Better babies and their careRichardson, Anna Steese
Science
Better babies and their care
Richardson, Anna Steese
Infants -- Care; Infants -- Health and hygiene
The mother who has a nurse-girl should talk to her very seriously about
the care of the child’s genitals and about guarding him against the
formation of any bad habits.
Children who have acquired this habit are generally nervous, restless,
and irritable. During the act itself the child’s face flushes, and this
is followed by violent perspiration on the forehead and face; then
drowsiness sets in; but the child does not sleep well. He has a dull
face and generally an anemic appearance.
In infants cleanliness and plentiful powdering will soon cure the
habit. Older children must be watched and disciplined, not with
punishment, but with reasoning and firmness.
Nervousness is a condition which may become a habit. Some children
are easily frightened, cry out when left in the dark, or indulge in
repeated little actions like blinking the eyes, clearing the throat,
shrugging the shoulders, and making spasmodic movements with the legs
and arms. Such a child should be examined by a physician and, if there
is real nervous trouble, treated correctly. If it is habit, the child
may be given firmly to understand that he is not pleasant and not
pretty when he does such things, but when he refrains from doing them
he is more likable and attractive. The average child does want people
to love him, does like to be admired; and this is the surest way of
teaching him self-control.
Sometimes a child is nervous because his parents are nervous; or he
does not have enough fresh air; or does not sleep in a quiet room; he
has too much excitement; sees too many people; or is taken into crowds.
Plenty of fresh air and sleep and regular habits will cure this form of
nervousness.
After all, habits of eating, sleeping, bathing, the regular movements
of the bowels, the control of the urine, even the control of the
temper, are the result of regularity on the part of the mother. She
starts her baby in life by establishing a regular routine for feeding,
sleeping, bathing, clothing, and exercise in fresh air. The baby fits
into this little routine complacently.
When a child is irregular in any of its habits, it is simply because
the mother has not realized the importance of routine. The mother waits
on the child when she has time, and neglects him when she has not. The
child becomes nervous and irritable under this lack of system, and
demands attention whenever he wakes up.
The child who has never known any habit except that of going to bed at
six at night and waking up at six in the morning follows this course
with little variation until he is old enough to learn from other
children that one may sit up till all hours if one cries for it. Up to
this time he has been very comfortable in his habit of early retiring;
now he demands the privilege of sitting up with his elders; and if he
is allowed to do this he is started on one very bad habit, fretting and
fuming until his wishes are granted.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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