– Benson.A.R,
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| The nursery -Care of Infants |
From the standpoint of the baby, the nursery is the most important room in the house. Here he spends the greater part of his time, and here he receives his first impressions of the external world. His comfort and his health depend largely upon his surroundings. It is therefore necessary to make the nursery attractive and sanitary.
Windows : In selecting a room, it is first of all necessary that it should have plenty of windows and a southern exposure. Light and air are the first essentials of life, and there must be plenty of both in the nursery. The windows should be high enough from the floor to prevent draughts of air from striking small children who are beginning to walk, or if this is not possible, the cracks at the sides and bottoms of the windows should be covered with felt. The windows should be provided with two sets of shades, one of which is of dark material so as to exclude the light when necessary.
Draperies : No heavy draperies should be allowed in the room. Light, washable, sash curtains are permissible, but not necessary.
Location : In selecting a room for a nursery, bear in mind that it will probably be used as a sick room for cases of contagious diseases. For this reason it should be as far removed as possible from the rest of the house, preferably on the top floor, and it is a great convenience if there is an intermediate room between the nursery and the hall, and an adjoining sleeping room for the mother or nurse. If there is a bath room connected, so much the better.
Furniture : In selecting the furnishings for the room, it should be remembered that all the articles may have to be fumigated or possibly destroyed, and for this reason, simple, inexpensive articles should be chosen.
Floor : The floor of the nursery should be of unpolished wood. The bottoms of doors should be protected with felt to prevent draughts, and small rugs (on account of ease in cleaning) are much better than carpets.
Walls : Painted walls are better than paper, but in case it is necessary to use paper, avoid that which is brightly colored, especially green and yellow. Young children are susceptible to inhalation poisoning, and many a case of anaemia and nasal catarrh has apparently been due to chemicals in the wall paper. Most wall papers have the additional disadvantage that they cannot be washed.
Pictures : In selecting pictures for the nursery, avoid those with heavy, elaborate mouldings. Simple, unframed prints are perhaps best of all, as they are inexpensive and can be changed often enough to make a pleasant variety.
Bed : The bed and mattress are the most important articles of furniture in the room. The bed should be of iron, painted so that it can be carefully cleansed by wiping, and its sides should be high enough to prevent the child from climbing over them. Most nursery beds are too low. The bed should stand well up from the floor, not only for the convenience of the nurse, but to avoid the draughts of air which exist near the floor. It should be so placed in the room that the light does not fall directly upon the child’s face. The mattress should be of felt, so constructed that the cover can be removed and the mattress thoroughly cleaned and aired. The mattress should be covered with a rubber sheet, the softer and lighter the better. A pillow is unnecessary, and children are generally more comfortable without one. A child’s neck is short, and because of this the head should not be raised. Light weight, all wool blankets are the best covers. No spread except a sheet should be used. Blanket pins with elastic attached may be used for keeping the bedclothes in place.
Closets and Drawers : The child should have its own closets and drawers, the clothing of the nurse being kept in a separate room. The most convenient nursery chest of drawers is that kind which consists of a number of strong, covered, pasteboard boxes, arranged one above the other in a rack. Each one can be taken out and carried to the part of the room where it is needed, and all can be easily removed and cleaned.
Toys : In selecting toys for the nursery, it should be remembered that the child puts everything into its mouth. Therefore avoid painted things, and toys of woolen and flannel which cannot be easily cleansed; also those with sharp corners or parts which may be broken off and swallowed. Rubber toys with metal whistles are unsuitable because of the danger of swallowing the metal part. The test for all toys is whether they can be boiled or not. Any toy which can be boiled without injury is fairly safe for the child to play with.
Heating and Ventilation : The heating and ventilation of the nursery are of great importance. The air in the room should be pure, fresh and warm. The temperature should be between 68° and 70°. The best heating arrangement is an open wood fireplace, both on account of the quality of the heat and the ventilation. The fireplace should be protected by a screen, which should be so securely fastened in place that it cannot be pulled down. In steam heated rooms, the radiators should be located under the windows. A board two or three inches wide placed under the window will allow sufficient air to enter between the upper and lower sashes. The advantage of this method of ventilation is that it avoids direct currents of air. In case more air is required, the window can be opened at the top.
While it is true that children require an abundance of fresh air, it is also true that they are much more susceptible to cold and changes of temperature than adults. Never allow the room to become overheated, and never cool it off too quickly. Always remember that the temperature of the room near the floor is lower than that higher up in the room, and the child must be protected from the currents of air which exist in these lower levels.
In dusting and sweeping the nursery, great care should be used to avoid dust in the air. Damp cloths should be used on the walls and furniture, and bits of damp blotting paper spread on the floor before sweeping.
Scales : Every nursery should be provided with properly adjusted scales for weighing the baby. These should be capable of weighing as low as half ounces. The so-called kitchen scales with dials are not satisfactory nor are those from which the baby is suspended in a blanket. Fairbank’s “Express Package” scales provided with a basket or a large scoop are perhaps the best.