Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-08-31
LOOKING AFTER
The BABIES
Interesting Facts That Are of Im-
portance to Every Mother in
Audubon County

Audubon County
Many of the points, lost by the low
score babies are due to improper
feeding. If you want your baby to
be a 100 per cent baby you must
study his needs, and feed him as
carefully as the highly bred calf and
colt are fed. 1t will pay just as well.
Breast Feeding
The milk necessary for the normal
healthy growth of every infant man.
NAL, including the human species, is
created for ii in the breast of its mo-
Their. The milk of the COW, mare, ass,
goat, and other animals has been an
alyZed by many Investigators, to see
whether any one of them bears so
close a resemblance to human milk
that it may be used as a substitute
All these Investigations show that the
milk of each animal is different from
that of every other and each is espe-
cially adapted to the requirements of
the young of that species. No other
argument than this simple physio-
logical one should be needed to in
duce a thoughtful mother to nurse
her baby at the beginning of it's life,
but if further demonstration is need
ed the evidence on every hand of the
comparative failure of artificial feed
ing, at least as far as young babies
are concerned, should be convincing.
Statistics gathered from this coun-
try and many others show that breast
fed babies have much greater chance
for life than those who are bottle
fed, and also that the infant illnesses
not only those of the digestive tract,
but many other varieties, afflict bot
tle-fed infants much oftener and much
more seriously than those who have
breast milk. But not only does
breast milk protect the nursing baby
from illness and increase materially
his chance for life. but it practically
insures that his development shall
proceed in a normal, orderly fashion.
The body makes a greater proper
tional growth during the first year
of life than during any other, and
the brain increases more in the same
time than in all the rest of the years
of life put together. 1t is therefore
of the utmost Importance to the whole
existence of each individual that dur
ing this most critical period the baby
be surrounded with all possible con-
ditions of perfect health. The most
important of these possible conditions
is breast milk. Food is the one ques-
ton of overwhelming importance to
the baby. If the food is one to which
the digestive apparatus must learn to
accommodate itself. or one which is
lacking in some of the elements ne
cessary for growth and development
the natural processes are hindered,
ly interfered with, sometimes to an
extent which makes it difficult, it not
impossible for the baby to regain the
lost ground. To accustom the infant
organs to do their work properly at
this criticalr formative time is essen
tial to the health of the adult in no
small degree. Undoubtedly in many
cases grown people would have es-
capped many of the defects and def
ciencies with which they have to con-
tend if they had passed the period of
infancy in perfect health.
These are impelling reasons why
mothers should nurse their babies.
Other less important reasons, are
that if the mother takes care of the
nurse than to feed by a bottle; that
disease germs, and that it is fed to
the baby at a Uniform Temperature
from beginning to end of nursing.
Toys
Since a baby wants to put every
thing in his mouth, his toys must be
those that can safely be used in this
way. They should be washable and
should have no sharp points or cor
ners to hurt the eyes. Painted arti-
Giles and hairy and woody toys are I'M
safe, as are also objects small enough
to be swallowed, and those having
loose parts, such as bells and the like.
A child should never have so many
toys at one time as to distract his in
terest. He will be quite satisfied with
a few things for the time being, and
a handful of clothespins, for example,
will often please just as much as an
expensive doll or other toy. 1t is an
excellent plan to have box or basket
in which to keep empty spools and
other household objects which the
baby may play with.
Don'ts
Don't give the baby candy or ice
cream.
Don't give the baby bananas.
Don't give the baby food every
time he frets or cries.
Don't give the baby fried food.
Don't give the baby pastry.
Don't give the baby a pacifer, or
let him suck his fingers.
Don't play with baby under six
months of age, and very little then.
1t makes them nervous and irritable;
makes them sleep badly and upsets
their digestion.
Don't kiss the baby in the mouth;
disease may be communicated to him
in this way.