The method at first is, to give the infant a single plunge.  Afterward, when he becomes older, and more inured to it, he may be plunged several times in succession.

On taking him out of the bath, the skin should be wiped perfectly dry, as in the case of the warm bath, and with the same or an increased degree of attention to other circumstances—­the temperature of the room, the avoiding currents of air, &c.  He should next be put in a soft, warm blanket, and be kept for some time in a state of gentle motion; and after a little time, should be dressed.

I have already mentioned the importance of avoiding the manifestation of fear, when we bathe a child; and the caution is particularly necessary in the administration of the cold bath.  Some writers even recommend, that during the whole process of undressing, bathing, exercising, and dressing, singing should be employed.  There is philosophy in this advice, and it is easily tried; but I cannot speak of it from experience.

There is one thing which may serve to calm our apprehensions—­if we have any—­of danger; which is, that though the child’s lungs are feeble at first, from their not having been, like the heart, accustomed to previous action, yet when they get fairly into motion and action, and the child is a few months old, they are probably as strong, if not stronger, in proportion, than those of adults.

Bathing in cold water should never be performed immediately after a full meal.  Neither is it desirable to go to the contrary extreme, and bathe when the stomach has been long empty; nor when the child’s mental or bodily powers are more than usually exhausted by fatigue.

Although I have given these rules for those who are determined to use the cold bath with their children, yet, for fear I shall be misunderstood, I must be suffered to repeat, in this place, that, uninformed as people generally are in regard to physiology, I cannot advise even its moderate use.  On the contrary, I would gladly dissuade from it, as most likely, in the way it would inevitably be used, to do more harm than good.

There is no sort of objection to what might be called local bathing with cold water.  If the child’s head is hot at any time, the temples, and indeed the whole upper part of the head, may be very properly wet with moderately cold water—­taking care to avoid wetting the clothes.  But avoid, by all means, the common but foolish practice of putting spirits in the water.

A tea-spoonful of cold water cannot be too early put into the mouth of the infant.  The object is to cleanse or rinse the mouth; and the process may be aided by wiping it out with a piece of soft linen rag.  If a part or all of the water should be swallowed, no harm will be done.  This practice, commenced almost as soon as children are born, has saved many a sore mouth.

There are other forms of bathing besides those already mentioned; among which are the shower bath, the vapor bath, and the medicated bath.  The shower bath—­for which purpose the water is commonly used cold—­is but poorly adapted to the wants of infants.  The shock is much greater than the common cold bath, and more apt to frighten; and fear is unfavorable to reaction, or the production of a genial glow.