Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1916 — BABY WEEK TO BE OBSERVED BY WHOLE COUNTRY [ARTICLE]

BABY WEEK TO BE OBSERVED BY WHOLE COUNTRY

More Than Four Hundred Communities in United States Preparing for It. WOMEN’S CLUBS TAKE HOLD Federal Department of Labor Pointing Way for Effective Work—State Health Officers of Various States Are Giving Active Co-Operation. Washington. “The facts about American babies and America s responsibility to her babies will this year be known as never before, because the first week in March will be Baby week throughout the country,” said Miss Julia Lathrop, chief of the children’s bureau of the department of Labor. Four hundred communities, representing every state in the Union, are planning for Baby week, so that for seven dayk the needs of the babies may be presented that all parents in these communities may learn a little better how to care for their babies and all the citizens may realize that they have a special obligation to safeguard the conditions surrounding babies. The Baby week idea, according to the children’s bureau, originated in Chicago about two years ago. Then New York had a Baby week, and also Pittsburgh and other cities. Such practical benefit has in each case resulted that the General Federation of Women’s Clubs has undertaken to promote this nation-wide observance. State health officials and national organizations interested in public health and child welfare have taken up the plan and in various ways are giving it not only their sanction but their active co-operation. The extension divisions of the state universities have promised special assistance in interesting and helping Baby weeks in rural communities. —Causes of Infant Deaths, The children’s bureau believes that ißabr week will give more parents a chance to learn the accepted principles of infant care, and will awaken every American to his responsibility for the death of the 300,000 babies who, according to the census estimates, die every year before they are twelve months old. Therefore the children’s bureau has prepared a special bulletin of practioal suggestions for Baby week campaigns, adapted to the varying needs of communities of different types. Copies of this bulletin may be had free of charge from the children’s bureau here. ‘ ~~ This bureau is conducting a detailed inquiry into the social and economic causes of babies' deaths. Its report shows that the inquiry completed during the last year revealAn average infant death rate of 134 out of every 1,000 babies in a steel-mak-ing and coal mining town as against a rate of 84 out of every 1,000 in a residential suburb. An even greater contrast Is found between the most congested section and the choicest residential section in each of these two communities. Commenting upon these findings the report says: “The more favorable the civic and family surroundings and the better the general conditions of-life the more clearly are they reflected in a lessenedinfaat mortality.” The report shows, however, that no deductions can be made concerning the relation between the general infant mortality rate 1 and industrial employment of women until the facts about the number and proportion of mothers at work contained in the un-

