Part 6

The following are general rules for feeding the infant from birth to about one year of age.

These rules cannot be made inflexible because all children differ in temperament, vitality, and as to prenatal influences, but if the mother will observe these instructions with reasonable care, her child can be brought healthfully through the most critical period of its life, and will enter the solid food age with good digestion, a strong body, and an excellent chance to withstand all children's dis-eases.

Where artificial feeding becomes necessary, then the preparation of the baby-food is of primary importance. Cow's milk is, of course, the logical food, but taken whole, that is, the entire milk, it is too high in proteids, and deficient in sugar; therefore, in order to make a healthful infant-food, it must be modified according to the requirements of the infant body.

The nurse or the mother should prepare a quantity sufficient for only one day's supply at a time, after the following formula:

Cream 2 ounces Milk 2 ounces Water 15 ounces Milk-sugar 4 level teaspoonfuls Lime-water 2 teaspoonfuls or 1/2 ounce

This should be thoroughly mixed, placed in the bottle, and set in warm water until it is brought to the temperature of breast-milk. The above formula may be used during the first month of the baby's life.

The quantity and the frequency of feedings should be according to the following table:

AGE FEEDINGS OUNCES INTERVALS OF

1st day 5 to 6 1 3 or 4 hours 2d day 7 to 8 1 2-1/2 to 3 hours 3d to 7th day 9 to 10 1-1/4 2 to 2-1/2 hours 2d, 3d, and 4th weeks 10 2 to 3 2 hours

Formula for the second and the third months:

Cream 3-1/2 ounces Milk 1-1/2 ounces Water 14 ounces Milk-sugar 5 teaspoonfuls Lime-water 2-1/2 teaspoonfuls

Quantity and frequency of feeding should be about as follows:

MONTHS FEEDINGS OUNCES INTERVALS

2d and 3d 7 to 8 3 to 4 2 or 3 hours

Formula for period from the fourth to the twelfth month:

Cream 6 to 8 ounces Milk 2 to 3 ounces Water 10 ounces Milk-sugar 5 to 6 teaspoonfuls Lime-water 2 to 3 teaspoonfuls

Quantity and frequency of feedings should be about as follows:

MONTHS FEEDINGS OUNCES INTERVALS

4th, 5th, and 6th 5 to 6 4 to 6 3 to 3-1/2 hours 7th, 8th, and 9th 5 6 to 7 4 to 4-1/2 hours 10th, 11th, and 12th 5 6 to 8 4 to 4-1/2 hours

The above formulas for infant-food are the best that can be made from ordinary cow's milk.

The milk-sugar and the lime-water herein named can be purchased at any first-class drug store.

These tables are not given as exact. The mother should exercise careful vigilance and judgment, especially in reference to the quantity of each feeding, and the frequency. The moment the child shows symptoms of overfeeding, which symptoms are usually evidenced by vomiting or discomfort, the quantity of cream and the amount at each feeding should be reduced. In fact, it is healthful, and often necessary for the child to allow it the opportunity to get hungry. The digestion of many a baby is totally ruined by continuous feeding, which is done out of motherly sympathy, or merely to keep it quiet.

The mother or the nurse should exercise great care in the cleanliness and the hygienic preparation of children's foods. Milk should be fresh, and of the very best. It should not be left uncovered or exposed. It should be kept continually on ice until ready for use. The cream should be taken from the top of the bottle, or from fresh milk. This insures better quality of butter-fat than is generally supplied in ordinary commercial daily cream.

As the child advances in age, whole milk, cereal gruel, and egg mixture (two whites to one yolk) may be administered according to the child's normal appetite and digestion. The egg may be prepared by whipping the whites and the yolks separately, adding to the yolk a teaspoonful of cream and one of sugar, then whipping the beaten whites into this, and serving.

CONSTIPATION

The stools of natural, healthy children should be bright yellow and perfectly smooth. If grainy and soft, food should be made richer. If in curds, it evidences too rapid coagulation; therefore an alkali should be added. If the stools are white and oily, it indicates an excess of cream. If hard and dry, it indicates an insufficient amount of cream. If green, reduce the quantity of milk, or omit it altogether, and increase the quantity of barley-water.

The majority of bottle-fed children suffer greatly from constipation, caused largely by the milk, or the failure to modify the milk properly, or to make it contain the constituent elements of breast-milk. This condition can be relieved by giving the child sweet orange juice every night and morning, or the juice from soaked prunes, if preferred. This should be administered in quantities ranging from a dozen drops to two or three teaspoonfuls, according to the age of the child and the severity of the condition. Intestinal congestion can often be relieved, however, by giving the abdomen gentle massage, preferably with a rotary or kneading motion.

In cases of diarrhea, infants from three to eight months old should be given first an enema, and then a diet entirely of boiled milk mixed with rice or barley-water.