Foods and home making

1. Is it wise to bounce or “ boo at ” a little baby? Why? 2. Why do babies need sunshine ? 3. Can a baby get the benefit of sunshine by being placed in a room near a window containing ordinary glass ? Why ? 4. Why is cod-liver oil sometimes called bottled sunshine ? 5. How often should a baby be given a bath? 6. Why is it not advisable to tell little children ghost stories ? 7. Why should babies not suck their thumbs? How can they be broken of this habit ? What makes a baby happy? Is there a little baby in your home ? If so, it may be you help to take care of him or ieed him. Even though you may not take much care of baby, you doubtless want to help to make him happy. Making a little baby happy is largely keeping him well. When a baby is well and kindly treated, he is happy. Until a baby is at least a year old, he depends upon those who care for him for everything. It is said that the first year is the most im- portant time in life to lay a good foundation for health. Those who take care of a baby have a great responsibility in keeping him well. How should a baby be lifted and carried ? When a baby is very young, his little bones are not stiff enough for him to walk or to sit up alone. Because of this, he should be lifted and handled very gently and carefully. In fact, a baby should not be handled any more than is necessary. It is likely to make him 480 49° Health and Child Care nervous. If he is allowed to lie undisturbed, he will kick and wave his little arms. This is as much exercise as he should have. It is not well to rock a baby or to wheel him in a baby carriage for amusement. As a usual thing, a girl should not handle a baby before she is 14 or 13 years old.1 There are many things, however, a younger girl can do in helping an older person to take care of a baby. In holding a baby, support his neck and back. The young baby is not strong enough to hold up his head. His back may be strained or injured if not supported. In lifting a baby, sup- port his head and shoulders with your left hand and his body with your right hand. In this way his neck and back are pro- tected. In carrying a little baby, let his body rest against yours, with his head lying on your left shoulder. Is a baby harmed by careless caressing? Babies are so lovable that older people often like to fondle them. It is possible to harm a baby by caressing him too much or carelessly. Never kiss a baby on his mouth. Kiss his cheek or neck. From what you learned about disease bacteria in the mouth, you surely understand why kissing a baby on his Bps may do him harm. Sometimes a baby laughs when he is bounced or “ booed at.” After a time he is likely to cry because he is tired. Scaring or startling a baby makes him nervous. What kind of toys should babies have ? Have you noticed how often babies put things in their mouths? They also put things in their noses and ears. In buying or giving a toy to a baby, think whether the baby would be harmed by putting the toy in his mouth. Toys that have sharp points or edges, painted toys, jointed toys from which pieces small enough to swallow or to put in the nose or ears may break and wooly toys which catch 1 Note to the Teacher: The correct way of lifting and holding a baby may be dem- onstrated and practiced by using a large doll. Keeping the Baby Well and Happy 491