published census returns are made available by tabulation. Data for Study. This tabulation is especially important to the studies of the children’s bureau. Among the subjects of study which the law directs the bureau to undertake are infant mortality, the birth rate, orphanage, and desertion, all requiring information as to family structure. For 1890, 1900 and 1910 this information was secured, but the material has not been tabulated because there has been thus far no public demandfor it such as secures, for example, the comprehensive information regarding manufacturers furnished by the bureau of the census every five years. But neither the census bureau nor the children’s bureau has funds to make the tabulation that would render this body of human factsavailable for use. Meanwhile the children’s bureau is pursuing its inquiry into the relation of babies’ deaths to wages and social conditions, believing “that the inquiry will prove increasingly valuable ag. a stimulus to more active protection of the youngest and tenderest lives throughout the nation.” Such practical results have already followed the inquiry in two communities as the securing of infant-welfare nurses, improving the milk supply, and rousing community interest In kindred activities. The bureau also approaches the problem of infant mortality in a constructive fashion through two pamphlets entitled “Parental Care and In fant Care,” which are sent upon request to mothers. Program for Baby Week. The feature of Baby week that affords the best opportunity for enlisting large numbers of-volunteer workers is a series of. special events for each day in the week. Some of those mentioned in the following list may be suggestive. Baby Sunday may well begin tlje Baby week. The committee in charge of this part of the campaign should secure a list of the leaders of the religious bodies of the community.* The members of this committee should call upon or write to each, explaining the purpose of Baby week, and asking each to preach on that subject. In order to aid in the preparation of such sermons, a copy of an outline of information on the subject of Baby week should be furnished. A letter from the mayor of the city Indorsing the Baby-day movement may be read from the pulpit. If the governor or state health department has issued a proclamation or a letter Indorsing the setting aside of a certain week for Baby week, this may also be read from the pulpit on this dg.y. Sunday schools may arrange special programs for their meetings on that day. The committee may send a request to the superintendent of each Sunday school that such a program be arranged. Church societies of men may arrange that their meetings held during the week shall include a short discussion of the subject. The discussion should have as a leader someone with special knowledge of baby welfare. Church societies of women meeting during the week may plan similar programs. Mass Meeting or Rally. A mass meeting may well form a veryjufepful feature of Baby, week. An interesting speaker from another city may be secured for this meeting; many state departments of health are able, on application, to send out speakers for meetings if the expenses of such a speaker are paid. Short talks by representative people of the community should be included.’The talkß at thiß meeting should be on subjects of general interest. Such subjects as “The Purpose of Baby Week;” "What a City Owes to Its Babies;” “After Baby Week, What?” “This Community’s Baby Death Rate;” “What Other Cities Have Done for Their Babies,” might be included. On Flag day, which may come either on the Saturday before Baby week opens or on Monday, banners with the Baby-week emblem are distributed to the homes of all the babies under one year of age that have been ' V . i A' •

registered with the health department. These, banners.jnay be made up very cheaply of muslin with the emblem printed In appropriate colors. The advantages of Flag day are that with the banners flying from the windows the sections where there are the moat babies are made particularly aware of the fftct that it is Baby week, and also that the flags are a direct recognition of the fact that these babies have been registered. With each pennant should be delivered a program of Baby week and a leaflet on the care of the baby. School Day. -On one day during the week special jexerclses may be held in the schools throughout the city. These may come as a regular part of the school work or be held in the afternoon as a special entertainment to which parents are invited. Some of the following features may be included In the program for this day: 1. The reading of a letter to the schoolchildren from the mayor or other official telling them how they can help save the babies. 2. A talk by the principal or teacher on what the children can do for their baby brothers and sisters. - St The reading of one or several compositions on “How to Keep Baby Well,” which have been selected from among the compositions written by the children in a certain room or school. It *is quite likely that the newspapers will publish one or more of the best of these compositions. 4. In schools where Little Mothers leagues are organized the program may consist of compositions and demonstrations by members of these leagues and of talks by their teachers. If no Little Mothers’ |pgues are at present organized, the school day may, afford an opportunity for their organization in many schools. 5. The performance of a play. If it is desirable to have daily programs at the headquarters, some of the best programs presented in the schools may be repeated at the central headquarters later in the week. One day in the week may be devoted especially to the fathers of babies. If the weather permits, an outing day for mothers ant’ babies forms an attractive feature. This may take the form of an automobile ride, a morning or an afternoon spent in the park, or an excursion on the water. If It Is possible, an alternative indoor program for bad weather should be planned. , Visiting Day. On this day a tour of inspection of all of the places where any work is done for babies may take place. Such a day Is very important in communities where infant-welfare work has been begun either by the health department or by private organizations and where it is desirable that the pub-' lie shall know of the work being done and the need for further work. This will include infant-welfare stations, day nurseries, baby hospitals, and any other place where something is done for babies. City officials and representatives of men’s organizations and of societies for civic and mutual benefit should be invited to take part in the tour. In communities where there is a special need for better birth registration it may be well worth while to concentrate the attention for one day on the importance of registering babies’ births. On this day all the physicians might be sent a letter asking their aid in. securing prompt and complete birth registration for their city. The newspapers sbould-be furnished with incidents showing the practicalvalue of birth registration. The general suggestion may be made that parents will do well to ascertain whether the births of their children have been duly recorded.