The infant's dress should consist of a flannel band, a white shirt reaching to the middle of the abdomen, and, on top of this, a woollen knit or woven jacket. The buttocks, genitals and thighs should be wrapped in a triangu larly folded diaper. The flannel band should be long enough to reach twice round the baby's body, and should not be more than four inches wide. If brought up too high it may interfere with breathing. The band should be closed on the left side, preferably by stitching with needle and thread. If this cannot be done, the smallest safety-pins should he used. The diaper should be made of soft cotton, about eighteen inches square, folded once. Knit diapers are light and elastic, and greatly to be recom mended. Under the diaper, but never inside, may be placed a small quilted pad or a piece of waterproof material, in order to protect the skirts. The baby is thereupon wrapped in a flannel blanket, which is fastened under the arms, and left open in the back. This blanket should he so long that it may be turned up over the feet and legs and fastened at the height of the navel with safety-pins. This will keep the baby's feet warm, and yet allow it room enough to move its limbs. Swaddling-bands, which prevent free movements of the limbs, as well as drawers made from waterproof material, are injurious to the infant's health.
The different garments should be changed at least once a day, and should be kept scrupulously clean. The diaper, of course, must be changed whenever necessary. A wet diaper should never be merely dried and then used again, for the urine may contain irritating substances which will cause redness and chafing, or even eczema on buttocks and thighs. Soiled diapers should be kept in a covered pail, and should be boiled and washed as soon as possible.
When the baby is about five months old it becomes able to sit up, and can be carried in an erect position. , The flannel blanket is now discarded, and. in its stead, a short flannel petticoat, with a cotton or flannel body (accord ing to the seasons), is used. A white petticoat, reaching far below the feet, is generally used when the baby is carried out of doors. The feet and legs, no longer protected by the blanket, now require special covering. At first the feet may be covered with closely knitted woollen socks ; later, soft kid shoes and stockings of silk, wool, or cotton may be used. The change from long to short garments should not he made during cold weather.
The baby's resting-place, should preferably consist of a stationary bed or basket ; a cradle is not advisable. Beds made of iron, with a wire-spring bottom, and resting on castors, are most practical. In some of these beds the high sides are made to turn down, so that the baby can be conveniently put to bed. On the other hand, when the baby is able to stand up, the high sides will prevent its falling out of the bed. It is wiser to purchase a bed which is large enough to last for several years.
The most suitable nightdress for a young baby consists of a diaper, a white shirt, and a flannel blanket which is long enough to be gathered in at the hem. This will prevent the baby from getting cold feet even if it kick off the outer covering. The foundation of the bed should consist of a firm mattress, over which is spread a linen sheet. In order to protect the bed a piece of waterproof material may be placed immediately under the baby. or a layer of wood-wool or peat-moss wrapped in linen may answer the same purpose. The head should rest upon a moderately hard pillow. During the
cold season the bed may be warmed with hot-water bottles, but these should be removed before the baby is put to bed. The infant should not sleep in the same bed with its mother. This had habit may cause the sleeping mother to lie upon the little one and suffocate it.
Weakly infants, and children who are horn prematurely, should he wrapped in cotton-waddings or, if the expense can be borne, placed in a so-called incubator, in which the temperature may be kept uniform. Such incubators are made of iron and glass, and supplied with contrivances regulating the constant circulation and moistening of the air. A uniform temperature of 86° to 95° F. should be maintained.
The infant's room should be dry, light, and easily ventilated ; its tem perature should be kept between 65° and 6S° F. The air of the room should be kept free from contamination by tobacco-smoke, the odours of washing, smells from the kitchen, and the fumes of smoking oil-lamps. The bed should be so placed as to prevent glaring light from falling on the sleeping baby ; if necessary, a light curtain, which does not interfere with the admis sion of air, may be used. The sleeping child should be guarded against sudden, loud noises. The bustle of the streets and other regular noises will not disturb its sleep. Nurslings accustomed to system will get hungry at regular intervals, and will awake at such times. It is therefore advisable to feed the baby at certain fixed hours, even during its first days of life, and not to let its crying and restlessness induce one to feed it at irregular times. See also NURSLING, NOURISHING O.
Attention to the skin is of great importance in the care of an infant. Dirt allowed to accumulate on the skin will cause the formation of crusts and scurf, which become irritated and inflamed, secreting a foul-smelling pus. This, in turn, will give rise to small, globular, hard structures about the ears, on the throat, and on the nape of the neck. These become larger and larger, generally grow.soft, perforate the skin covering them, and discharge a stinking pus, which produces pustules wherever it is allowed to dry. If the mother persists in believing the silly prattle of neighbours who assert that these pustules constitute an " outlet for disease," and that the discharge of pus is beneficial to the baby, she may rest assured that her darling either becomes so weakened that it dies, or that the scurf prepares the soil for the dreaded disease generally known as SCROVULA (which see). Careful and frequent washing, using plenty of soap, will most effectually prevent diseases of the skin, and will also guard against the soreness which often arises when the baby lies in urine for some time. The treatment of this soreness is very simple. After washing the sore part with soap and water, it should be dusted thickly with fine talcum powder, obtainable at any drug-store. This should be repeated whenever the linen is changed. Small children often present numerous water-white pimples, especially in places which incline to profuse perspiration, such as the forehead. As a rule this symptom is not caused by disease, and does not require special treatment ; but care must be taken that the babies are not kept too warm so that they perspire too much.