Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 March 1902 — BABIES TODDLE TOO SOON. [ARTICLE]

BABIES TODDLE TOO SOON.

One Reason Why So Many Children Are Bandy or Bow-Legged, Few children of the preset day are perfect of Umb. A largejnajorlty are either bow-legged or bandy-legged, a deformity that in most circumstances becomes permanent and is a source of great annoyance through life. Mothers in teaching their little ones how to walk do not stop to think how the bones grow. The bones in a baby’s legs are Soft, half cartilaginous and very easily bent out of their proper shape. Care should be taken not to allow a child to walk too soon and, above all, not to keep him on his feet for too long a time or when he Is at all tired. When he is ready he will try of his own accord, and he geenrally knows what he Is about. Urging a child to walk prematurely is productive of lasting injury, as bow legs are only too easily formed. Let a child creep as long as it wants to. Give him plepty of room to kick around in and he will be strengthening his muscles and getting ready for work. Suppose he is backward about walking, what difference does it make? A child who follows his own Ideas in learning to walk will succeed much better and learn self-reliance at the same time. The same rule holds good in regard to sitting up. If he is forced to sit up too soon It will have a tendency to weaken his back and Interfere with his growth. Older children should be taught to sit erect. When tired Insist upon a child lying down Instead of sitting down In the chair until he Is literally sitting on the end of bls spine. Such a habit Is easily formed and hard to correct, resulting In a poor carriage, bad form and narrow chest. If you observe such a child you will find he suffers from dizziness and headaches. as the curved form of the spine results In a pulUng of the muscles at the back of the neck, and the difficulty is certain to be removed If the child Is taught to sit properly.