OUR BABIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21920, 4 April 1933, Page 13

OUR BABIES

By Htgeia. 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* CONSTIPATION IN OLDER CHILDREN. (Continued.) FHESH AIR AND EXERCISE, Etc. Overclothing and coddling generally in warm, stuffy rooms is very enfeebling. Children should sleep in cool, airy rooms and run about outdoors as much as can possibly be managed. Even on dull, cold days if the child is properly clad and is warm there is no reason why be should not play out in the open air. The cool bath affords excellent stimulation, and can be taken with benefit by almost all children provided care is taken to lower the temperature very gradually day by day, and to establish good circulation after the bath by thorough, brisk rubbing down and vigorous exercise. Abdominal massage (carried out systematically and thoroughly as described a week or two ago in connection with constipation in infants) is an excellent supplement to general exercise and stimulation of fresh air, sunshine, and healthy outdoor play. DIET. The food should be plain and wholesome and the meals regular, with no pieces and no milk between. Only water (and of that the more the better) cr fruit juice should be given between the three regular meals. The worst kind of diet is one consisting largely of soft, mushy foods, white bread, biscuits, highly refined starchy foods, etc., and lacking in fruit anjl vegetables. Too much milk may tend to cause constipation. Indeed the giving of too much milk to the older child is the cause of refusal of many necessary foods in the diet. Half to one pint of milk a day is enough for the normal older child provided he is having a good mixed diet. Remember that boiled milk is binding in effect, and when preparing the milk lor the child do not heat above 155 deg Fahr., or do more than scald it, except ior some special reason. Laxative Foods.—Foods which nave a considerable amount of undigested residue tend to be laxative, because, for several reasons, these foods and this residue stimulate the action of the bowel. The following foods come in this category:—Spinach, carrot, celery, lettuce, cauliflower’, onion, etc., raw ripe fruits, dried fruits such as prunes, dates, raisins, etc., wholemeal bread, bran, coarse oatmeal, oatcake, etc. Stewed fruits and juices, especially prunes, are good. Honey and treacle tend to be laxative, and may be given for a change sometimes. Butter and good dripping are good forms of fat, and should be included in the daily menu. Too much cream may have a constipating tendency. A Warning.—Great care must be taken in first introducing the laxative foods. They may irritate the bowel and set up indigestion and diarrhoea if given in large amounts, or given when the child is too young, especially if the child does not masticate thoroughly and is inclined to bolt his food. All new foods should be given in small quantities at first, finely mashed or sieved, in the first half of the second year. Stone fruit may be particularly upsetting and undesirable except for the stewed juice. Even wholemeal bread and coarse oatmeal need to he introduced carefully, a little at a time, though these are usually quite safe early in the second year. The value of thorough chewing cannot he too strongly stressed. Foods reduced to pulp by active little teeth very seldom disagree. Water forms much the greater part of fluid essential for the elimination of waste products from the body, and so is imporatnt in the treatment of constipation. It is often difficult to get children to take an adequate amount of water. Make a point of stressing it at suitable opportunities—say, after a romp, provided the child is not overheated, or on waking, when thirst is natural. It may be given warm or cold as preferred, or even flavoured with a little fruit juice. As in the case of infanta, persistent or severe constipation in children is a serious condition, calling for medical advice. Purgative drugs are harmful, and castor oil should never be given for constipation. Although a simple aperient or enema may be necessary occasionally, these things take little part in the real cure of constipation. The measures on which we may safely pin our faith are : Regularity of habit. Well-balanced diet. Extra fluid in the form of water. Fresh air and exercise, and with all much patience and perseverance.