OUR BABIES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11827, 7 January 1933, Page 11

OUR BABIES

(By "Hygmn.”) Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health, of "Women and Children (Blanket, Society). “It is wiser to pot up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain, an ambulance at the bottom.” Til G HOLIDAYS. At this season of the year many mothers are making preparations 1 01 taking the family on holiday. This event is perhaps not looked upon, -with such eagerness by mother as it is by the other members of the family. for so often baby is upset, the older child is spoilt, and the real benefit io the family as a whole is lost, THE BABY. Tn the ease of a young baby a- holiday should make little or no difference to daily habits of sloop and feeding. As'far as possible observe the routine carried out at home. Don’t keep baby out ail evening or awake all da*' to amuse bis elders. A mother taking bar baby to visit friends would do well to ascertain that- these friends are in sympathy with and will help to carry on those habits which sbo has established at home, otherwise it is bettor to give up the holiday fo,- the first year. FOOD. IT the infant be breast ted thoiv is no difficulty as to his food, and thole follows —loss luggage to take. 'file bottle-fed baby presents quite a problem. His 5-1 hours’ supply of humanised milk' should be freshly made as late as possible before starting the journey. It is wisest, when travelling, to bring it to the boil, and then keep it at that temperature for 10 minutes. It is extremely difficult to keep milk cold enough to ho safe for baby when travelling in hoi weather, as u is in lukewarm milk and imperfectly washed teat or bottles that genus multiply so rapidly. With proper care and precautions a thermos flask may he used. If the milk c-an be cooled well below (iOdeg. Fahr. with b-e or very cold water, ii may be put into the clean, scalded, cold flask at that temperature. and will keep quite safe il propcrlv corked. Another method is fo pack the bottles <>f cold milk into a box of clean sawdust, taking eaio that the sawdust is well up to the neck of the bottles. The alternative method <>j keeping the milk safely is io keep it hot. Germs do not grow and multiply in milk which is kept well above 130 deg. Fain-. For ibis method thoroughly wash and scald tin* flask, and pour into ii the boiled humanised milk when just a little below boiling point. Keep the flask well corked, and when pouring out sufficient milk for each feed do so as quickly as possible, and recork immediately, to prevent the milk in the flask falling appreciably in temperature. Naturally if the milk cools to anywhere near blood heat the flask becomes a positive mena< e. The milk poured out for baby’s feed can quickly be cooked to the i ight temperature. and by this method 1m c-ait have his bnuie whenever dm* without regard to stations where hot water ma v be obtained. It is a good thing to take an ordinary bottle of boiled water also, a* baby is very -often thirsty, and it is most useful as well for finally rinsing out. bottle and teat, A jug oi hot water obtained at a refreshment room serves to heat water for drinking and to give the various utensils in use a good ’■(•aiding out. It is a good plan to have two o r more bottles and teals, so that if it is difficult to wash them properly on route fresh ones can h c . used. A handy way to carry them is in a small tin box. such as certain brands often or fancy biscuits are packed in. Wrap the bottles and teats in a piece of clean, boiled bidder muslin or old linen, and pack them in the tin. A spoon and any other small, utensils may be put in this too. A measure marked in ounces or. a small .jug is' necessary to transfer milk from flask to feeding bottle. This also must he kept clean and covered. NOTE. —Never keep any milk which has been left in. the feeding bottle. If baby does not finish his feed, throw away what is left, and 'use fresh from the flask for the next feed. Nothing is more dangerous than milk which has boon lying in. the bottle from one feeding time till the next.

Tf the journey will take more than 24 hours, and it is therefore ncces•sai’y to obtain a fresh supply of humanised milk on route, consult tile Blanket nurse in the town in. which you live, She will write ahead to the nurse in the place where you will break your journey, giving her the recipe of baby’s food, and arranging a suitable time and place for you to get the made-up humanised milk for the next 24 hours. For this a small charge is made to cover the cost ofr materials. Thus when travelling, say, from Dunedin to Auckland a fresh, supply of milk may be obtained in. Christchurch or Wellington by special arrangement before hand. FOOD FOR THE OLDER CHILDREN. 'Undoubtedly the little runabouts are the most difficult to cater for, hub a little, forethought will save much worry and trouble. Remember that a day on somewhat short rations will do no harm qt all. whereas a clay of unsuitable food (food from restaurants and odds and ends of calces and sweets) may do •untold harm. Pack a tin of .twicebaked bread and oatcake, ready buttered if liked, and folded slices or brown bread and butter. Some sanfl-

(Cont’d. at foot of preceding column),