A word of warning here about the care of the diapers. They should never be used twice without washing. When soiled by a movement of the bowels, they should be washed off immediately and then dropped into a pail of water until the mother or nurse has time to wash them thoroughly. Each wet diaper is added to the same pail. It is a great mistake to wash these diapers in a solution of sal soda, washing-powders, or strong soap. If a good white soap is used the mother will be repaid in the freedom of her child from chafing or eruptions. The diapers, like all of baby’s clothing, should be rinsed until absolutely free from soap. Nightdresses, skirts, and slips should not be starched. Diapers may be taken from the line when dry, smoothed, folded, and placed under a weight—never ironed. All of this takes time; but it is also a time-saver, because the dry, clean, comfortable baby makes very little trouble in the household and interrupts the mother in her duties only for the regular routine of bathing, feeding, and undressing. Many mothers who spend hours embroidering tiny frocks or sewing on yards of lace will hurry through the process of bathing, or be careless in the handling of diapers and other clothing which will chafe the baby’s delicate skin. Love which expresses itself in the overdressing of the child is far less practical than that which expresses itself in cleanliness and sweetness for all that surrounds the child. The careless, untidy mother has no right to expect Nature to keep her child fine and healthy. He may be well proportioned and strong at birth, but he will soon lose strength and health if he is not kept clean. A child has the right to cleanliness; and the child who grows up careless, untidy about his person, generally owes his displeasing habits to the thoughtlessness or indifference of the mother, however well she may love him. CHAPTER IX FRESH AIR AND SLEEP AS HEALTH PRODUCERS HEATING AND VENTILATING THE NURSERY—OUTDOOR NAPS—SLEEPING HOURS FOR THE NORMAL BABY—WHY SOME BABIES DO NOT SLEEP. What the bath is to the baby’s skin, fresh air is to the baby’s lungs and entire organism; while sleep bears the same relation to the baby’s nerves that food does to its body. The lungs and, incidentally, the blood are purified by fresh air, and the baby should have it in plenty practically from the day of its birth.