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Care of the Infant.Many of those which have survived the first difficulties of life with the assistance of the mother's breast, die when they are compelled to surrender this aid and masticate their own food. Hence it happens that at the end of four years there remain alive but three out of every four infants born. Yet even without these figures it would be self-evident that the new-born infant demands especial and intelligent care and attention. In the course of a few days after birth the navel-string, which has been at delivery enclosed under a flannel bandage, withers and falls off. If, before this happens, there be a decided odor of putrefaction, it is necessary to cleanse and dress the string somewhat frequently. It sometimes occurs that after the stump has dropped off the navel remains unhealed, raw, perhaps even ulcerated. If this occur, the matter should be brought at once to the attention of a physician, since the result may be serious injury to the child. For some weeks after birth this spot in the abdominal wall remains weak, and may easily be made to protrude when the child strains, especially if the infant be addicted to violent crying and screaming. In such cases there may result a rupture, or hernia - a source of serious annoyance and even danger in subsequent years. To guard against this, it is advisable in every case to place a soft pad over the navel and keep it bound on by means of a flannel bandage or adhesive plaster. While the clothing of the child is to be regulated to a certain extent by the climate and season, yet it will be found advantageous to place flannel next to its skin all the year round. The advantages comprise not only the maintenance of an equable temperature, but also the absorption of the secretions of the skin, which might otherwise be a source of irritation. This regulation acquires double importance in the case of those infants prematurely born, and, therefore, less capable of maintaining an independent temperature. A most important element in securing the well-being of the infant is strict cleanliness ; and in nothing else is the difference between an attentive and a careless nurse more evident than in the management of the napkins and in the protection of the child's skin from its own discharges. It may be, in general, stated that soreness and rawness about the child's thighs indicate neglect of cleanliness either of the infant itself or of the napkins. So far as the child is concerned, there should be, and is usually, no difficulty, since the warm bath is everywhere procurable. It is, however, to be borne in mind, that the infant can be bathed to excess ; during the first weeks of its existence the child should not be put into the bath more than once a day, nor remain there more than two or three minutes ; feeble children must be bathed with still more caution, since the warm bath is quite exhausting. Yet many infants which are regularly and carefully cleansed suffer, nevertheless, from soreness of the skin ; and many a mother applies industriously, but unsuccessfully, a variety of baby powders, and is puzzled to know why the child's skin remains sore. There is just one slovenly habit which is apparently responsible for much of the trouble of this sort : many mothers, namely, seem to consider that the napkins require washing only after being soiled ; and that if only wet they may be reapplied after drying by the stove. This idea is, of course, a mistake, since the urine contains a number of substances which are extremely irritating when applied to the skin ; the napkins should be washed in one case as well as in the other. After the first ten or twelve days the child may be carried out thoroughly wrapped up if the weather be properly warm (70 ° F.); and unless the inclemency of the season absolutely forbid it, the infant should receive a daily airing and sunning as regularly as plants. But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy! Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.
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