OUR BABIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14086, 14 December 1907, Page 14

OUR BABIES.

. ' Bt Hygeh. It is wiser to put up a fence it tit top of i precipice than to main- - tain an unbuknee at the bottom. WHAT 'LONDON! IS SAYING? The-following is reproduced, with, a few ■ additions and alterations needed for adapting the instructions to our ecascine, eta,, from cards giving helpfuladiice to mothere, dated May, 1907, and issued by the leading health- authority in London. Tlu> headings and portions printed in capital letters for emphasis are given, as in tho original. • ADVICE TO MOTHEBS. The council find:— (1) That a number of infants aro born before full timo and die soon after birth; (2) That a. number of full time infante are • born so feeble m to live only a, few ' ■ weeka; (3) That a number of infante aro not . suckled at tho breast after being born; (4) That a number of infanta who are . suckled at tho breast for a few weeks are weaned too early; (S)*IHAT IT 13 CTIEAPER AND EASIER TO FEED TJTFANTS BY THE BREAST THAN »Y HAND; (6) That it is eimpler and wiser to take t • caro of tho mother's health, both beforo and after the birth of her infant, and to improvo tho breast milk than to bring up the baby by-ha.nd feeding, ■ wholly or in p&rt. 1 (7) That tho hand feeding of infants is generally unsatisfactory, always risky, »nd in tho summer dangerous anil often fatal. In these circumstances an appeal is made ! to ALL mothers to aid in practising and I spreading a knowledge of the following \ system:— \ MOTHERING.

, The lieaJth of the mother is most im- ,. portant of all. I Tho mother muet fake care of her health f. cd a» to make, her infant strong at birth, I prepare herself to suckle her baby, and pay V particular attention to the nipples. J Spirits and etrong drink must be i avoided; plenty of good, plain, wholesome, J nourishing food must lx> eaten, and the appetito improved by exercise in the open air. A mother who improves her own health will also improve that of her baby. ! When in doubt as to her health or habits ! a mother should not hesitate to seek medij cal advice at once. SUCKLING. . A mother who has properly taken'care of her health should be able to fully suckle ! her baby when born. 1 Pot the baby to the breast within , ks . HOUR on 80 OF BIBTH. Never delay so long I es 12 hours. Continue giving the baby the breast every few hours whether' it j gets any milk or not. becauso this stimiii lates formation of milk. She should not bo disappointed if the I breast milk ie scanty or not juWy cslab- ! (ishod for two or three days. The regular duckling of the baby will cause the flow J to increase more and more. I If sbo continue to tako ca-re of her ■ health she should bo able to continue sack- .'. line her baby for about nine months. ; The best food for the baby is mother's kreast milk alone and without any other lOOD WIUTEVEII.

If the mother's milk is poor in quality the 6hould improvo it by eating a greater quantity of good, plain, wholesome food, and improve her appetite by more exercise in the open air, and above all should AVOID SPIRITS AND STRONG DRINK.

; . If tho mother have not enough milk the i *amo measures will increase the quantity, . and a. cupful or two of milk half-an-honr 1 before suckling will be an excellent help towards tin's, as the only, w.u , to hdmakise COW'S MILK 18 TO 1-AS3 IT THROUGH THE ' VOTHER AKD XOT THHOURH A MACHINE. (This i is in entire accord with what Ihe Duncdin . Society hae tried to impress throughout. Humanised mill; approximates the nature and composition of (he mother's own mill; much more closely than any other form of ' artificial food, but it is not human milk. ', Mother's.milk drawn off unci given-through ' a feeding bottle is decidedly inferior to tho : Bamo milk given direct from tho breast.) The nipples should be cleansed and dried each time after suckling. Tho baby should be suckled every two j , hours .during the first month, every two ; and a half hours for tho next three months. and every three hours from the end of iho fourth lo (lie end of the ninth month. . The baby should bo awakened for this puriposo if necessary. Also twico in the night 'during the first month, once' during the second month, and in the third mouth , night feeding should be gradually discontinued. As the feeds are reduced in nuni'ixrr tho quantity of milk at each feed naturally increases. Feed the baby slowly, allow 15 minutes or more for each meal. Do not rock the baby x violently after it is fed. Do not feed a baby every iimo it criei). WEANING. When .the baby cute its teeili it is time to think of weaning, not before. If the ' teeth arc cut prematurely, do not wean on that account.

A baby's teeth may be expected to. commence cutting between the seventh and Ilie ninth month—often somewhat later with artificial' feeding.

Tho usual time for weaning is about the ninth month.

Weaning becomes easier and safer if itis delayed until after tho ninth month, eoon after which tho breast milk should be altogether etopped. Not until tho eighth or ninth month, or the tooth are being cut. is a baby able to properly digest farinaceous foods, such as .baked flour, powdered biscuit, small crumbled broad, and line oatmeal, and these, foods should never be given to a Imby until the teeth commence to appear. . Nover givo the baby soothing syrups, teeth- : ing powders, patent medicines, patent foods, or " baby comforters." On no account should portions of the

ordinaryfood or drink of (he mother when at meals be giyen to the baby; they may prove injurious aud even fatal."- • WEANING BEFORE TIME. A mother should not wean her baby before the seventh month at the very earliest, as weaning before time is dangerous to the baby.

Every effort should be made to put oft weaning until after the liot weather has come and gone, as late December. January, .February, and March are particularly fatal to baud-fed babies.

If the health of the suckling mother or of the baby is failing, a doctor's advice should bo sought with a view to avoiding weaning.

A hand-fed baby'e progress ehould be very carefully watched, and if it appears to be ailing or does not thrive, medical advice should be immediately sought, especially if there be any diarrhcea. as illness in a baby develops rapidly and ie soon paet remedying. Joh.v F. J. Sykes. May, 1907. Medical Officer of Health.