OUR BABIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 4033, 30 June 1931, Page 59

OUR BABIES.

By

Hygeia.

Published under the auspice* of the Royal New Zealand Society the Health of Women and Children {Plunket Society). " It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.**

PLUNKET NURSES. ETC.. DUNEDIN BRANCH. NURSES' SERVICES FREB. Nurses O’Shea (telephone 23-348) Isbister (telephone 10-866), Thomson. and Ewart (telephone 10-216). and Mathieson (telephone 23-020).. Society's Rooms: Jamieson's Buildings 6 Lower Stuart street (telephone 10-216) Utnce hours: Daily from 2 to 4 p.tn. (ex eept Saturday and Sunday) and 10 a.m to noon on Tuesdays. .Thursdays, and Fridays; 315 King Edward street. South Dunedin. 2 to 4 p.m daily (except Satur uay and Sunday) and 10 a.m -to noon on Fridays; also 125 Highgate, RoslynMonday and Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m.. Gospel Hall, Mailer street. Morinngton— Monday and Wednesday. 2 to 4 p.m.. Kelsey - Yaralla Kindergarten — Mond; and Friday from 2 to 4 p.m.; Bapt». Sunday School. Sunshine—Monday and Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m.; 211 Main North road. North-East Valley—-Tue» days, 2 to 4 p.m.; Kindergarten Caver sham—Thursdays. 2 to 4 p.m Out-stations: Baptist Church. Gordon road. Mosgiel—Tuesday afternoons frtjni 3 to 4 o’clock: Presbyterian Church Hall —alternate Fridays. 2 to 4 p.m.. Municipal Buildings Port ChalmersWednesday afternoons from 2 to 4 o’clock; also Hall. Ma'candrew’e Bay—Fridays 2 to 4 p.m. . Administrative Secretary,-Miss G. Hoddinott, Jamieson’s Buildings. Stuart street (telephone 10-216) Karitane-Harris Baby Hospital. Ander son’s Bay (telephone 22-985) Matron Miss Hilditch Demonstrations given on request every .Wednesday afternoon from 2.30 by Plunket Nurses and Karitane Baby Nurses Visiting hours: 2to 4 p.m. Wednesday. Friday and Sunday. MEALS FOR THE TODDLER. Last week we brought our baby up to the 15 months’ stage in the matter of food. Now to proceed : Between 15 and 18 months "all that is required is gradual progress in amount and variety of food along the same lines as before. Give only three meals a day, with a drink of milk and water or fruit juice on waking and drinks of water between meals. The milk mixture should consist of 20oz of milk (scalded) diluted with about soz of water. Set aside this pint of milk when the milkman comes, and see that so much is really used for baby. This amount includes that used in puddings, sauces, etc., and on porridge. Fish.— A little light fish, well steamed or boiled, may be given at-.this stage, <say once or twice a week, at the middle meal. Give about a teaspoonful at first, and later give up to about a level tablespoonful.

'Chicken. — A very little chicken, steamed or boiled, may also be given occasionally if desired. The ideal way is to let baby have a bone with a little meat on it. The subsequent proceedings may not be in accordance with the accepted code of party manners—indeed they may be a little- primitive,—but how good it would be for the child if some habits could be a little more primitive' arid a little less sophisticated. Just watch baby gnawing a bone—how it seems to bring every muscle of the jaws and cheeks into play, how it must develop and strengthen teeth and jaws and tongue. And how the healthy, hearty youngster enjoys this primitive exercise ! Fortunately cheeks and hands are made of good washing material. Continue to give as much as possible of the day’s allowance of food in a form which requires chewing, and see that it is chewed. If there is difficulty, give the dry foods first, before; hunger loses its first edge. Especially . avoid pappy food at teatime. At the same time, beware of underfeeding if the child does not take hard foods well. Gradually discontinue straining porridge altogether. Also use a larger proportion of wholemeal instead of white bread as you find baby can take it without any signs of irritation. The same applies to oatcake. By the time the child is able to take unstrained porridge he will probably be able to digest oatcake. But one needs to beware of setting up indigestion and. diarrhoea by going too fast in this direction. From 18 months to two tears continue along the same lines. Give about a pint of milk a day with meals and extra water or fruit drinks between meals. Increase the allowance and variety of vegetables, including young root and green vegetables of all sorts, onions, etc. Give some raw fruit daily. Apples and oranges are safest and best. Most other fruits should be given only in strict moderation. With this proviso, and provided they are sound and fresh, any of the ordinary fruits may be allowed. If given in too great a quantity or if not perfectly sound, fruit is liable to cause irritation, fermentation, and diarrhoea. This applies specially to fruits w’th seeds (raspberries, strawberries, blackberries). Tomatoes are risky if there. is any unsoundness. ■ Bananas should be both ripe and sound, and if used at all ■ should be thoroughly mashed with a fork to prevent bolting. Suggested Meals for Child from 18 Months to Two Years. ’ Here are a few alternative suggestions for meals suitable,. fdr children between 18 months and two years:—

