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The Ministry of Health and Healing
it may be necessary to protect the little ones from sudden or too
great changes of temperature, care should be taken that, sleeping or
waking, day or night, they breathe a pure, invigorating atmosphere.
In the preparation of the baby’s wardrobe, convenience, comfort,
and health should take priority over fashion or a desire to excite
admiration. The mother should not spend time in embroidery and
fancywork to make the little garments beautiful, thus taxing herself
with unnecessary work at the expense of her own health and the
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health of her child. She should not do sewing that severely taxes
eyes and nerves at a time when she needs much rest and pleasant
exercise. She should realize her obligation to cherish her strength,
that she may be able to meet the demands that will be made upon
her.
If the dress of the child combines warmth, protection, and com-
fort, one of the chief causes of irritation and restlessness will be
removed. The little one will have better health, and the mother will
not find the care of the child so heavy a tax upon her strength and
time.
Tight bands or waists hinder the action of the heart and lungs, and
should be avoided. No part of the body should at any time be made
uncomfortable by clothing that compresses any organ or restricts its
freedom of movement. The clothing of all children should be loose
enough to admit of the freest and fullest respiration, and so arranged
that the shoulders will support its weight.
In some countries the custom of leaving bare the shoulders and
limbs of little children still prevails. This custom cannot be too
severely condemned. The limbs, being remote from the center of cir-
culation, demand greater protection than other parts of the body. The
arteries that convey the blood to the extremities are large, providing
for a sufficient quantity of blood to afford warmth and nutrition. But
when the limbs are left unprotected or are insufficiently clad, the
arteries and veins become contracted, the sensitive portions of the
body are chilled, and the circulation of the blood is hindered.
In growing children all the forces of nature need every advantage
to enable them to perfect the physical frame. If the arms and legs
are insufficiently protected, children, and especially girls, are not
allowed to go out of doors unless the weather is mild. So they are