OUR BABIES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16607, 3 December 1919, Page 4

OUR BABIES.

(By “Hygeia.”)

“It is wiser to put up a fence at the* top of a precipice than to maintain an 1 ambulance at the bottom.” Published under the auspices of the Royal (N.Z.) Society for the Health oi Women and Children. New Plymouth - Plimket Nurse William's. Hon. Secretary, Mrs, Russell Standish, Liardet Street, New Plymouth. Stratford: Plunket Nurse Wake. Hon, Secretary, Airs. L. Riera, Juliet Street. Hawera: Plunket Nurse Dis. Hon Secretary, Airs Ai. J. Janson, Box 22. THE MOTHER’S LETTER. (Continued.) After the nurse was gone I used to keep on trying just a little of this and that to get baby used to things as 1 was advised. Was that really the right way, or should 1 have taken everything, like other people, straight off? We felt it would no cruel to the baby to do so. Perhaps 1 mid my baby wore more than usually susceptible. 1 would really like to know if that is so. I have always been exceptionally strong and healthy, taking plenty of outdoor exercise, loading u busy life, and never suffering from indigestion. Of course, 1 never took anything iike cabbage, pickles, and sauces, and I found that food containing baking powder or “rising,” such as scones, cake, and many puddings, gave the baby colicky pains. Still, 1 thought it my duty to take a tiny piece of something each day to get her gradually used to it. Was I light, or should I still keep to the very plainest things, such as broad, meat, milk puddings, etc. until my baby is weaned ? She is moro than eleven weeks old, and has grown wondorfullv and is very plump and lively for her ago. My babies havo always thrived well in spite of such troubles and a pood deal of wind, though this one has been icss troubled that way than the others. I have found the longer intervals between feedings beneficial, but how can one measure what a child takes from the breast, and what is ono to do when it goes to sleep before having taken sufficient to last tho correct number cf hours? But I could keep on for pages with such questions which trouble tho mother who feeds her baby naturally, and I fear my letter is already too long. If you can answer the above questions you will surely help other mothers besides myself. REPLY. The earlier portion of tho conclusion of “Mother’s” letter has already been partially answered, and the matter will be amplified later on when wo come to deal in greater detail with personal idiosyncrasies. Wo now como to a very important recent advance in tho care of babies — namely, the advocacy of less frequent feedings, strict regularity as to times of feeding, etc. LONGER INTERVALS. We aro constantly receiving letters from mothers stating,that their babies have done much hotter when tho intervals between feelings have been lengthened, in accordance with the advice given in this column during the last year or so, and I have no doubt that ‘this was one factor in bringing about the improvement in tho baby’s digestion in tho ease of onr correspondent, as evidenced by tho diminished tendency to wind. If young mothers would only take this matter seriously from the beginning they would save themselves mid their babies much pain and suffering. Besides that, they would have much moro peace and leisure, and the resulting absence of worry would help very greatly to keep tho supply of milk plentiful and of good quality. Tie chapter on Feeding Intervals ns well as the Table for Feeding and the Clock Fares (“Feeding and Care of Baby,” pages 30 to 34) should bo carefully studied and acted upon. Lot ns contrast the old instruction with the new —-with the infervals which careful investigation and research, conducted especially in Germany, during the last ten years by leading specialists, have proved to be most beneficial for mother and child; experiences abundantly confirmed by the ,Society of the Karitano Hospital and throughout the Dominion. Let us point out the errvantages of ' the new. more scientific and correct method. There are no disadvantages. THE OLD INSTRUCTION AND THE NEW. Tho old instruction was to feed baby regularly every two hours during the day and onco during the night for tho first month or so, say at 6,8, 10, 12, 2, 4,6, 8, 10. and 2 a.m.; that is, ton times in the 24 hours. Tho new table shows feedings every throe hours during the day and once during the night fdr the first two months, say at 6,9, 12, 3, 6. 9, and 2 a.m.; that is, seven times during tho 24 hours. The baby may bo fed so, but there is a special note on page 33 of tho Society’s new book as follows: — Instead of continuing “night-feed-ing” throughout tho second month as shown in the table, it is bettor in most cases to stop this at the end of a month, and distribute tho night allowance through tho day-feedings. If baby is breast-fed the six nursings will suffice, because Nature provides the extra supply per feeding. Tie more extensive our experience the moro wo aro satisfied that on tho whole mother and child do best when tho 2 a.m. feeding is stopped at tho end of the first month, as this gives a long, natural, uninterrupted sleep, which is equally beneficial to both. You will see from tho above that hy the now table the mother has three or four feedings loss to givo in the I 24 hours—a great saving of time if tho < baby he fed naturally. If fed artificially the saving is still greater, he- ( cause, apart from the time saved in < the actual process of feeding, there < aro fewer bottles of food to prepare and fewer cleansings of bottle and teat. ‘ Threo or four fewer bottle-feedings 1 in tho 24 hours mean also a diminution ; by three or four in'tho number of occa- ( sions on which stray germs will be introduced into the system. < Mothers frequently point to babies i who were fed every two hours, and toll i ns that they grew splendidly. That was exactly our experience when tho ouan- I

,tity of food was carefully measured, tho quality suitable, and tho babies regularly fed, but now we know that we can do better as well ns save time, because during the past year or so all our babies havo been fed according to tho new direction, and they havo thriven even better than before. Think what the saving would be to a poor overworked mother, and how much more care could bo bestowed; on other essentials when less time had to be devoted to the feeding, preparing of food, etc.—Leaving out of account the greatly added health and vigour which would" como from absence of push and worry and greater opportunities for rest and outdoor exercise. MEMO. BY “HYGEIA,” 1919. AVe have advanced considerably since 1910 with regard to the instruction as to the number of feedings in tho 24 hours. Regular readers will remember that some months ago we quoted a resolution, passed by loading, English and American specialists in baby care, which stated that in their opinion in tho ease of normal infants feeding only five times in tho 24 hours (every four hours in the daytime and no feeding during the night) is best for mother and babe. Tie saving e-f time and worry, and the uninterrupted rest at night for mother and child is wonderful in its power of recreation.