Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-07-19
ABOUT THE BABY.
How to Feed Infants During the Hot Dayg
of Summer.

How to Feed Infants During the Hot Days
of Summer.
Feed the baby pure milk and water
with the addition of sugar. If possible
the milk should be obtained from new
mich cow and unmixed with other
milk. 1t is better to have it fresh
twice day but where this IS impossi-
bic the mornings milk will answer, If
placed at once on ice.
Many mothers find that cows. milk
does not agree with the baby, but this
is in most cases because the milk is not
sufficiently reduced with water Proba-
bly, the doctor and the nurse will say.
''one-half milk and one-half water"
or ''two parts water and one of milk, ="
but for most children this is too strong.
Three parts water, and one of milk, is
amply sufficient for the average child ;
and if very delicate, four parts water
and one of milk will be sufficient for
the first three months.
"My baby throws up her milk so
often and then then wants MORE" says
one mother, ''but suppose it is sign
of healthy baby to throw up" In
one sense it is; in another it is quite
absurd. Of course, if you have over
loaded your stomach with indigestible
food, you will be relieved much sooner
If you can throw up than if the food
remains in your system. But you do
not regard your spell of vomiting as a
sign of special health. You wish you
had not eaten the indigestible food. So
with baby. 1t is well if she can get rid
of the indigestible food, but much bet
ter not to have taken it. In nine cases
out of ten the food was too strong for
her; add more pure water and she will
be able to retain and digest it.
As l have said, three parts water
and one part milk, for the first three
months; from that to six months, two
parts water, one of milk. Gradually
increase the proportion of milk until at
the age OF one year the entire strength
of the milk may be given.
If inclined to constipation sweeten
the milk with brown sugar, otherwise
with granulated.
Perfect cleanliness of the nursing
bottle is of great Importance. What
ever may be said in favor of the long
tube bottles | believe the nipples which
are drawn on over the bottles. are best.
These you can remove, turn inside ont,
and be ABSOLUTELY sure, are clean. Lime
water is excellent for cleaning both
bottles and rubbers.
Prepare the quantity of milk to be
used during the day, and set it on the
ice. You then know Just how much
baby drinks and are much more likely
to have the proportions correct than if
prepared in hurry when baby is cry
ing for it.
The best way to heat the milk is by
pouring it into one of the bottles. (twO
should always be kept on handy and
placing it in quart measure OF hot
water. OF course the water should not
be warm enough to crack the bottle.
The bottle in this way retains the heat
and keeps the milk at an equal tenn
perature while baby is taking it. Too
often the warm milk is poured into an
ice cold bottle and long before baby has
finished her meal might as well not
have been warmed. ''Since the warm
weather came on my baby seems hun
CRY all the time" says young mother.
.My dear. baby is thirsty, not hun
gry." While you are taking a drink
every half-hour, poor baby, painting in
fannels, is not allowed drop of water.
She must not drink unless she eats.
The rest of us may have no appetite,
but we are allowed to drink, not so
with baby. She must wait her regula-
ton two or three hours, and then eat
at the same time if she would drink.
Poor little thing cutting teeth and
''druling'' so she ':wets her bibs in no
timer'
''She will not take water; I've tried
herr Yes. with a teaspoonful and ice
cold water. When her little mouth has
always been used to warm food from a
bottle, no wonder she chokes and spits.
Sweeten little water slightly and
put it in her bottle, with the chill off,
(off of the water not the bottle) and
give her few swallows at time. But
baby will soon learn to drink from a
spoon, if the water given is not too
cold.
Do, dear mothers, remember that
when we are not well the strong food
to which we are accustomed is not
suitable for us; we must have some
thing weaker. So with the baby; when
she is not as well az usual, reduce the
strenqh of her food.-Ladies' Home