OUR BABIES

Grey River Argus, 12 February 1938, Page 11

OUR BABIES

[By Hygeia.] , Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society). “It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.” SUMMER DIARRHOEA. WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREVENT IT? First, we must see that every baby has “the twelve essentials” in his daily life. We must see that every baby has what every baby needs. The first two pages of the society’s book, “Feeding and Care of Baby,” should be perfectly familiar to every mother in the land. If the baby that has lived in the fresh air, been naturally ted, trained in regular habits, and has received all the essentials for good health, chances to get ill, he “throws off the germ as the bow of an ocean liner throws off the spray”—he is pretty well germ proof. Secondly, we must especially consider the matter of food. Natural feeding is the great preventive. Professor Budin has shown that in Paris out of-250 deaths of infants occurring in one mid-summer week, less than 30 were breast-fed babies. As we have said, humanised milk is the best substitute, but in hot weather special precautions are necessary in the preparation and keeping of the milk.

Making and Keeping Milk in Hot Weather.—lt may be. best to bring baby’s milk to the boil, and keep it at that temperature for ten minutes, instead of only pasteurising it—i.e. keeping it at a temperature of 155 deg. Fahr, for ten minutes. Whether boiled or pasteurised, the milk must be cooled quickly, and at once, and well below 60 deg. Fahr., if possible. Germs multiply with extreme rapidity in warm milk. Cover the jug loosely with damp butter muslin, and stand in running or fre-quently-changed cold water. (Needless to say, if ice is available, the problem is solved). In the country a running stream or an artesian well may be handy—but in the towns it may be Impossible to get tap water below 60deg. Fahr. A pailful of water left outside in the air all night, away from the early-morning sun, will be quite cool for some hours. Select the shadiest, draughtiest and cleanest place for the milk safe, and stand the jug ol cooled milk in a shallow dish of the coldest water available, in the safe. Be sure the damp muslin which covers the jug dips into the water all round, so that it will keep damp and so. cool by evaporation. This method always ensures some cooling, especially in hot, dry • weather. When there is any doubt as to whether the milk has remained below 60deg. Fahr., always re-scald what is left of the day’s supply in the evening, and again cool quickly, and place in the coldest place available for the night. .Naturally, if it is possible to obtain fresh milk twice daily, it is best to make the human ised milk morning and evening. There are various kinds of safes and coolers, details of which may be obtained if wished from the Plunket nurses or Karitane Hospitals; but the simple, easily available methods suffice in the great majority of cases if carefully carried out.

Thirdly, extra special care must be taken with regard to cleanliness during hot weather. Billies, jugs bottles and teats must be washed absolutely free'of all traces of stale milk. An almost invisible amount ol stale milk may render a whole day’s supply poisonous. Vessels which have contained milk must always be washed in cold water first, then in hot water and soap. Hot water “sets” the milk on the utensil and makes it difficult to remove. Beware of flies. Keep everything under cover. Remove soiled napkins at once and cover. Wash the hands after changing baby, before handling him or his food. Wash the nipples thoroughly before nursing babe. Fourthly, be extra careful to ensure regularity of the bowels, and see that the baby has freedom of movements in the open air as much as possible. Let him be out of doors practically all day and all night, too, if it can be arranged—but avoid overheating him. Lastly, do not wori;v about baby but be ever, on the watch for warning symptoms of trouble, and be ready to take prompt measures. . WEANING. If possible, do not wean baby between February and March, especially if the weather is very hot. If weaning cannot be avoided, it should be done gradually, with great care in preparation and diluting of the artificial food, which should be humanised milk made in “Feeding and Care of Baby,” or the instructions of the Plunket nurses. Even one breast feed a day is better than none during the hottest weather, delaying complete weaning till cooler days come. INDIGESTION. Indigestion, due to over feeding or unsuitable food or irregular feeding, is the main predisposing cause of diarrhoea. Therefore mothers should be eternally vigilant, especially during the summer. All habits should be regular, and children should not be given any unsuitable foods or food likely to disagree. Unfortunately it is during the summer holiday months —the warmest time of the year—that the feeding of both bhbies and older children tends to become irregular and unsuitable. When travelling or away from home the usual routine is broken, often with disastrous results. Many a child makes no progress during January or February for this reason. The disordered digestion and lowered ' resistance leave him casv prey for any infection—ripe for an attack of diarrhoea. He may not die and he may completely recover, but at least his progress will be checked, perhaps for months, and there is. grave risk of lifelong damage. Some hints on food for children when travelling were given in these columns a few weeks ago. When away from home make every effort to secure good, fresh milk. Always boil it before use. for the first few days, and continue to- do so if there is any doubt as to the freshness of the supply. " Spare no' pains to keep all feeding' utensils scrupulously clean. For older children, beware of “pieces.”- of. unsuitable ’ food, cakes, sweets, bananas, and other unripe or over-ripe fruit, etc. > Next , week we spall go into the simple treatment of a threatened ati tack of diarrhoea.