Milford chronicle., 1920-06-04
MOTHERS COLUMN
Contributed by the Medical Consult
ant of the State Reconstruc-
ton Commission.)
WEAVING

Weaning should never be undertak
: en- too soon. However, every chilt
should be off the breast or bottle b.
the end of his first year. Weaninl
should not be undertaken just because
of contagious disease in the mother
unless on the advice of a competent
physician. This is often done unnec-
essarily. There are very. few condi-
tions OF the mothers health which
warrant very early weaving. In some
cases of contagious disease, temper
airy weaving is advisable. If possible,
weaving should not take place during
excessively hot weather as a serious
intestinal upset may result.
In weaving take the baby off the
| breast or bottle gradually. If he has
[ been on the breast, discontinue one or
two Of the breast feelings and sub
stitute milk feeding, broths, or soups.
Small quantities of mashed potatoes
or other soft plain foods may be Civ
en-. No meat or pastry is allowable
at this period. II will be some time
before these are permissible even in
small quantities. Gradually reduce
the number of breast feelings and in
crease the amount of other suitable
food until at the end of from three to
five weeks the baby is completely
weaned.
In feeding during the summer
months be careful to decrease the
amount of fat in the diet as this often
leads to serious upsets. Balance the
child's diet carefully for it is often
found that some children, unless pre-
cautions have been taken, will become
addicted to the milk habit. That is,
they like the milk, drink large quanti-
ties of it and refuse all other food. Do
not take this to mean that children
are not to be given milk. Every child /
should have at least quart of milk
a day. This, however, should not be
taken all at one time, nor should they |
be given so much milk at one meal |
that they will lose their appetite for
other foods.
Excessive taste for milk mus. be
corrected at once, as milk does not
contain all the food properties which |
are essential to good health. Rather
drastic measures are sometimes nee
essary to cure this. The normal
healthy child is hungry. Put the baby
to bed in order that he may not get
any food except that which is pre-
scribed. Feed him small amounts of
broth at intervals of six hours for a
day or two. This will result in the
child becoming ravenously hungry
and willing to eat anything that is
given him. Some mothers object to
such radical measures, but they must
not allow their feelings of sympathy
to overcome their judgment and know
ledge that it is for the best interests /
of their baby to do this. Similar
measures are oftentimes useful in
curing a baby of the fancied dislikes /
which babies sometimes develop for
particular kinds of nourishing foods. I
Never allow the baby to eat be-
tween meals, particularly do not al |
low him to consume large quantities |
of indigestible sweets. Many children /
acquire this pernicious habit with the
result that at meal times they want
none of the good food which they
need to insure proper development. /
Other children are allowed TO start
the meal with two or more glasses of /
milk, resulting in the satisfaction of
their appetite and the loss Of all cray- !
ing for other food provided.
Be careful, therefore, to see that /
your child's appetite for all kinds of
body building food is developed and
do not allow his whims or fancies
to dictate his diet.