TO THE FATHERS OF NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 33, 2 November 1917, Page 6

TO THE FATHERS OF NEW ZEALAND

THINGS THET SHOULD UNDERSTAND. [Adapted from a message sent out during tho Tecent American Baby Week campaign.] Tradition has, in the past, left all the care of the baby to the mother. The conditions of our present-day society require that, in addition to providing food, shelter, and other material things, the father must share with tho mother the responsibility for the health of his baby. The following are some of tho things that he should understood or do:-\

He should understand the importance of prospective mothers having good care and advice at as early a period as possible so as to insure the health of the mother and protect the coming baby. 1 He Bhould know that fresh air, daily outdoor exercise, and adequate rest and sleep are of paramount importance for the mother's health and strength, both before and after tho birth of her child, and that the health of the mother is the health of the baby. He should see that the mother has adequate care during and after the birth of the baby, so that the mother's health may bo continued or restored as quickly as possible, both for her own sake and that she may bo able to give proper care to the baby. '

He'should know the importance of the mother nursing her baby. Breast-fed babies have a much greater chance of living and becoming strong, healthy children than have bottle-fed babies. This is so important that anything that would alter or lessen the mother's milk supply, such as overwork, excitement, shock, or worry, should be avoided. If, after every effort is made, the' mother's milk supply is not adequate, the father should know that clean, fresh cow's milk properly modified to suit a baby is the best substitute, and should see that the baby gets suqh milk, and that the mother has the advice of the doctor or Plunket nurse on its preparation.

He should know that nearly one-third of all infant deaths occur as the result of digestive disturbance brought on chiefly by faulty feeding. He should knoir that soothing syrups are dangerous, that dummies ore both needless and injurious, that the baby needs rest and regular hours of sleeping, and should hot be kept up late nor handled too much'.

Ho should know the importance of good surroundings to the bnbv. Tho baby needs fresh air nnd sunlight as much as anv plant. Tiilrea plant,_ the bnbv will droop and dip if kent in a dark, close room, deprived of Nature's best health tonics—fresh air and sunlight. Cleanliness in and about the. home is even more imnortant to the bnby (ban to the adult. Baby cannot itself against dust, dirt, and flies. Flies bred in the open gnrbaue tin or in the rubbish heap in the yard mar carry germs tn the baby's mouth or milk, and cause (li'irrhoea or other diseases. Lastlv, every father should know of and take an active part in promoting conditions in our citv which will givt> every baby a better chance.