, and brushing with a soft, narrow toothbrush. Such attention adds greatly to the beauty and expressiveness of the face, and will be a cause of much gratitude in later years.

Nose. The nose should be kept clean. For children under four, it should be cleaned every morning with the liquid vaseline or warm water, using a sterile piece of twisted gauze which is immediately wrapped in paper and disposed of. Repeat at night and during the day, if the nose is not clean. At three years, children should be able to blow the nose, and this should be a regular part of toilet-making both morning and evening.

In blowing the nose, one side should be held closed, while the other side is blown. To blow both sides at once produces pressure in the ears that may cause injury. Nasal douches are to be avoided except in illness and by the physician’s orders.

Avoid (1) dusty air, as in the city streets, or in a room that is being cleaned; (2) overdry air, as in artificially heated rooms. Both of these are thought to promote adenoids. The former contains many disease germs. The latter drys the mucous membrane, preventing, therefore, its work of germ destruction, and producing uncomfortable, cracked membrane.

Throat. The throat is strengthened by the daily cold bathing of neck and chest. A child can learn to gargle at three or four years, and is then able to do it easily if soreness develops.

Ears. Wash the ears every day with warm water, making sure that no dirt remains in creases or behind the lobes. If wax accumulates, remove it with the twisted end of the wash cloth or gauze. Never put sharp instruments of any kind in the ear.

The lining of the inner ear is a continuation of the lining of the nose and throat. If the latter becomes infected, as with a cold, directly or from enlarged tonsils or adenoids, the infection is likely to continue into the ears, causing running ears, which may result in deafness.

The ears should not be made sensitive by cotton stuffing or ear muffs. In very cold weather, little children should wear a hood, and older children may do so with temperature below 40° F.

Never pull the ear lobe nor strike a child on the head; it may cause deafness. Teach children that blowing or shouting into the ear may produce deafness.

Teeth. After the first six teeth are cut, during the first year, it is advisable to have a small, soft brush to use with water, plain or with boric acid or bicarbonate of soda, after each feeding. This never should be neglected after eighteen months. Doctor Truby King advises giving the child a raw apple, a third of which has been peeled, and which is partially bruised until softened, following the midday feeding, after one year of age; munching this for ten minutes is a natural and effective method of cleaning the teeth. By four years of age, the child should be able to brush his teeth himself. Salt, bicarbonate of soda, or milk of magnesia are effective dentrifices. Patent pastes, powders, and liquids are expensive and of no more efficacy than the foregoing, their chief value probably consisting in the incentive they give to the use of the brush.

In brushing, the motion should be up and down, and rotary, as well as across the teeth; the inner and upper as well as the outer surfaces and the gums should be brushed. To safeguard against infection, teeth should not be cleaned over the hand basin, but into a receptacle for waste water.

Clean teeth will not decay. If the first teeth are allowed to decay, the second will not be sound. The rudiments of both sets of teeth are formed in the jaw before birth. The first teeth (20) are cut by thirty months; the first permanent teeth are the six-year molars; the second set are cut from six to twelve years of age. The enamel of the teeth is formed once for all during childhood. The substance of the teeth is mineral, chiefly lime. It will therefore be appreciated that the child needs abundance of mineral in order that he may have sound tooth material. This he can get only from mineral in his food (see page 169), or, before his birth, from his mother’s diet. Good circulation in the jaws is also essential for normal development both for teeth and jaws, therefore the importance of some hard food every day after ten months.

The toothbrush should be selected with care. A good toothbrush is made with separate tufts, and with holes along the back, that it may more easily be kept clean. For children under three years it should be soft, for older children medium. The care of the brush is as important as its use. An unclean toothbrush may be a source of infection. It may be kept antiseptic by being very thoroughly rinsed, preferably under running water, then in borax water, or grain alcohol, and placed across hooks or a glass, bristle face down, to dry, after each using. Once or twice a week it should be thoroughly disinfected by drying in the sun, boiling in borax solution, or soaking in alcohol. It should receive thorough disinfection after each using, in case of influenza, tuberculosis, diphtheria, or other infectious disease.

Dental Examination. After one year of age the child should have a dental examination and tartar removed every six months. Any cavities should be filled, and irregular teeth straightened. A decaying tooth is a breeding place of germs which are carried, with the poisons they produce, to the stomach and thence through the system. Its sensitiveness compels the child to do his chewing entirely on the other side, spoiling the symmetry of the jaws, or to omit proper chewing. It causes pain that lowers the tone of the whole nervous system, produces irritable temper, and interferes with mental work.

At the slightest complaint of discomfort or the merest suspicion of decay, the child should go to the dentist for attention. Prevention saves both pain and expense. The dentist’s office should be a place of comfort, not of torture by reason of neglect and decay.

The Eyes. The eyes of mankind were called upon chiefly for long-distance seeing, observation of operations with coarse materials, and slow adjustment, until the past few hundred years of civilization with its printing, sewing, and other fine close work. The anatomy of the eye has not yet become adapted to these new demands.

The child’s eye is not fully developed. The shape of the eyeball is undergoing change during the first twenty years. Farsightedness is normal until from nine to twelve years of age.

Eyestrain will result, therefore, if the eyes are called upon for fine, close work during the first ten years. There is also a hereditary form of nearsight that can be detected as early as six years by the oculist, and that demands special care. Astigmatism (a structural defect causing blurred vision) is a prevalent cause of eyestrain. Squint and cross-eye, which are due to structural defect, require treatment in early childhood or babyhood to prevent the necessity of an operation, or possible blindness.

Even normal eyes will suffer if their use is abused. The following precautions should be observed with little children and taught to school children, as practices to be avoided for the sake of strong eyes: