Do not forget that during infancy life’s habits are being formed and that this period is of greater educational importance than any other of his life.

The normal baby is well and happy. Babies who are properly fed and kept clean, who have plenty of sleep and fresh air and are trained in regular habits, are usually well and good-natured. On the other hand, if babies are fussy and restless most of the time, there is something wrong. Patiently search for the cause of the trouble and see that it is removed.

Sleep. A newborn baby sleeps about nine tenths of the time. He should not be disturbed except for necessary care. After he has been made comfortable and fed he should be laid in his crib and trained to go to sleep without rocking and without a pacifier of any kind.

The daily amount of sleep required for different ages is approximately as follows:

First month 18 to 20 hours
Second to sixth month 16 to 18 hours
Sixth month 14 to 16 hours
One to two years 12 to 14 hours

During the first year a nap in the middle of the forenoon, and another in the afternoon, is desirable. The afternoon nap should not be so late as to interfere with the night’s sleep.

A healthy baby sleeps with his mouth closed. Mouth breathing is caused by some obstruction in the air passages, usually enlarged tonsils or adenoids. Other signs of the presence of adenoids may be restlessness at night, snoring during sleep, or frequent attacks of head colds. When any one of these symptoms is present the child should be placed under a physician’s care at once; otherwise its normal growth and health may be seriously retarded.

The sleeping room should be dark, well ventilated, and quiet. The baby should always be protected from drafts, but the air should be fresh and cool. After being fed he should be placed on his side, and after the next feeding, laid on the opposite side.

Sleeping out. After a baby is six weeks old he should take his naps out of doors when the weather permits. He should be protected from flies and mosquitoes and shielded from the sun, wind, and dust. Remove the shoes and loosen the clothing before placing him in his crib. If the weather is cool, his feet and body must be kept warm.

Bowel movement. The baby’s first stools are of tarlike consistency, with little or no odor. After a day or two the stools change to a light yellow in color, are soft in consistency, and have little or no odor. During the first week the bowels move two or three times a day. As the child grows older, one or two movements a day will be sufficient.

The mother should begin to train the baby to use a chamber as early as the third month. He should be placed on a small chamber held between the mother’s knees, his back being supported against her body. In order to form the habit of having the bowels move regularly this should be done at the same hour each day. If the bowels do not move, insert a soap or glycerine suppository into the rectum. This will help direct the baby’s attention to the reason for his being placed on the vessel, and the suppository starts the bowels moving. This habit is soon established. The child should be placed on the chamber after the early morning feeding and again in the afternoon.

Bladder. Habits of regularity in emptying the bladder may be formed by placing the baby on the vessel every three or four hours during the day and the last thing at night.

Thumb sucking. The habit of thumb or finger sucking begins in early infancy and may continue until the child is six or eight years old if it is not broken. If persisted in, it may cause marked deformities of the jaws and teeth. When the thumb or finger is put into the mouth it should be gently but firmly removed. By this method the habit will be gradually overcome. It may be necessary to pin the sleeves to the side of the dress, so that the arms cannot be raised.

Pacifier. Never use a rubber nipple, sugar ball, or any other pacifier.

Kissing. Under no circumstances should anyone kiss a baby on the mouth. Common colds, tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, measles, and many other diseases are transmitted in this way. Remember that disease may be present in the secretions of the mouth and nose and on the lips.

Crying. A well baby never cries without cause. Normal crying is loud and forceful, and the mother will soon learn to distinguish it from the cry of pain, hunger, or discomfort. A baby has no other way of expressing his needs—therefore his cry should be heeded. When he cries the mother should see that he is made comfortable, that his hands and feet are warm, that his diaper is not wet, and that no pins are pricking him. Often merely a change of position is sufficient to quiet him. Do not take him up at the first cry; most babies like to be held and will often cry simply to be taken up.

Cry due to colic. The cry of colic is sharp and spasmodic. The baby will draw his legs up, and the muscles of the abdomen will be hard and tense.

Cry due to hunger. The normal cry of hunger is heard some time before the feeding is due, and is accompanied by the sucking of the thumb or the fingers. If the baby is not getting sufficient nourishment, the cry of hunger is a continuous fretful sound and is heard soon after a feeding.

Cry due to temper. The cry of temper is loud and strong; the baby usually kicks, and his body stiffens. This is easily recognized, because when the baby gets what he wants he will stop at once. When a baby cries from temper let him cry it out. The struggle will not be long, because he will soon learn that this crying is useless.

Cry due to illness or fright. The cry of most forms of illness is low, moaning, and fretful. The cry of fright is sudden and loud. The child should be taken up, comforted, and put down again as soon as he is quieted. In all cases of persistent crying the doctor should be called if the mother does not succeed in her attempts at quieting.

Exercise. The young baby gets his exercise by crying (which expands his lungs), also by kicking and waving the arms. It is important that the clothing should not be so tight as to interfere with these natural movements.

When he is in short clothes, at regular times each day he should be placed on the floor, on a thick blanket, and allowed to roll and creep about at will.

Twice a day if possible, but always just before bedtime, the baby should be placed on a large bed in a warm room with all his clothing removed, and should be encouraged to kick and play for ten or fifteen minutes. He may be played with at this time, but must not be permitted to become excited.