First care of baby. The hands should be carefully washed before handling the baby. When the baby comes his eyes must be washed with a two per cent solution of boric acid.[1] The proper care of the eyes at this time may be the means of preserving the eyesight. A fresh piece of cotton should be used for each eye. Always wash the lids from the nose toward the outer corner of the eye; then burn the cotton. The baby should then be placed upon his right side, with his head a little lower than his body.

Oil bath. When the baby is born there is on his skin, particularly in the creases, a white cheeselike substance that can be removed only with oil. Therefore the baby’s first bath should be of warm olive oil or vaseline, applied with a piece of soft cotton and allowed to remain for an hour or more and then very gently wiped off. A water bath should not be given until the second day.

A sponge bath. A sponge bath should be given daily up to the sixth or ninth day, after which the warm tub bath should be substituted. Essentials for the bath are:

1. A warm room (72° F.)
2. A bath thermometer
3. A large flannel bath apron
4. Two basins of warm water
5. Two soft washcloths
6. Two large soft towels
7. Olive-oil soap or pure castile soap
8. Pure talcum powder
9. Two per cent boric-acid solution
10. Absorbent cotton

The toilet articles should be kept on a white enamel tray, which is easy to clean. After everything is prepared for the bath the fresh clothing should be warmed. The mother puts on her apron and takes the baby in her lap; she then undresses him and wraps him in the bath apron. The temperature of the bath should be 100° F. by the thermometer, and this should never be guessed at, because the water feels very much warmer to the sensitive skin of the baby than to the hand of an adult. The head and face are first washed with the warm water and carefully dried. The body is then bathed with the warm water and soap, rinsed with clear water, wrapped in soft towels, and dried by patting. Great care must be taken to dry thoroughly all the folds and creases of the skin. A little lanolin or sweet oil should then be gently rubbed into the folds or a little talcum powder may be dusted on the neck, behind the ears, under the arms and knees, in the groin, and on the buttocks. Wipe away all superfluous powder, as it is apt to get wet and cake, and will then irritate the skin.

For the tub bath see page 63.

Dressing the baby. In dressing and undressing the baby the garment should be put on and off over the feet. This will prevent dust or other foreign particles on the clothing from entering the eyes, nose, or mouth of the baby. After the baby is dressed his nose, ears, and eyes should be cleaned by means of twisted cotton dipped in a two per cent solution of boric acid. A fresh piece of cotton should be used for each eye, ear, and nostril and should then be burned.

Development

Crying. It is necessary for a newborn baby to cry a little every day; this tends to expand his lungs.

Sight. A newborn baby is not able to distinguish objects, but his eyes are very sensitive to light and must be carefully protected.

Hearing. The hearing soon becomes acute; therefore loud and sudden noises should be avoided, as they startle and excite the baby. It is well to keep him in a room away from noise and confusion.

Speech. When six or seven months old a baby begins to try to utter words and will usually be able to say a few words when nine or ten months old. The average child, however, does not begin to form sentences of more than two or three words until he is about eighteen months or two years of age.

Baby’s bed. The newborn baby sleeps about nine tenths of the time. He should have a bed by himself. The first bed may be made in an ordinary clothes basket or in a light box. Table padding makes a good mattress if folded to six thicknesses, because it is easily laundered and is inexpensive. When washed it should be dried out of doors in the sunshine. If the material used in the crib mattress is excelsior, it should be made as smooth as possible, with a soft pad placed on top of it. Curled hair is more expensive, but is light, cool, and easily cleansed. The crib mattress should always be protected by a piece of rubber sheeting covered with a soft pad. The baby’s bed should be raised at least twelve inches from the floor to escape drafts.

Pillows. The baby’s head should not be elevated, as he will take more air into his lungs when no pillow is used. If the mother wishes, she may place a folded soft cloth under the baby’s head.

Birth registration. See that the baby’s birth is promptly and accurately registered. Later he may need his birth certificate to prove his

1. Identity
2. Legitimacy
3. Right to inherit property
4. Right to enter school
5. Right to seek employment
6. Right to vote
7. Right to hold office
8. Privilege to travel in other countries

MODEL BIRTH CERTIFICATE

Protection against flies and mosquitoes. The baby must be protected from flies and mosquitoes because malaria and other diseases may be transmitted in this way. Flies are carriers of filth and disease germs and therefore should never be allowed to touch the baby’s lips or the baby’s bottle.

It is important that netting be placed over the baby’s bed and be large enough to tuck in under the mattress. It should not hang down over the sides of the bed.