OUR BABIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 102, 21 July 1927, Page 5

OUR BABIES

By Hygeia. Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society). “It is wiser to put up a fenco at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.”

(Continued.) Last week we gave considerable space to a description of the way to train baby by correct abdominal massage, knowing this to be very important in helping to establish a real cure of constipation. Now let us consider what else we can do if baby tends to be constipated. Prune juice is a harmless, natural laxative, and may be given for this purpose, say. in the second month and onwards. Commence with only half a teaspoonful and increase up to two or three teaspoonfuls according to the age of the baby and his needs. If a very small amount, well diluted, is given at first, it is most unlikely to cause any upset at all. Prune Pulp.—For an older baby, say after three months, some of the pulp of well-cooked prunes, finely sieved, may be added to the juice. This should also be commenced with about half a teaspoonful at first, and may be increased up to two or three teaspoonfuls.

Spinach Puree.—Very finely sieved spinach is also an excellent natural laxative, and may be given after three months of age, commencing with half a teaspoonful in 24 hours.

Note. —To make prune juice: Wash about half a dozen prunes and soak overnight in enough water to cover well. Bring to the boil, and simmer slowly until quite tender (say about one hour). Use no extra sugar. Strain off the juice through clean scalded butter muslin or a fine wire sieve—it should be fairly thick and concentrated.

To make prune pulp: Press the wellcooked pulp of the prunes through the sieve, adding just enough of the juice to moisten it.

To make spinach puree: Thoroughly wash |lb. of spinach and cook in about two tablespoonfuls of water until soft. Add a small pinch of salt. Rub through a fine sieve, using the juice as well as the, pulp. Orange juice.—Although orange juice is commonly given to babies for its supposed laxative properties, it may not have any such action, and may even have slightly the reverse effect. The real value of orange juice is its richness in one of the important “vitamines,” so necessary for growth and health. This vitamine is damaged by heating, and consequently orange juice is given to bottle-fed babies to compensate for what is lost in the scalding of milk. Any laxative effect it may have with certain babies is entirely secondary, and it is very important not to confuse the two properties. As mother’s milk contains sufficient of this vitamine for the baby, it is not necessary to give orange juice to breast-fed babies. However, if the mother considers it has a good effect when given for constipation, it can do no harm if introduced very gradually, but too generous doses of orange juice given to very young babies may cause decided colicky pains. Two or three drops well diluted with warm boiled water, is quite enough to start with. If the juice seems to give baby pain, and has no good effect, there is no object in continuing its use. Prune juice, on the other hand, contains none of the essential vitamine, and so should never be used instead of orange juice for a bottle-fed baby. It is given solely for its laxative action, and some fresh, uncooked fruit or vegetable juice is necessary as well, unless the baby is breast fed. Magnesia.—lf there is marked constipation, part of the lime water used in preparing humanised milk may be replaced for a time by the best fluid magnesia. Thus, if loz. of lime water is used in preparing the day’s supply of food, Joz. each of fluid magnesia and lime water may be used instead of the standard formula. This should not be continued for more than a week or two without a doctor’s advice. A warning.—Persistent constipation is a serious thing, and one which should never be neglected. If after giving simple remedies a fair and thorough trial the condition still persists, consult a doctor at once. All purgative medicines are injurious and should never be given to babies except by the express orders of a doctor. Now let us bring the main points of this long discourse together. Briefly the main things to remember are Train baby from the earliest days. Prevention is better than cure. See that the habits of the mother are perfectly regular. Give baby abundance of fresh air, dav and night, heaps of healthy exercise, and all the other essentials for health. Keep him naturally fed if possible; if not, give him a properly balanced humanised milk mixture, and extra water to drink. Give systematic massage to the abdomen daily. Give a small, cool saline enema occasionally if necessary. Give only natural fruit or vegetable laxatives, such as prune juice or spinach puree, except by a doctor’s orders. And above all have patience and perseverance; but do not get worried. Worry never cured anything.