OUR BABIES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143785, 8 May 1912, Page 5

OUR BABIES.

By HYGEIA. Published under tho auspices o 3 the Society for tho Health of Women and Children. “It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain mi ambulance at tho bottom.” A GRANDMOTHER'S LETTERS. During the past wi-ek>, our column has been devoted to tin.* hLtory ol the case of a delicate child who by simple, sensible treatment has become quite a strong, healthy little girl. We had heard nothing ot her recent progress until this morning, when the iollowing letter was received liom the grandmother:—April 21, 1212. T was reading in “Our Rubies” Column in the Dally Times of a case similar to what lir.ilc Annie's was. and thought F would like to write and toil you how she is now. Slu> will be .seven year- old, nexi monib. and is in splendid health—in fact, she L never still. She has been at school sim • !)-'((Millin', am! L. getting or, fine. | hope you will not think 1 am '• roubiing you, but I thought it migbi help the ease stated. The above ietier is only one among many .similar which came Lo hand Lorn all 5 directions, showing the kten imcre.jt taken in our column by readers throughout the Dominion. By such menu* wo can help one another and Ik- indeed a Mutual Aid Society. We are much gratified to bear tint the little girl is doing so well, and wc I ally appreciate ’ the g’ aiidtiduihorV kimlly thought in writing thus in the hope that the knowledge of her grandchild’* .'Mutinued progi css might- cheer our correspondent and give her lahh that with due attention her child also will overcome her delicacy and grow up strong and capable. THE MOTHER'S i ETTER. The following letter, sent by the cori aspondent who wrote to me tome months ago. and whose east* I have been (Ealing with in the column, show.-; how soon a marked improvement iimk p!:-ee in (he child’s condition when systematic cart* was exercised on the lines advocated with regard to her food and habits Aim Hi 28 3912. Your letter with tlie reprints of a grandmother's letters enclosed reached mo a fortnight ago. I did not wrLc to you at once, because T wanted to r-ee if there would he any visible improvement in the health of niy liitle girl. I give her only three meals a day. with a drink of boiFd water the first tiling in the morning and the last thing fit night. She reli.-hm; her food, now. ami often asks for her dinner an hour before Urn time f used to give her a cold hath every morning, hut it was given no : now I’m giving her a cold sponge in the morning. but as soon ns she gots.n little stronger 1 will commence the bath, again. She has improved wonderfully during the last fortnight, and is getting like her old self again, happy and joyous About 18 months ago I put her to sleep in a room by herself, hut she was very restless, end 1 had to cross a draughty passage sometimes three or four times during the night, so removed her bed to our room again, hut have it in the opposite corner from ours, ami have the window and door open night and day. Please accept my grateful thanks for your kindness. 1 can assure you I will follow closely the rules laid down in die Society’s book, for 1 am very anxious to liave my girlie strong and well again. ! was giving her petroleum emulsion when 1 wrote to you. but I haw no: given tier a lasteof it since 1 ree ■■■(! your leuer. Again thanking you for your kindness. COMMENT. I wish particularly to draw attention ’o du‘ following sentences in tin* above leUcr ; I give her only three meals a day. with a drink of boiled water first thing in die morning and last thing at. uigSd. Sli” relishes her food now. The custom of giving a child “a piece” i* so common that it seems an almoat ImpeUgs lank to light against it. Children are supposed to bo always hungry if I bey are well. Few people w-un to r‘'Hi.se that we are all creatures habit, and that the had habit, c: craving for food at irregular times can lie as easily engendered as the good, healthful In-hit of taking a sufficiency (if suitable food at proper intervals. Children so readily drop into the way of eating at odd times that one not infrequently comes across a child who never properly relishes anything. The kind of food which appeals most to such children ir. often of a class least suited to diem, and therefore bound to bring about manifest harm sooner or later, though for a time neither tin* wrong nature of the food nor the irregularity with whieh it is taken may do any apparent harm. A child’s digestive and nutritive powers may be undermined and gravely impaired in a way which will cause mere or less progressive damage to the system and stunting of for months and even for years. Barents should never forget that such leeway, made during what should be the most progressive and formative period of life for the growth and development of tlm whole organism, is never entirely made up and compensated for, however well and rationally the child may he treated subsequently. Such a child can never become quite what it might have been, though, as we liave set'n in tho cases 1 have referred to it is marvellous what can he done i,/ the way of restoring health and strength to children if the matter is swstoiTiatically laken in hand by earnest and devoted guardians. AVI IAT BABY NEEDS. Tho little book which the Society is issuing to tide us over until the new edition of “Feeding and Core of Baby” is complete! is now ready, and can he obtained from the lion, secretaries of (he Society, the Plunket nurses, and the leading booksellers, price 6(1, posted 7,U1. This little l>ook, entitled “What Baby Needs,” contains tho main essentials" for the roaring of healthy children, is quite up to dale, and will form a <r ( ,od introduction to the Society’s larger book, whieh will bo issued in the course of tho year.