Caring for Baby’s Eyes

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 9, 1906

Caring for Baby’s Eyes

American Motherhood says: “Now for the baby’s sore eyes. Boil some old linen handkerchiefs; cut them into small pieces an inch and a half square; dissolve a teaspoonful of boracic acid in a pint of water, put this solution into a bottle and cork it up. Every morning strain some of this water into a teacup, then with one piece of the soft linen wash one eye, throw the linen away, and take a new piece of linen for the other eye; never use the same piece for both eyes, but immediately burn the piece used. Use tepid water, and do not rub the eyes.”

“If you are obliged to use hard water for baby’s baths, soften it with a pinch of borax, or, if there is a breaking out on any part of his body, add boiled starch to his bath, or put two tablespoonfuls of oatmeal in a piece of cheese-cloth, and squeeze that in the bath water until it looks milky. This is one of the best things for eruptions or chafing.”

The baby’s bath towels should be soft and absorptive, and the tender little body should be patted dry, rather than rubbed. Only the purest soap should be used, if any, in the bath. No scented soap should be tolerated. If the baby is kept clean, with close attention to its clothing, it has an aroma of its own that is more agreeable than any perfumery; but if you must use an odor, the scent of lavender is at once refreshing and clean-smelling, and it may be obtained by packing dried lavender blossoms among the baby’s linen.—Selected.