DAY NURSERIES. These institutions, of a semi-philan thropic nature, formerly known as "creches" (from the Fr. creche —crib) but now as "day nurseries," form an integral part of the public health work of Great Britain, the United States, and other industrial countries.
Their original intention was to assist widows, and other women whose circumstances obliged them to go out to work, by caring for their young children, under school age, during the day. During the 19th century France and Belgium had many "creches," but they were on a very simple scale : a "motherly" woman was put in charge of two or three rooms and for very small fees the working mothers could leave their children to be fed and cared for during the day. This system proved unsatisfactory; want of technical knowledge and insufficient sanitary precautions led to the spread of infection and the "creche" soon got a bad name. But with the increase in the knowledge and study of "mothercraft" and infant welfare, which coincided roughly with the early years of the 2oth century, day-nurseries were brought to England, and to the United States, and organized on modern and hygienic methods, very different from those of the old "creches." The value of fresh air and "moving" air was increasingly appreciated and open-air nurs eries were built in London, Manchester and elsewhere.
In Great Britain the movement is largely associated with the names of Mrs. Arthur Percival and Muriel, Viscountess Helmsley, who founded the National Society of Day-Nurseries with the ob jects of starting nurseries, raising the standard of existing "cre ches," putting them in close touch with the Government depart ments, and "standardizing" the training of staffs.
The movement, like many other branches of the infant welfare movement, originated in private enterprise and the day-nursery was generally started by a voluntary committee. From the year '9'5 a grant in aid was given by the Board of Education. When, in 1918, the Local Government Board was merged in the Ministry of Health, day-nurseries were placed under their maternity and child welfare department.
The ministry inspect the nurseries at regular intervals and give a grant proportionate to the expenses incurred; in certain cases grants are also made towards capital expenditure, such as the purchase of premises, etc. The cost of upkeep is met by the parents' payments (Is. a day is a common charge), the Govern ment grant, private subscriptions and, in some cases, a municipal grant. Local authorities have the power to provide day-nurseries Children are received from the age of one month, until they attain school-age. The mother brings the child in the early morn ing on her way to work and calls for it on her return in the evening. The child is inspected on arrival by the "creche-trained" matron, and, if found to be free from any signs of infection, is bathed, dressed in the nursery clothes, and cared for during the day in accordance with the requirements of its age. The infants have cots, and the necessary food and sleep; the older children or "toddlers" have three good meals and plenty of opportunity for fresh air, rest and exercise. The mental development of the toddlers is assisted by "nursery school classes," under the super vision of a specially trained member of the staff. The furnishing of the nursery is of great importance, small tables and chairs are provided for meals, etc., and stretchers for rest. The staff gen erally consists of a matron and sister, with "nursery" training and some hospital experience, a toddlers' nurse, young probationers and a cook.
The health of the children is under the daily care of the matron, who weighs the children weekly or fortnightly; accurate records are kept and are seen by the visiting doctor at the fortnightly medical inspection. The previous medical history of the child, if it has attended the infant welfare centre, is used for reference and the nursery record is available for the school doctor when the child leaves the nursery. In this way a complete record can, in some cases, be obtained of the child's medical history. A great point is made of the clothing and feeding of the children in the nursery; it is held that the nurseries are in this way of great educational value to the mothers.
Probationers in day-nurseries are trained on a syllabus prepared by the National Society of Day-Nurseries in conjunction with the National League for Health, Maternity and Child Welfare. They attend certain lectures and then sit for a series of examinations. The successful candidates who can show evidence of satisfactory practical work then obtain a certificate of proficiency in the care of children. These girls are then fitted to become "nursery nurses" in private posts or public institutions, and the scheme of training is approved by the Ministry of Health.
Since 1919 the headquarters of the National Society of Day Nurseries have been under the same roof as many other organiza tions for infant and child welfare at Carnegie house, 117, Picca dilly, London. The Society publishes a monthly magazine, Creche News.
Government inspectors from state, county and city departments of health have the right to inspect and criticize the nurseries, but no Government grant is given and they are entirely supported by voluntary charity, supplemented by the parents' fees.
The first day-nurseries in America were started in 1858 (New York) and in 1863 (Philadelphia), but the actual movement dates from the conferences held in 1892, 1897 and 1898. At this last conference the National Federation of Day-Nurseries was in augurated; this society has not only encouraged the formation of many nurseries but has done valuable research work in connection with the "pre-school child." It has organized biennial conferences dealing with day-nursery questions and has published reports of these conferences, leaflets, dietaries, etc., and the Day-Nursery Bulletin, a monthly dealing with day-nursery problems. The head quarters are at os, East 22nd street, New York city.
As regards other countries the tendency of the present day is to establish day-nurseries in connection with infant welfare work and nursery schools. In France the "Creches d'Arrondissements" of i9th century Paris have been largely superseded by nurseries connected with large factories and shops, or department stores. These are frequently used for infants, and give special facilities to nursing mothers for the breast-feeding of their own babies.
Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Germany, India and Japan en courage the provision of day-nurseries, and Poland, Serbia and Spain have recently followed their example.
See the publications of National Society of Day-Nurseries, x 17, Piccadilly, London, and of the National Federation of Day-Nurseries, New York. Maternity and Child Welfare Act 0918). (N. L. H.)