Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1869-02-11
HOW TO TREAT BABIES.
BY HARRIET BEECHER STOWE.

A friend has sent us an article on
a subject suggested by u.s.. and it
strikes us as a very sensible one.
We give it entire, and then we shall
have one or two things Of our own
to add to it:
1--WE do not believe in the insti-
tuition of cross babies, or that
baby has right to be frctful, unless
it is sick. A healthy infant never
cries but for one or two reasons-
namely, it is either hungry or in
pain. If the former, we can stop
it; if the latter, we must acertain
the best mode of operating. l have
had almost the entire care of three
children OF my own, never feeling
willing to entrust the precious
charge to Others; therefore, l pro-
pose to give my experience, as well
as that of my mother, who, with
the permission of Divine Providence.
the assistance of a good husband,
and large share Of common sense,
succeeded in rearing twelve children.
If an infant is hungry, 1t will simply
cry; il in pain, it will draw up its
little limbs and stretch them out
again spasmodically, and in many
ways show evidence of pain. More
than half the paii: young infants
suffer might be avoided if they
were kept sufficiently warm. An
infant can hardly be kept too warm
the first few weeks of it's life. We
do not believe in covering them up
entirely--they should have stuff
cient breathing-piace, and plenty of
pure air. Now for the remedy.
Unpin the clothing, all but the band :;
unless this should seem unnecessa-
rily tight, do not disturb it, as Sc
rlous results might follow when the
infant is violently crying. Apply
warm, dry fiannels to the stomach
and feet. The pain, as stated, is
generally owing to lack of warmth,
or datulency. To remedy the lat
ter, give one or two teaspoonfuls OF
warm water; do not sUeeten 1t, for,
in case Of acidity Of the stomach, ii
would only be adding fuel to the
fire. In protracted cases Of crying,
where these remedies fail, undress
the child, leaving the band, wiring q
towel out of warm water, wrap it ir
this, and a warm wooden blanket
over, and let it remain until it be
comes quieted. 1 belie,e this is {
never failing remedy, but seldom
necessary as the dry fannels gen
orally answer the purpose.
Il have seen infants a week ole
and less fed with catmint-tea pep
permint, paregoric, alcoholic stim
ulants Of all kinds, and numerou:
other things too heathenish to men
ton.
Now, let US listen to know.
facts: An infants stomach at brit
holds (according to medical author
itv about one tablespoonful. Wha
must be the result when the little
sufferers are fed nearly a half cupfu
at one time? Why, their stomach'
are distended, and the pain conse
e quently increases tenfold. If they
are fortunate enough to eject th'
same, the wind comes up with it
and the Guild is Immediately re
lieved; the good effects being at
tributed entirely to the virtue of th'
aforesaid tea syrup, etc. Symply
warm water would be far better, a.
there could be no such bad result:
from using it, as might follow from
the use of other reno dies. No in
FAINT needs any thing more thar
what nature supplies-its natura
food: and occasionally little colo
water. We do not wish to cast :
slur on any household practice, hu
we must be allowed to say that W.