OUR BABIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 85, 4 January 1919, Page 5

OUR BABIES

|B/ HJTG2II.I

Published under tho aueplces of the Boyai iS'ew Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children. , "It is wiser to put up a leuee at tho top of a precipioe than to maintain an nuibulance at the bottom." Although infantile diarrhoea is not nearly bo fatal in tho Dominion as it was formerly, there are usually it large number of cases during the summer; therefore we repeat out annual warninir. As tho season is approaching during which summer diarrhoea tends to uecorae rife among babies, it is important to ephaeißO the fact that the disease generally attacks infants who- have been more or less out of sorts'for Bome,timc previously. Mothers should now be on their guard, and should watch carefully for any sign of failure,. such an listlessness, dullness, IOBS of appetite.-frctfulness, etc. Indigestion due to unsuitable food nnd irregular feeding is the main predisposing cause of diarrhoea in babies, so that all mothers should be specially vigilant in Bummer. They should be perfectly regular in feeding, and should give the children nothing unsuitable or liablo to disagree. ■ Unfortunately, it is just at Christmas time and throughout the holidays-the hottest season of , the year—that pur New Zealand mothers become most irregular and cdrclesß . in. theße matters. One frequently sees tiny tote being stuffed with cakes, bananas, and : sweets of all kinds, and a feelinu of great indignation arises at-the gross ignorance which makes such toily possible. Travelling by rail or sea, or visiting friends, the child's power of endurance ie strained to the utmost, and many an unfortunate infant in the Dominion makes' iiu , progress from Christmas time to .raid-January on this account; hence, when. the most trying days come, and summer diarrhoea is rile, the fatal disease knocks effectively at the houses where the doors are already ajar. In such cases, if tho disease does gain a foothold.' the unfortunate baby cannot'osunije unscathed, 110 may not die, but at- best- he will <be thrown back for months, and moro or?lese injured for life. ■ I need scarcely . say that preventive measures of almost equal importance to proper food and regular feeding'are the •other essentials of hygiene—namely :— Pure, cool, free-flowing fresh air ' day and night. ... .■ ,■ "'. Suitable clothing by day and night. . Plenty of outing. , Hegular ejeorciso and sleep. Kefrularity of the bowels and other habits. '■ : ' ■ Cleanliness. Dummies should be got rid of at onen. '■'.•■>■ ■ ■ ■ Tho above applies to all children. It ie. however, among young babies that Bummcr diarrhoea plays the greatest havoc. What should mothers do to prevent its onset? '.■■■■■.-.. i The main preventive meaeure is to feed babies ae JN'ature intended. Bottle-fed uduies are far from liable to get the disease than thoee' that are breast-fed; therefore, if poseible, do not wean during : January, February, or March.. , The mother miiet. of course, do all she can tomake sure that her supply of milk is good and sufficient by taking plenty of. exercise. in the open air, by restrict- ! inp herself to good, simple food taken at ' regular intervale, including from one to two pints moro fluid than> she wouid drink if not nursing, by having a curI rent of pure, fresh, free-flowing air coursI ing through her bedroom all night long, 1 and by regularity of all habits. The nursI ing mother should take no alcohol in any All the above-mentioned hygienic measures must be attended to as carefully when the baby haß'the inestimable benefit of good mother's milk as when he is bottle-fed. ■ •■■ •If it Iβ absolutely necessary to wean your baby, do it gradually, and give properly graded humanised milk." Never give full-strength humanised milk to start with, but' begin with a -werik food and gradually work up to' the standard as advised in tho society's 1 book. "Feeding and Oare of Baby," page 30. A Threatened Attach. If a motion appears greeu wnen passed, the inotner should oe on her guard at once, anu should watch carefully uie next motion. If it is also green, tae should proceed as follows, wnetner baby is ureusiled or » bottle-fed :—

I.' Uive a aose of castor oil—one or fivo drachms, according, to .age. The aver-age-need is an orajDdry tatapooiiiul. i. Uivo boiled Water mily for the next two feodings. .'■•■■•

If baby is breast-fed, the mother must draw on tno mim from Jier breasts at tilo ÜBuat feeding- times either by inanipulatiou or by a, breast pump or a eoaa water bottle. (Kee "'l'ne . Jixpeotant Mother and. baby's first Month," page M,' and illustrations, page 30.) , If creen motions siill persist, continue givjiiif boiled water, and ■ call in a doctor. If thero «ire 210 more green mo* tione after the , two .fefdiiigs or Doileu water, proceed as follows:— ■ -,', 1.'.-ln tho case of a breast-fed, baby givo a, fow ounces, of boiled water just' uel'ore niir6ing, and allow baby to euckle for a, few minute" only'. : At tne next tbediuir- give leu's ivatbr and a longer period of auokling, and , so on, the allowance of water being cautiously reduced at eaoh feeding and the. eucKling extended. . -. . 2. In the case of a bottle-fed' baby boil the humanised milk for 20 minutee, and dilute it with boilc! water.. At the first feeding following tne two menle of boiltu watoi- only give one part of boilea humtiuised milk to four parts of boiled water. At the nest two foldings give two parts Qf humaniaed milk to three parta of boiled water; then give three parts of-.hu-maiiißed milk to two parts of boiled water for ta-o or. three feedings. If .all has gone well, full-strength boiled humantsed milk may be reached at the end of another day. After that only half .the milk need be boiled; then a- quarter, find then the boiling may cease. • , . Other Children. During the summer months children so frequently eat unripe or partially-decayed fruit that a, constant watch should be kept for signs of indigestion and diarrhoea.

Treat older children in the same way as babies—that is, give a dose of caetor oil and boiled water only for two or three meals. < Then give boiled milk and rico water. When tho attack nan pasised off, gradually work back to ordinary food.