PREMATURE WEANING

Evening Star, Issue 25882, 28 August 1946, Page 3

PREMATURE WEANING

EFFECTS ON DENTAL WELFARE DANGEROUS DRIFT REPORTED . " The premature weaning of infants, often for little or no reason, i§ boding ill for the • children’s dental welfare, to say nothing of other; effects, it may have on the child’s general physical condition,” stated Mr E. Brebner, principal dental officer of health.-, education, in an - address to the conference of the New Zealand Dental Association this afternoon.

" Premature weaning does not ensure full and natural jaw development, on which- tile uiicrowded positions .or -the--teeth- in the-arches depend.-v There are - the possibilities : of inadequately- ; lmilt tooth structure, irregularities and discomforts in tooth eruption, and the development of bad habits. » From 'the - mother’s milk are derived’ the natural protections and immunities to illness.” . .’ . .v,, Mr Brebner went on to quote figures supplied by the Royal 'New...Zealand Society for* the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society). These showed that, in 1939, 81 per cent. ,of babies were breast-fed during the first three weeks ’ of life and only 9 per cent, after nine months. .In 1944 the figures' had fallen even lower, for only 69.5 per cent, were breast-fed within the first three weeks of life, -and. 6.5 per cent, after nine months. " It is estimated that ,the Plunket Society. sees - about .80 per cent, of the babies born in New Zealand. - These * figures will- therefore indicate fairly accurately the- 'true.', position. These are facts over which it behoves ns ■ all to ponder, and consider where we are : drifting,” concluded .Mr Brebner.