These directions, etc., are for healthy infants. Directions for such as
are suffering from digestive disturbances will be given later. I have in
preceding pages given formulas for feeding children. I give these
additional, because not all children can be fed the same way and it may be
well to have the two sets of formulas.
What important parts are to be remembered when we are modifying cow's milk
for the early month's feeding? That sugar is the most easily digested, fat
comes next, while the proteids (curd) are the most difficult.
What relation should the fat and proteids bear to each other during the
earlier periods? Usually in healthy infants the fat (cream) should be
three times the proteids (curds). Some healthy infants do not digest fat
so well and they should have only twice as much fat as proteids
(curds--skim-milk).
What per cent milk must be used to obtain three times as much fat as
proteids?
Ten per cent milk.
How can we obtain ten per cent milk? As top milk, described on another
page, or by using plain milk and ordinary cream (sixteen per cent), in
equal parts mixed; or it may be obtained directly from the milk
laboratories.
[ALL ABOUT BABY 581]
Which is better to do, use the top-milk or mix plain milk and ordinary
cream? If the milk is fresh from the cows, it is best then to use the
top-milk, because the food can then be made up after it is only a few
hours old.
If one uses bottled milk, in cities, the upper third may be used, but if
milk and cream are bought separately it is usually more convenient to mix
these, as cream will not rise uniformly upon the milk a second time.
What per cent milk must be used to obtain twice as much fat as proteids?
Use for dilution a seven per cent milk, that is, milk containing seven per
cent fat, as in this milk the fat is just twice the proteids.
How is this obtained? Same as top-milk, described on another page; or by
mixing three parts of plain milk and one part of ordinary cream (sixteen
per cent), or by obtaining it directly from the milk laboratories.
How should we prepare the food for the early months? Granted you make up
twenty ounces at a time, first obtain the ten per cent, or seven per cent,
milk to be used, then take the number of ounces of this called for in the
formula desired. One must remember that to make twenty ounces of food one
ounce of milk sugar (or three even tablespoonfuls) and one ounce of
lime-water must be used. The rest of the food is boiled water and the per
cent milk.
FIRST SERIES--Five formulas for early months for ten per cent milk:
Formulas. 1 2 3 4 5
10 per cent milk 2 oz. 3 oz. 4 oz. 5 oz. 6 oz.
*Milk Sugar 1 oz. 1 oz. 1 oz. 1 oz. 1 oz.
Lime-water 1 oz. 1 oz. 1 oz. 1 oz. 1 oz.
Boiled water 17 oz. 16 oz. 15 oz. 14 oz. 13 oz.
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
20 oz. 20 oz. 20 oz. 20 oz. 20 oz.
*The milk sugar takes no space as it is always dissolved in the boiled
water.
How can we strengthen this food? By gradually increasing the milk (top
milk) and decreasing the amount of water.
SECOND SERIES--Of five formulas for the early months from the seven per
cent milk. This is weaker in fat (cream), etc., about one-third:
Formulas. 1 2 3 4 5
7 per cent, milk 2 oz. 3 oz. 4 oz. 5 oz. 6 oz.
Milk Sugar 1 oz. 1 oz. 1 oz. 1 oz. 1 oz.
Lime-water 1 oz. 1 oz. 1 oz. 1 oz. 1 oz.
Boiled water 17 oz. 16 oz. 15 oz. 14 oz. 13 oz.
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Food 20 oz. 20 oz. 20 oz. 20 oz. 20 oz.
How can I decide which series of formulas to use? A strong child with good
digestion can be given from the first series, ten per cent milk.
A smaller, weaker child, and whose digestion is not so good, or with one
who has tried the first series and did not do well, should use the second
series of formulas.
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What is the reason the food is made so weak at first? The infant's stomach
is made to digest mother's milk, not cows' milk, so we must begin with
weak cows' milk, and the infant's stomach can thus be trained to digest
it. Strong milk would be very liable to seriously upset the child's
digestion.
How rapidly can I increase the food in strength, that is, go from formula
1 to 2, 3, 4, and 5, of either series? This can not be told, absolutely.
It depends upon the infant, how it bears the food. Usually you can begin
on formula one on the second day, formula two on the fourth day; three,
after seven or ten days, but after that make the increase slower. If the
infant is large, strong and of good digestion, he may be able to take of
formula five by the time he is three or four weeks old. A weak child, or
one with feeble digestion must go much slower, and such an one may not
reach formula five until it is three or four months old. Mothers should
remember it is safer to increase the strength of the food very gradually;
some infants should have an increase of only one-half ounce instead of one
ounce; thus: three to three and one-half ounces, etc. Two or three days
should be allowed at least between each increase of food.
May I not go by a general rule in increasing the food? Yes, increase the
food when the infant is not satisfied, but is digesting well.
How does an infant show this? He drains the bottle hungrily and cries when
it is taken away. He may begin to fret a half hour or so before the time
for the next feeding. He often sucks his fingers immediately after
feeding.
If I wish to prepare more than 20 ounces of food, what proportions shall I
use? To make 25 ounces, add one-fourth more of each ingredient. To make 30
ounces, add one-half more of each ingredient. To make 35 ounces, add
three-fourths more of each ingredient. To make 40 ounces, double each
ingredient.
For example, 25 ounces of food would call for--2-1/2 ounces of milk; 1-1/4
ounces of milk sugar; 1-1/4 ounces of lime-water; 21-1/4 ounces of boiled
water.
For 30 ounces of food, proportions would be--Milk, 3 ounces; milk sugar,
1-1/2 ounces; lime-water, 1-1/2 ounces; boiled water, 25-1/2 ounces.
How much more should be made at one time? Five ounces may be made, but the
first few days only two or three ounces of the additional should be given;
four ounces the next two days, and after two days more may give the five
ounces additional that has been made; that is, twenty-five ounces in all.
How much increase can be given at each feeding? Not more than one-quarter
of an ounce.
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