[Footnote 1: See Appendix B, p. 109.] =Oil bath.= When the baby is born there is on his skin, particularly in the creases, a white cheeselike substance that can be removed only with oil. Therefore the baby’s first bath should be of warm olive oil or vaseline, applied with a piece of soft cotton and allowed to remain for an hour or more and then very gently wiped off. A water bath should not be given until the second day. =A sponge bath.= A sponge bath should be given daily up to the sixth or ninth day, after which the warm tub bath should be substituted. Essentials for the bath are: 1. A warm room (72° F.) 2. A bath thermometer 3. A large flannel bath apron 4. Two basins of warm water 5. Two soft washcloths 6. Two large soft towels 7. Olive-oil soap or pure castile soap 8. Pure talcum powder 9. Two per cent boric-acid solution 10. Absorbent cotton The toilet articles should be kept on a white enamel tray, which is easy to clean. After everything is prepared for the bath the fresh clothing should be warmed. The mother puts on her apron and takes the baby in her lap; she then undresses him and wraps him in the bath apron. The temperature of the bath should be 100° F. by the thermometer, and this should never be guessed at, because the water feels very much warmer to the sensitive skin of the baby than to the hand of an adult. The head and face are first washed with the warm water and carefully dried. The body is then bathed with the warm water and soap, rinsed with clear water, wrapped in soft towels, and dried by patting. Great care must be taken to dry thoroughly all the folds and creases of the skin. A little lanolin or sweet oil should then be gently rubbed into the folds or a little talcum powder may be dusted on the neck, behind the ears, under the arms and knees, in the groin, and on the buttocks. Wipe away all superfluous powder, as it is apt to get wet and cake, and will then irritate the skin. For the tub bath see page 63. =Dressing the baby.= In dressing and undressing the baby the garment should be put on and off over the feet. This will prevent dust or other foreign particles on the clothing from entering the eyes, nose, or mouth of the baby. After the baby is dressed his nose, ears, and eyes should be cleaned by means of twisted cotton dipped in a two per cent solution of boric acid. A fresh piece of cotton should be used for each eye, ear, and nostril and should then be burned. DEVELOPMENT =Crying.= It is necessary for a newborn baby to cry a little every day; this tends to expand his lungs. =Sight.= A newborn baby is not able to distinguish objects, but his eyes are very sensitive to light and must be carefully protected. =Hearing.= The hearing soon becomes acute; therefore loud and sudden noises should be avoided, as they startle and excite the baby. It is well to keep him in a room away from noise and confusion.