FRESH AIR FOR BABY

Baby's first journey out of doors depends upon so many contingencies
that no specific age can be given when it would be perfectly safe to
take it.

First, the weather and season of the year should be considered. The baby
should not be taken out at all when it is wet, or foggy, or very humid;
nor when it is extremely cold.

Second, the vigor or vitality of the individual child must be
considered. Some children can safely be taken out if the weather is
propitious when two weeks old, others cannot be taken out without risk
until they are two months old, regardless of the weather conditions. If
a child is robust at birth, and nurses well, and increases in weight
from the beginning, he can be taken out when he is two weeks old while
the sun shines during the middle of the day. If a child is small and
puny when born, and begins to have nursing troubles from the beginning,
does not increase in weight, is fretting, and crying, and sleeps
spasmodically, it would be unsafe to take it out before the sixth week
unless it is at a season of the year which would justify exposure to the
sunshine.

The question of suitable clothing will be important, and will decide the
advisability as to when the baby should go out. Every baby should be
dressed in wool weather is not too distinctly bad. Remember always to
[Transcriber's note: words missing in text] from neck to ankles. Its
head should be warmly clad. Dressed thus and well wrapped in blankets, a
healthy child is ready for an out-door trip at any time, if the
[Transcriber's note: words missing in text] have plenty of blankets
below the child as well as above it, if it is in a baby carriage. In
very cold weather the child should be buried in blankets, and a hot
water bottle can be wrapped in near his feet. Great care must be taken
that the water in the bottle is not too hot, and that it does not
actually touch the skin. No matter how many or how few blankets are
used, the face should be exposed directly to the fresh air. When the air
is very gusty, or high, a light veil can be laid over the face, but
never at any other time.

AIR BATHS FOR BABIES.--Babies necessarily require plenty of exercise and
plenty of fresh air, as has been pointed out. It is a splendid custom to
allow the baby to lie naked after his bath for half an hour. If the room
is comfortably warm, select a spot that is free from draughts, and lay
the baby on a pillow or two and let him kick and co