rmine temperature.
Thrust the bared elbow into the water and if it is just
comfortable--neither hot or cool--it is probably about the correct
temperature for baby. Do not shock the baby by dashes of cold water,
for, while it may amuse an onlooker, it unnecessarily frightens your
child, and, subconsciously, he learns to dread his bath.

THE BATHING PLACE

If the bathroom is warm--temperature 75 F.--that is the most logical
place for the bath, provided baby has his own tub. Place a couple of
strong slats several inches wide across the big tub, six inches apart,
and on this place the baby's tub. Of course, care must be exercised
to prevent slipping by means of properly fitted cleats on the under
surface of the slats. The mother should always stand to bathe her baby
and the small tub should be placed at such a height that she neither
has to stoop nor bend. Thus the bathing of the baby becomes a pleasure
instead of a "job" or an "irksome task."

If the bathroom is not warm then the kitchen table or a small table
pulled up near the stove is a place par excellence for the dip.

Many boils seen on young baby's tender skin have been traced to the
careless use of the family tub to bathe the baby in. Not until the
child is two or three years of age, when his skin has become more
toughened, should he be allowed to use the family tub.

FREQUENCY OF BATHS

To begin with, we never bathe either a baby or an adult immediately
after a full meal. From one hour to one and one half hours should
intervene.

The frequency of baths depends somewhat upon the season of the year,
the vitality of the child, and the warmth of the home.

We have seen many infants who were bathed too often. The vitality
expended upon the necessary reaction following a tub bath was too much
for the little fellow; the daily bath was stopped and a semi-weekly
bath substituted, much to the gain of the child. Of course in this
instance the hands, face, and buttocks received a daily sponging.

The oil bath may be administered daily. In robust children the tub
bath may be a daily affair; while in pale, anemic little folks, the
tub bath is perhaps better given twice a week. In hot summer days a
sponge bath may be given many times a day.

BEST HOUR FOR BATHING

Again this depends upon several factors; the warmth of the house or
apartment, the vitality of the child, and the kind of bath to be
administered.

An oil bath may be given any time--often it may