OUR BABIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 564, 17 January 1929, Page 4

OUR BABIES

By

Hygeia.

i Published under the auspices of . [ the Royal Mew Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children l (Plunket Society). “It is wiser to put up a fence at 3 the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.” 1 WEIGHING THE BABY A PLUNKET NURSE'S TALK TO MOTHERS ■ I To-day X want to speak to you about . weighing the baby. There are many t important points about a baby’s / weiglit which mothers should know and . understand. j First of all, let me explain this 5 weight chart, which shows the weight t and progress of the average normal "baby from birth to one year old. We i know from weighing many hundreds • of babies that this black line represents the gain of the average baby. c HOW MUCH SHOULD BABY GAIN ’ You see, the average normal baby is ! about 7ilb. at birth. There is usually , an initial loss during the first few - days, and at the end of about a fort- . night baby should have regained his ' birth weight. The curve of the nor- ' mal line shows that the average baby ’ gains 6oz. to Boz. a week in the first quarter, 4oz. to 6oz. a week in the second quarter, and 3oz. to 4oz. ! a week in the third quarter. He trebles his birth weight at about one year. The weight of a child is the best all-round means of estimating the state of nutrition. It is a common idea that after babies reach the age of one year they do not need the same attention in regard to feeding and weighing, etc. But this is a great mistake. The little child needs supervision right on until school age, and it is most important that he should be weighed and measured regularly every few months throughout the first few years. This the Plunket nurse can do. Babies who are very small at birth may be quite normal, and as a matter of fact the baby who is underweight at birth, if properly fed, will often reach the normal line by the end of the first year or even earlier. On the other hand, the baby who is very big and heavy at birth may not gain so rapidly as the average baby. Now, every mother likes to feel confident that her baby Is doing well, and the way In which she can be sure of it is this: Firstly, make certain you are feeding him properly; secondly, by regular weighing, satisfy yourself that he is making proper use of that food. On the other hand, I would here add a word of warning. You must not be worried if baby’s gain is not quite up to the standard this week —next week he will probably make that up. Do not consider the weight for one week only, but pin your faith more on the fortnightly gain. Of course, a steady gain in weight w.eek by week is ideal, but don’t worry about slight irregularities, such as might be expected during teething, weaning, a cold or temporary upset, changing of food, etc. After 12 months of age baby takes more exercise, and tends to put on weight less regularly. WHEN AND HOW WEIGHING j SHOULD BE DONE Baby should be weighed regularly once a week or once a fortnight, always at the same time of day if possible, and not just after a meal. It is best to weigh him just in his little shirt. If clothes must be worn, they should be about the same number and thickness each time. SCALES Ordinary grocer’s scales with scoop and weights may be used at home, or a good spring balance with a hook. Clock-faced scales are not reliable, because every movement of the baby alters the reading. If you bring baby to the Plunket Rooms he will be weighed on very accurate scales. If you cannot get to the Plunket nurse or she to you, avd you have no scales, it Is usually possible to take baby to a store or a chemist at regular intervals. Monthly weighing is much better than irregular or no weighing. HOW TO WEIGH BABY At home it is best to weigh baby when he has been undressed for his bath. If using a spring balance scales keep a special napkin with loops of tapes at the corners. If using grocer’s scales have them well balanced, with a napkin in the scoop or basket before putting baby in. See that he is as comfortable as possible, and engage his attention in order to keep him as quiet as you can. THE PROPERLY REGULATED BABY Aow let me emphasise the advantages of weighing baby regularly: r irsUy: The mother is reassured by the baby’s steady progress. A contented mother means a contented baby home > ° th arS responsible f °r a happy Secondly: Serious illnesses often come on gradually, and their presence is not apparent until the condition is well established; but the trouble Is sure to be recorded on baby’s chart. Caieful inquiry into the cause of stationary weight or loss of weight may save baby from a serious illness and |n g posltlve guide as to correct feed- ; Thirdly: A record of weight from birth onwards, such as is kept f “ : every Plunket baby under the care of ' a Plunket nurse, is most useful at any time illness assails baby. His prlvious progress is clearly outlined for the doctor to see at one glance. j ! I 1 ”’ there are some disadvanta o es about weighing baby everv aMas.*-* - diet (i.e., one in which there is not the pioper proportion of sugar fat and protein) may show an unhealthily lapid gain m weight. Patent foods generally have too much starch or sugai m their composition. This defect tends to produce fat, heavy j

babies wbo may take prizes at "‘baby shows” when exhibited in competition with perfectly normal, sound, firm, healthy babies; but sugar or starch will not build bone and muscle. Growth founded on a wrong basis is not maintained indefinitely. The tendency is for the weight of the baby fed on patent foods to fall off later, when also imperfect development of bones, muscles, teeth, and digestive organs makes itself apparent. The over-fat, wrongly fed baby has no resistance. At any time during his babyhood the overfat baby will prove his unfitness should he fall a victim to disease. Secondly; Failure to gain in weight is not necessarily a serious condition. When considering baby’s weight chart it is necessary to take iftlp consideration all the special conditions pertaining to the special baby. For instance, weight may be gained very rapidly during the first few months of life, and during later months there will be a corresponding slackening off in the rate of growth. This is not necessarily abnormal. But should your baby’s gain in weight be either above or below the average normal standard, I would advise you to consult the Plunket nurse at once.

FACTS WORTH KNOWING

Germany has produced a new fabric into whose composition paper, metal and cloth enter. The top surface has the appearance of metal, the back looks like paper, and the fabric may be folded without cracking. It may be embossed and printed by ordinary methods, it is said, and will not oxidise or tarnish. A group of shades, described as mother-of-pearl, or nacre, is advocated for evening hosiery. These include pale mauve, pale yellow' green, and pale yellow tan, as well as flesh and off-white effects. They are called nacre violine, nacre pearl, nacre chartreuse, nacre rose, nacre beige, and nacre mouette. Bachus is another evening shade of yellow tone. About 50 per cent, of the women noted recently at the fashionable KitCat Restaurant, in London, wore white, while black was a second favourite, as well as the usual gamut of pastel colours, of which blue was the most prominent. A number of the younger set favoured printed fabrics- Chion, lace, sa in and georgette were most in favour, and rayon velvet was worn in picture frocks, but less extensively. Sunburn hosiery to match much-tanned arms and shoulders was general, with crepe de chine or satin shoes of toning shade.