The Washburn leader., 1915-08-06
Care of
the Baby In.
Summer
Summer Complaint.
Prepared by the children's bureau, Unit
ed States department Of labor

Summer Complaint.
Prepared by the children's bureau. Unit :
ed States department Of labor.1
Most mothers have leared to regard
diarrhea as one of the most danger
GUS ills of babyhood. Thousands OF
babies die of this disease every year,
largely in the hot weather months-a
fact which has gained for this Ill.
ness the common name of Summer
complaint" The deaths from this dis
ease begin to increase in May, and the
number grows rapidly in June and
July and reaches its highest point in
August, then decreases rapidly as
cool weather approaches. 1t is pru-
dent, therefore, for mothers to be on
guard at the beginning of summer
and to do all in their power to pre-
vent the onset of this illness by exer
cising great care in feeding the baby
and by keeping him as cool and quiet
as possible. In all illnesses preven-
tion is far bet ..r than cure. but this
is particularly true with infant diar-
rhea, because the second attack comes
on much more readily than the first
Also the baby's growth is seriously
interfered with at time when it Is
proceeding most rapidly.
To prevent summer diarrhea in ba-
bies first feed the baby on the right
food in suitable amounts at proper
intervals and in no other way; give
him plenty of pure, cool water to
drink between meals; keep him out of
doors as much as possible in cool, fresh
air, dress him lightly and bathe him
frequently. ...
Another important part of keeping
the baby well is to protect him from
flies and mosquitoes, which frequent
ly carry disease about. 1t is believed
that one form Of infant diarrhea is
distributed by these household pests.
The healthy baby usually has one or
two bowel movements day. If this
number is increased to four or more
it is time to take measures against
sickness.
1t is we'll to remember. however,
that the bowel movements of a baby
fed entirely at the breast are normal
ly more frequent than those of bot
tie fed baby and that slight increase
in the number Of movements is not so
serious a matter to baby at the
breast as to one artificially fed. A
baby fed at the breast does not usual
1r, n fo,, vxyhnv, c,O01, q
baby shows signs of digestive disturb
ance it is usually because he is over
fed. either he is nursed too often or
ut irregular intervals. or is allowed to
nurse too long at one time. When he
does have diarrhea the time between
nursings should be increased to four
hours, and the times at the breast re-
duced to five or ten minutes. If the
bowels continue loose the breast
should be withdrawn entirely for sew
eral feelings II necessary. giving the
baby instead cool drinking water at
frequent intervals. In this case the
mother should pump her breasts at
the regular nursing times. both to
keep them from drying up and to pre-
vent their .caking.
Bottle fed babies are the most fire.
quent sufferers from summer diarrhea.
and this fact furnishes another strong
argument in favor Of breast feeding.
Diarrhea in a bottle fed baby is also
hest treated by reducing the amount
Of food. The bottle should be omitted
for eight, twelve or twenty-four hours.
according to the severity of the at
tack. and in place Of the milk there
should be given as much boiled and
cooled water as the baby will take.
Food should not be withheld for more
than twenty-four hours. without the
advice Of a doctor. When the bottle
is resumed the food should be much
weaker than before. water should be
substituted for at least half the milk
previously given. The milk should be
skinned and the sugar omitted. The
return to the former feeding should be
made gradually by adding little
more milk each day and beginning to
add sugar. The more severe the at
tack has been the more slowly should
changes be made.
If the baby is on mixed feeding
hat is.- partly breast and partly bot
tle fed-the bottle feelings should be
omitted II diarrhea appears and the
breast given once in four or five hours.
with nothing but drinking water be-
tween meals.
The children's bureau publishes IL
pamphlet called Infant Care" which
Is sent free to any one sending a re-
quest to the chief Of the children's
bureau. United States department of
labor. Washington. This pamphlet
contains some simple directions for
the care OF the babies in summer,
which may help the mother to prevent
summer diarrheas and other ailments
sf infancy.
1t should be understood that when
ever possible the baby should be put
at once under the care OF doctor.
II the mother in the city has no ply