eding
Food Formulas

IV. MISCELLANEOUS

Bowels
Sleep
Exercise
Cry
Lifting Children
Temperature
Nervousness
Toys
Kissing
Convulsions
Foreign Bodies
Colic
Earache
Croup
Contagious Diseases
Scurvy
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Bad Habits
Vaccination
Weight Charts

THE CARE AND FEEDING OF CHILDREN

PART I

THE CARE OF CHILDREN

BATHING

_At what age may a child be given a full tub bath?_

Usually when ten days old; it should not be given before the cord has
come off.

_How should the bath be given?_

It should not be given sooner than one hour after feeding. The room
should be warm; if possible there should be an open fire. The head and
face should first be washed and dried; then the body should be soaped
and the infant placed in the tub with its body well supported by the
hand of the nurse. The bath should be given quickly, and the body
dried rapidly with a soft towel, but with very little rubbing.

_At what temperature should the bath be given?_

For the first few weeks at 100 deg. F.; later, during early infancy, at
98 deg. F.; after six months, at 95 deg. F.; during the second year, from 85 deg.
to 90 deg. F.

_With what should the bath be given?_

Soft sponges are useful for bathing the body, limbs and scalp. There
should be a separate wash-cloth for the face and another for the
buttocks.

_What are the objections to bath sponges?_

When used frequently, they become very dirty and are liable to cause
infection of the eyes, mouth or genital organs.

_Under what circumstances should the daily tub bath be omitted?_

In the case of very feeble or delicate infants on account of the
exposure and fatigue, and in all forms of acute illness except by
direction of the physician. In eczema and many other forms of skin
disease much harm is often done by bathing with soap and water, or
even with water alone.

GENITAL ORGANS

_How should the genital organs of a female child be cleansed?_

Best with fresh absorbent cotton and tepid water, or a solution of
boric acid, two teaspoonfuls to the pint. This should be done
carefully at least once a day. If any discharge is present, the
boric-acid solution should invariably be used twice a day. Great care
is necessary at all times to prevent infection which often arises from
soiled napkins.

_How should the genital organs of a male child be cleansed?_

In infancy and early childhood the foreskin should be pushed back at
least twice