OUR BABIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 February 1940, Page 8

OUR BABIES

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 fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance at the bottom.'' IN HOT WEATHER. THE MILK PROBLEM. We must see that every baby has the “twelve essentials” in his daily life. He must have what every baby needs.

If the baby who has lived in the fresh air. who has been naturally fed. trained in regular habits, and had all the essentials for good health should chance to get ill he usually, throws off the sickness with very little trouble. He is practically germ-proof.

Now we must consider the matter of food. Natural feeding is the great preventive of illness. Professor Budin has shown that out of 250 deaths of infants occurring in one midsummer week less than 30 were breast-fed babies.

As we have said, humanised milk is the best substitute for natural feedling, but in hot weather special precautions are necessary in the preparation and keeping of the milk. , It may be best to bring baby’s milk mixture to boiling point and keep it at that temperature for 10 minutes instead of only scalding it. Whether boiled or pasteurised, the milk must be cooled quickly at once, and below 60deg Fahr, if possible. Germs multiply with extreme rapidity in warm milk.

Cover the jug loosely with damp butter muslin and stand in running or frequently changed cold water. Needless to say, if ice is available milk can be kept perfectly cool. In the country a running stream or an artesian well may be handy; in the towns it may be impossible to get tap water below 60deg Fehr. A pailful of water left outside in the air all night and away from the morning sun will be quite cool for some hours. Select the shadiest, draughtiest, and cleanest place for the milk safe, and in it stand the jug of cooled milk in a shallow dish containing the coldest water available. Be sure that the damp muslin which covers the jug dips into the water all round that it may be kept damp and so cold by evaporation. This method always ensures some cooling, especially in hot, dry weather. When there is any doubt whether the milk has remained below 60deg Fahr, in the evening always rescald what has been left of the day’s supply. Again cool quickly and place in the coldest available place for the night. If it is possible to obtain fresh milk twice daily, the humanised milk can be made morning and evening, thus avoiding the risk of its not keeping fresh.

There are various kinds of safes and coolers, details of which may be obtained. if wished, from the Plunket mirses or Karitane Hospitals. The simple, easily available methods prove satisfactory in the great majority of ca,ses if carefully carried out. Special care must be taken, with regard to cleanliness during hot weather. Billies, jugs, bottles, and teats must be washed absolutely free of all traces of milk. An almost invisible amount of stale milk may render the whole day’s supply poisonous. Vessels which have contained milk must always be washed in cold water before being washed with hot water and soap. Hot water “sets” the milk on the utensil and makes it difficult to remove.

Beware of flies. Keep everything that is used in connection with baby’s food under cover. Remove soiled napkins at once to covered pail. Wash the hands after changing baby before again handling him or his food. Wash the nipples thoroughly before nursing baby.

Be careful to ensure regularity of the bowels. See that baby has plenty of exercise in the open air. Let him be out of doors all day and sleep outside at night if a suitable balcony or porch is available. Avoid overclothing and over-heating. Do not worry unduly about baby, but be ever on the watch for warning symptoms and ready to take prompt measures to prevent trouble.

Indigestion, due to over-feeding, irregular feeding, or unsuitable food, is the main predisposing cause of diarrhoea. Therefore mothers should be always alert, especially during the summer. All habits should be regular, and children should not be given unsuitable foods or foods likely to disagree. It is during the summer months, the warmest time of the year, when travelling or away from home, that the usual routine of both babies and older children is upset. Disordered digestion, and consequent lowered resistance, render them an easy prey to any infection.

Some hints on food for children .when travelling were given in these columns a few weeks ago. When away from home make every effort to secure good, fresh milk. Always boil it before using for the first few days, and continue to do so if there is any doubt as to the freshness of the supply. Spare no pains to keep all feeding utensils scrupulously clean. For oldeichildren beware of unsuitable foods, cakes, sweets, unripe or over-ripe fruit.