The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-05-06
Care aRdFeedlng of Infants.

So much has been written and said the
last few years on the care and feeding
of infants, that it seems everyone must
be fairly well enlightened on the sub
ject. The truth is, very few have as
yet learned why babies have colo, or
constipation, or many other prevent
able troubles which so often lead to
more serious illness.
The care Of infants should commence
at the beginning of pregnancy. A
mother to give her child health at birth
must, herself, have health. Proper
diet and exercise, with congenial sur
rOundings are all that are necessary to
accomplish this. Many mothers during
pregnancy hav abnormal cravings. 1t
IS not, as is popularity supposed, neces-
sary to satisfy this craving, only to a
limited degree. Many times to do so
would be to injure the health of both
mother and babe. This craving will
not develop to any extent if proper
food is taken. As a rule there is no
milk the first few days after birth.
Nature has providedIfor this; baby does
not need anything but a little warm
water every two hours until he is three
or four days old. The water need not
be given during the night.
Normally, milk should begin to be
secreted in the mammary glands the
third or fourth day, or sooner. The
amount of milk at first is a source of
great anxiety to many mothers. Now
consider this; small baby's stomach
at birth, holds less than one ounce, the
largest baby's stomach at birth not
more than one and one-half ounces.
Imagine tiny bag no larger than the
end of the thumb to the first joint.
That is the size of the new born baby's
stomach. So, ordinarily, we need not
worry about the quantity 1t is the
quality about which we should think.
This is obtained by the mother avoid
ing things which are injurious to her
self as well as the milk; such as 100
much highly seasoned food, onions, cab
bage, or anything that makes the milk
distasteful, too rich, or too thin.
Infants should never be nursed often
er than every two hours. When six or
eight weeks old every two and one-half
hours. After four months every three
hours-s At no age should baby be fed
between the hours of 10 P. NJ. and A.
NJ.
Often mothers have no system about
feeding child and nurse it every time |
it frets. This causes baby to develop |
an abnormal appetite and from force of
habit the desire to nurse il almost con- !
slant
Milk requires at least one and a half |
hours to digest, then the stomach needs |
a little time to rest before more milk is |
taken into it. When fresh milk is taken |
before the previous feeding has had |
time to digest it produces collie. The |
fresh milk mixing with the partly d. |
gested milk causes rapid formation of |
gas which in turn causes the severe |
cramps so painful to baby. Properly |
fed babies never naver collie.
Not only does giving food too often |
cause stomach Indigestion, vomiting, |
collie, but 1t also causes intestional in |
constipation, diarrhea, and |
the various so-called summer complaints |
This is because the food has not been
properly digested in the stomach before
the intestines, also too large |
q quantity has been taken.
by should never nurse more than !
twenty minutes and only one breast
at feeding. Babies at all ages should |
be given water frequently during the !
lay.
Beside the food no drink should be
given baby, but water. Coffee and tea
are very injurious to children of all /
ages. The average baby should not +
AXE any other food than milk before
he seventh or eight month. Then,
very little and gradually increasing IN
IL baby is weaned, between the ninth
md twelfth months.
This food should be mainly fresh, raw
.ow's milk, the rest soft food easily
ligested.
Space will not admit of enumeration or
n explanation of how to administer
God to newly weaned child.
Children that are properly feJ, are
lot fretful, do not catch cold easily,
lo.not take contagious diseases easily,
lever have colo, constipation, or indi-
.estion and will never have Summer
or be sick while teething.
DR.. T. b. Clover.
The May Yictrola records are now on