1. The new-born infant requires only the mother's milk. The true
mother will nurse her child if it is a possibility. The infant will
thrive better and have many more chances for life.
2. The mother's milk is the natural food, and nothing can fully
take its place. It needs no feeding for the first few days as it
was commonly deemed necessary a few years ago. The secretions in the
mother's breast are sufficient.
3. Artificial Food. Tokology says: "The best artificial food is cream
reduced and sweetened with sugar of mill. Analysis shows that human
milk contains more cream and sugar and less casein than the milk of
animals."
4. Milk should form the basis of all preparations of food. If the
milk is too strong, indigestion will follow, and the child will lose
instead of gaining strength.
WEANING.--The weaning of the child depends much upon the strength and
condition of the mother. If it does not occur in hot weather, from
nine to twelve months is as long as any child should be nursed.
FOOD IN WEANING.--Infants cry a great deal during weaning, but a few
days of patient perseverance will overcome all difficulties. Give the
child purely a milk diet, Graham bread, milk crackers and milk, or a
little milk thickened with boiled rice, a little jelly, apple sauce,
etc., may be safely used. Cracked wheat, oatmeal, wheat germ, or
anything of that kind thoroughly cooked and served with a little cream
and sugar, is an excellent food.
MILK DRAWN FROM THE BREASTS.--If the mother suffers considerably from
the milk gathering in the breast after weaning the child, withdraw it
by taking a bottle that holds about a pint or a quart, putting a piece
of cloth wrung out in warm water around the bottle, then fill it with
boiling water, pour the water out and apply the bottle to the breast,
and the bottle cooling will form a vacuum and will withdraw the milk
into the bottle. This is one of the best methods now in use.
RETURN OF THE MENSES.--If the menses return while the mother is
nursing, the child should at once be weaned, for the mother's milk
no longer contains sufficient nourishment. In case the mother should
become pregnant while the child is nursing it should at once be
weaned, or serious results will follow to the health of the child. A
mother's milk is no longer sufficiently rich to nourish the child or
keep it in good health.
CARE OF THE BOTTLE.--If the child is fed on the bottle great care
should be taken in keeping it absolutely clean. Never use white
rubber nipples. A plain form of bottle with a black rubber nipple is
preferable.
CHILDREN should not be permitted to come to the table until two years
of age.
CHAFING.--One of the best remedies is powdered lycopodium; apply it
every time the babe is cleaned; but first wash with pure castile
soap; Pears' soap is also good. A preparation of oxide of zinc is also
highly recommended. Chafing sometimes results from an acid condition
of the stomach; in that case give a few doses of castoria.
COLIC.--If an infant is seriously troubled with colic, there is nothing
better than camomile or catnip tea. Procure the leaves and make tea
and give it as warm as the babe can bear.
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