The Republican., 1925-07-23
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
ADVISES ON CARE OF BABY
Period Between July Is and Sep
tember 30 Considered Most
Dangerous Time for Tots

A bulletin just issued by the Bureau
of Child Hygiene of the State Depart
ment of Health gives this advice to
mothers on the midsummer care of
the baby:
For many years the latter part of
the summer-from the middle of July
to the end of September-has been
the time of the year when there has
been the greatest amount of sickness
and death from intestinal diseases
among babies and young children.
The experience of recent years in
many parts of the country has shown
that illness from these causes is not
necessary and can be prevented.
Where babies are brought up under
medical direction, if proper care is
given to their food and to their daily
routine, this dreaded summer COM
plant Is largely done away with In
many communities the danger to the
lives of babies is considerably less
even in hot weather than at other
times of the year.
The precautions to be observed by
mothers In the care of their children
in warm weather are so simple that
they can be carried out easily every
where. They can be summarized
briefly as follows:
Intervals between feelings should
never be more frequent than three
hours, and most babies would do bet
ter if fed at four hour intervals, that
is, five or at most, six times in twen-
ty-four hours. This gives an oppor-
tunity for the food to pass from the
stomach to the intestines, which takes
three OF four hours, before additional
food is given. Cooled, boiled water
can be given freely in hot weather be-
tween feelings.
Mothers milk. No food is compar-
able to mothers milk; it is especially
useful in hot weather. Mothers milk
is exactly suited to the needs of the
baby; ii is practically without germs
and is usually given in just the quanti-
ties that the baby requires. A baby
should not be weaned during the sum-
mer if it is possible to feed it on moth
er's milk.
Clean cows milk. The next best
substitute for mothers milk is clean
cows milk diluted with water accord
ing to the doctors direction. The mix
ture should be boiled for two or three
minutes and then cooled before feed
ing the baby. 1t is impossible to pre-
vent germs from entering cows milk,
even if it is produced under good con-
ditions. Boiling will practically de-
stroy these harmful germs and make
the milk safer for young children.
When cows milk is used, it is es-
pec.ally advised that the feeding in
tervals be four hours apart.
Clothing. The baby and young
should be dressed according to the
temperature and not according to the
season. During very warm weather
when the thermometer hovers around
90 degrees, little baby requires moth
ing but its napkin. A light blanket or
a dress should be at hand to put
around the baby if there is sudden
fall in temperature.
"Sponging. Babies are made much
more comfortable during hot weather
if they are stripped and sponged with
tepid water two or three times a dav.
Very young babies, especially in warm
weather should be brought up under
the care Of a doctor. The mother
should notify her doctor Of even slight
changes in the baby's condition.
Intestinal disease can usually be
cured if treated promptly, but if al
lowed to run on, it is always a seri-
Gus matter in hot weather"