Early Morning Drink : Water or diluted fruit juice, 4oz to soz. Breakfast : 1. Porridge (unstrained), 10 to 12 tablespoonfuls; top milk or whole milk. 2oz to 3oz. Milk drink, soz to 6oz. Or ; 2. Oatcake and butter, or dry cereal food, with fruit juice or top milk. Toast or twice-baked bread and butter. Milk drink, soz to 6oz. Piece of raw apple. Dinner ; 1. Steamed fish, one dessertspoonful; white sauce (well cooked), one to two tablespoonfuls, or melted butter, one teaspoonful. Potato, two to three tablespoonfuls, or cauliflower or other vegetable. Junket, two tablespoonfuls; baked or stewed apple or other fruit, one to two tablespoonfuls. Twicebaked bread, one to two fingers. Milk drink, 4oz to soz. Piece of raw apple. 2. Vegetables, two or three kinds— say spihach, french beans (or other greens In season), marrow, etc. ; potato, baked or boiled in jacket. Butter, one teaspoonful, or meat gravy or sauce made with vegetable- water and milk. Custard, one to two tablespoonfuls ; stewed Iruit, one to two tablespoonfuls. Twicebaked bread, one to two fingers. Milk drink, 4oz to soz. Piece of raw apple. 3. Mutton broth, made with vegetables, 3oz to 4oz. Twice-baked bread, two to three fingers. Baked apple, semolina or brown rice pudding, two to three tablespoonfuls f top milk, 2oz. Milk drink, 3oz to 4oz. ’ Piece of raw apple. 4. Poached egg with spinach. Baked apple and twice-baked bread. Milk drink, 3oz to 4oz. Piece of raw apple. - . Note.— lf the child has a good appetite and takes all mixed foods well, it is not necessary to give milk to drink at dinner. Tea : . 4 1. Wholemeal bread and butter, with tomato or lettuce, as sandwiches. Milk drink, soz to 6oz. Raw apple. Or : 2. Oatcake and butter. Bread and butter with little marmite or, honey. Milk drink, soz to 6oz. Raw apple. Or ; 3. Coddled egg (when no. meat, fish, or egg has been given for dinner). Brown jl.e, an< ? butter or toast and butter. Miik drink, soz to 6oz. Raw apple. Suggested . Meals for Child from Two to Five Years. Breakfast : L Pol T i dge and milk. Crisp toast and butter or twice-baked bread with butter. Piece of raw apple. Or : . 2. Oatcake and drink of milk. Brown bread and butter. Piece of raw apple. Dinner; 1. Little light meat and good gravy with fresh-cooked vegetables. Simple pudding. Piece of raw apple. Or ; 2. Egg (on spinach when available) and b r° wn bre ?,? an(l butter. Stewed fruit and top milk. Piece of raw ripe apple. 3. Vegetable milk broth and twice-baked bread. Custard and fruit. Piece of raw ripe apple. Or : 4. Steamed fish. Baked potato. Junket. An orange. Tea : 1 ' a milV d pV tter --, Baked apple. Drink of milk. Piece of raw apple. Or : 2 ' b r ead and butter or dripping. Or^ k f milk ’ Plece of raw apple. 3. Simple pudding or stewed fruit. TwiceSr ead f nd butter. Drink of milk. Piece of raw apple. Lettuce, cress, tomato, marmite, 'honey, dates, raisins, or nuts with bread and butter or as sandwiches.