OUR BABIES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11955, 27 May 1933, Page 10

OUR BABIES

(By “Hygeia.”)

Published under the auspices of th© Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of- Women and Children (Plunked- Society).

“It is wiser to Unit up u fence at the fop of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.”

CONSTIPATION

(Continued.)

In oiir previous articles we have given consideration, of the way to train baby by correct abdominal massage and local stimulation of the anus, etc., knowing these things to ho very important in helping to establish, a real cure of constipation. Now let via consider what else we' can do if baby tends to be constipated. /Prime juice is a harmless, natural laxative, and may bo given for this purpose, say, in the second month and onwards. Commence with only half a tenspoonfnl, and increase up to two or three ten.spoonfuls .according to the age of the baby and bis needs. If a very small amount —i.c., one teaspoonful of prune juice in one tablespoon of boiled water, well diluted—is given .at- first it is most unlikely to cause any upset, at all. To ensure regularity it is sometimes necessary to give prune juice daily. 'When this is so it iLs a good plan to give it about one or two hours after the 5 n.m, meal—say at 7,30 or 8 a.m.

Prune Pulp.—For an older baby, say after three months, some of the pulp of well-cooked prunes, finely sieved, jinay lie given. This should also be commenced with about half a. iteaspoonful at first, mixed with a. little of the juice, and! increased up to two or three toaspoonfuls in 24 hours.

Spinach Puree.—Very finely sieved spinach, is also an excellent natural laxative, and may bo given after throe months of age, commencing with half a teaspoon Pul and working up to three toaspoonfuls in 24 hours. Note: To Make Prune Juice. — Wash about half a. dozen prunes well, and soak overnight in enough water to cover well. Cook by bringing to the boil in the same water, and simmer until quite tender (say for at leastone hour). Use. no sugar in cooking. Strain off the juice through clean, scalded butter muslin or a. fine wire sieve. It should be dark in colour and fairly thick and concentrated. To Make Prune Pulp— .Press the well-cooked pulp of the prunes through the sieve, adding just enough of the .juice to moisten''it. To Make Spinach Puree.— Thorough|v wash some spinach. Simmer gently with a pinch of salt for about to minutes (or until quite tender). No extra water is (needed ii the leaves are left wet when washed and the heat- used is gentle. Pre«s through a line wire

sieve. Orange Juice. — Although orange juice is commonly given to babies tor its supposed laxative properties, it may not have any such action, and. may .even have slightly the. reverse effect. The real value of orange juice is its richness in one of (the important vitamins so necessary for growth and health.. This vitamin is damaged by heating, and consequently orange, juice is given to bottle-fed babies to compensate for what, is lost- in the scalding of milk. Any laxative effect if may "have with certain babies is entirely secondary, and it is very 'important not., to confuse the. two ] trope. - Pics. As ■mother’s milk contains sufficient of this vitamin for the baby, it is nob necessary to give orange juieo to breast-fed babies. However, if the. mother considers it. has a good effect when given for constipation, it- can do n<> harm if introduced very gradually, hut too generous doses oi orange juice given to very young babies may cause decided colicky pains. Three ■+<> h' <! drops well diluted with warm boiled water is quite enough _ to start venh. If the juice seems 'to give baby pam and has no good! effect there is no advantage in continuing its use. Prune juice."on the other hand, contains none of the essential vitamins, and so should never he used instead of orange juice for a bottle-fed baby. It is given, solely for its .laxative _ action, and some fresh uncooked fruit or iogc a bid juice is necessary as well, unless baby is breast fed. A Warning.—- Persistent constipation is a serious thing, and one which should never be neglected. If nfror crivinn- simple remedies a fair and thorough trial the condition still persists, consult a doctor at onec._ Mi purgative medicines are injurious, and should never bo given to babies except by the express orders of a. doctor. , . Now to bring the main points to the long discourse together. briefly the main things to remember arc these. Train the baby from the earliest days. (Prevention is better than cure. See that the habits of tho mother are

perfectly regular. Give baby abundance of fresh! air day and bight, plenty of healthy exercise, and all the other essentials for health. Never forget the need for extra flum give iin the form of warm boded water. Keep him naturally fed d .possible. If not, give him a, properly ■’balanced humanised 1 milk mixture.. G'ivo systematic massage of the ab-

domen daily. Give small, cool, saline enema occ.-

sionally if necessary. Give only natural fruit or vegetable laxative, such as prune jmee or P»>P or spinach puree, except by a ooc-

tors orders. . , And, above all, do not got iworued Worrv never cured! anything.