The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-19

The baby usually cuts his first tooth
when he is six to eight months old,
and by the end of the first year has.
ordinarily, six teeth He should have
II teeth at is months of age; 16 when
he is two years old, and before the end
of the third year the entire set of 20
milk" teeth.
The process of teething in a healthy
baby cannot properly be held RESPONSE
BILE for the illness commonly attributed
! to it. The first half-dozen teeth rarely
give the baby any pain. but as the
double teeth appear there is occasion
ally at the same time a little disturb
ance, such as loss of appetite, and pos
sibly evidences of slight Indigestion,
which may last for a few days. But
if the disturbance is more serious than
this, some other reason for it should
! be sought
Teething takes place through the
weaving period and during the second
year, when mistakes in feeding are so
often made which upset the baby'S
digestion. even if they do not make
him seriously ILL., On this account it
is often unjustIy blamed for making
the baby sick. when the real reason
lies in the fact that he was overfed or
improperly fed, or perhaps that the
weather was very hot.
Watch Baby Closely.
1t must be remembered that excess
sive heat aggravates any i'll the baby
may have, and is quite sufficient in
itself to make the baby sick. 1t is
necessary in summer, therefore. both
on account of the heat and because of
the disturbances connected with wean-
ing and teething, to take great care of
the baby in all respects. and especially
to feed him with great caution. Di-
rections for feeding the baby are given
- Ill ID III
which will be sent free to anyone who
asks for it, applying to the Chief of the
Children's Bureau, L. S. Department
of Labor, Washington, d. c.
The baby may not gain in weight
during the cutting of his various
double teeth. but it is not a serious
matter to have the weight remain sta
tionary for a short time. The baby
will quickly regain the lost ground
when he is well again, and eating his
full rations.
The mother should never allow any
one to persuade her to give the baby
patent medicines, such as soothing
syrups to relieve the pain of teething.
If they do relieve it they probably
contain opium in some form, which is
much worse for the baby than the suf-
fering. 1t is safe rule never to give
medicine Of any sort to a baby. save
that which is ordered by doctor
Care of the First Teeth.
From the time when the double
teeth make their appearance through
out life the teeth should have daily
care. For the baby a very soft brush
is necessary and the utmost care
should be taken not to injure in any
way the delicate tissues of the mouth
when brushing the tiny teeth. After
the baby has several teeth, the mother
should see to it that no particles of
solid food are left between them after
the baby has eaten. If the first set of
teeth is we'll taken care of, the second
set will be healthier, and in addition
the child will have been taught a good
habit that will last all his life.
There is considerable variation in
the time that the teeth first appear
but if the baby has no teeth by the
/ time he is one year old, he should
/ have medical attention to see if any
disease is causing this unusual delay
: in the development of the teeth, or
whether it is due to improper diet.