Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-04-22
PROPER METHOD
OF FEEDING BABY
Great Care Should be Taken Par.
ticularly in the First Few
Months.

Following is the tenth article of n
series for the Mothers Column, contribut-
ed by the medical consultant OF the State
Reconstruction Commission, submitted
by the commission through the clearing
house of the Delaware State Program. II
is entitled: Method Of Feeding" 1t
follows:
Regularity in feeding is one of the es-
sentials of successful bottle feeding for
babies. If it is not observed, the evil re-
suits will soon make themselves apparent.
The hours for feeding should be laid down
specifically and adhered to always.
Probably il will be found that the most
convenient hours are as follows: For the
first two months, 6, 9, IL, 3, 6, 8, II, 3
o'clock. After the first two or three
months, one feeding can be omitted dur
ing the night, making the hours, f, 9, IL,
3, 6, 10, 2 o'clock. When feeding the baby,
be should be slightly propped up on pill
low and left in that position for Is or 20
minutes after feeding. 1t will, OF course,
be necessary to hold the bottle of the
young baby for him while he is taking his
food.
Watch him carefully Do not let him
take the milk too fast, for this will cause
vomiting, regurgitation (spittlng upl,
and various other ills. Notice whether or
not he appears to be satisfied after he has
finished his feeding. Do not think that
crying after feeding is always a sign of un-
satisfied hunger. 1t may quite easily be
that be has a pain in bis stomach either
because of eating too rapidly, eating too
much. or some other discomforting condi-
ton. Notice the time it takes for the
baby to take his food. 1t should never
take more than 20 minutes and If it does,
something Is wrong.
In bottle feeding, there is naturally
more danger of digestive troubles than In
breast feeding. therefore symptoms must
be watched for more carefully.
Look closely at the color of the stools
from the baby's bowels, and if there is any
change from the normal yellow, this is an
alarming sign and YOU should consult
your physician at once. The commonest
trouble is caused probably by too much
sugar and in this case the stools will be of
a green color, with bubbles and strong
odor, and the baby will suffer from
diarrhea. Too much fat is indicated by
the presence in the stool of yellow humps
of fat. Too much proteid is indicated by q
stool Of grayish color and the presence OF
c,irds
In case anything unusual IN the stool is
noticed, save the diaper and discontinue
feelings until doctor has been consulted.
In case no doctor is Immediately available,
cut down the food TO the lowest amount
possible.
In feeding pasteurized or boiled milk.
some of the elements which are essential
to good health are lacking, therefore
something must be given which Will make
up this deficiency. For example, If fruit
juices are not gwen bottle fed baby, he is
liable to develop scurvy. The recognized
method of overcoming this condition is to
give orange juice daily. One half to two
ounces, according to the age OF the child,
should be given daily between morning
feedings 1t may be fed by bottle or by
spoon, but be sure your baby receives the
required amount each day.
Water should be given the baby several
times day, as milk viii not at all times
satisfy thirst. Boiled water should be
used for this purpose.
Constipation is q frequent ailment
among bottle-fed babies. There are
several means of overcoming tbis, one Of
the simplest of which is by the giving of
prune Juice This is made up by boiling a
handful of prunes in pint OF water with
out sugar, straining and giving the baby
tablespoonful daily.