OUR BABIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2230, 24 October 1908, Page 4 (Supplement)

OUR BABIES.

(By Hygeia.)

Published under the auspices of the Society for the Promotion of the Health of Women and Children.

ARTIFICIAL HEEDING OF BABIES.

As explained last Aveelc, Ave are entirely at one Avith the medical superintendent of the Southland Hospital when he tilts against the all-too-pre-valent readiness of mothers to resort to the bottle-feeding of young babies. Nothing too strong can be said against the selfishness and cruelty of the mother who takes no trouble in the way of trying to establish the poAA-er of nursing, or aalio, having the poAver, Avantonly refuses her offspring its natural birthright—its right to be fed at the breast. iHmvever, some suitable provision has to be made for the considerable number of infants Avho, through the complex conditions of our so-called civilisation, have to be brought up artificially from the start; for the far larger number whose mothers’ milk fails after the first feiA T months ;—and for all babie3 from the time of Aveaning until the child is fit to take ordinary food. DUTY OF EVERY MOTHER TO HEARN HOW TO HUMANISE •COW’S MILK.

It is tho duty of all mothers and nurses to learn lioav to prepare suitable artificial food for babies, but most people are not aAvare that even among breast-fed infants there are few, if any, avlio would not be benefited by receiving some humanised milk —in other words, coaa's’ milk modified in accordance -with the composition of human milk — at and for some months after the time of Aveaning. Dr Holt, professor of matters bearing on the rearing and treatment of children at- the Columbia University, and chief physician to the Babies’ Hospital, Ncav York the leading authority of the daj; on his subject —asks the question, “Cannot most children take plain cow s milk before they are 15 months old.'' •and gives liis opinion as_ follou's: “Many can, but many cannot, or at least they do much better Avhen the milk is modified.” (In other AAords, “humanised.”) At Aveaning and betnveeii nine and twelve inoutlis of there is no doubt Avhatever as to the great safety and advantage of giving tho baby some humanised milk instead of suddenly setting it to digest and accommodate its system to ordinary coavs’ milk. Babies properly treated, in this way lose little or nothing at weaning, though mothers, going on the experience of the past, always expect some ground to be lost, and are .prepared ror a trying time, both for themselves and their offspring. It is a mistake to suppose that the troubles of infancy are over at nine months. An eminent professor ot children’s diseases says: During the second year of life as much care is required as during the first. 1 h> s fear of the second summer aaoulu be largely overcome if the child Avere not allowed to eat food unsuited to-its digestion. Most of the illnesses and many of tho deaths throughout childhood are traceable to improper diet. The following table slioavs Avliat we believe to be the best and safest diet for the average baby from the tenth to the fifteenth month, Avhether it has been breastfed or not:Humanised Oat jelly No. Milk N cav or barley of Month No. of Milk, jelly, feedings

Eighteenth 0 30 10 o The table is taken from tlie society’s pamphlet, the only addition needed being tlie -gradual introduction about the twelfth month of such simpie- articles of food as rusks, toast, bread, etc., as explained in the pamphlet. Surely nothing can be simpler than the course of feeding hero recommended. We know of nothing better, indeed nothing so good; yet Dr Hendry, says, reflecting on the society’s work and advice to mothers: “Let us cast aside our armamentarium of pots and pans, thermometers, and measure-glasses.’ This is-, indeed, an exhortation to turn hack the hands of the clock. The curse of babyhood has -been lack of knoAvledgo, system, and accuracy. As Herbert Spencer'says : “For one Avay of going right there are a hundred ways. of going wrong.” -We have set down clearly w-hat lias been abundantly proved in practice throughout the Dominion to he a very simple Avay to go right—a course of feeding devised m general accord AA’itli the actual experience and’opinions of the highest authorities of the day and in accord with the results of tlie most recent scientific researches. We can only regret that any scientific man should come forivard to counsel in effect a_ persistence in the careless, haphazard muddling of the .past, instead of backiii?r what we kuoiA’ to be the most conducive to tlie welfare of the child.

■CORRESPONDENCE.

“Anxious Mother” writes: —“Dear Hygeia,—Could you let mo know through your valuable column Avhether. 1 can do anything to remedy iny little girl walking boAv-legged -or bandy-legged. She is about 18 months old, and has .been walking for about six months. She is a very hearty child.” REFLY.

Young babies are naturally somcAvhat boAvlegged.. This nat u ral cu rvaturo straightens out with groAvth. From the fact of your Avriting, you evidently think there is something more than the natural curve, but you have given nothing to indicate the extent'of deformity, and you do not say Avlien it took place, or whether you think it is increasing. In quite normal children a certain amount of excess of curvature is liable to be induced by allowing a heavy baby, such as you describe yours to be, to stand early, and boAA'-legs are not infrequently produced by tlie baby sitting tailor-fashion, cross-legged on the floor. In any case, the tendency to curvature is very much greater it there is any defect in nutrition. Here, again, I am quite in the dark. You say nothing Avhatever as to how your baby has been brought up w’aether breast-led or bottle-fed, and, if bottle-fed, the nature of the feeding. Unduly boAved logs are comparatively rare in breast-fed babies, but- voiy common in those AA'ho are fed aa ith patent foods, condensed milks, oi crude coav’s .milk, cane sugar, and Avater. . Of almost equal importance are tlie amount of exposure to open air and sunshine, the purity and freshness of the air in tho house night and day, bathing, clothing, kicking exercise. Possibly there may be a tendency to rickets, ono of the commonest results of Avhich is bow legs. Without knowing more, one can only say that you should carry out the various requirements lor healt laid doAvn in tlie society s pamphlet and indicated in what I have already said in this letter. You will a.®o find the essentials summarised in tlie “Our Babies” article Avhich appeared in the beginning of September, 1608. The use of fresh fruit juice is important. (See pamphlet.) The baby should have a pint and a-half of new milk every day, as well as other food. Probably you are giving too mucU starchy or sugary food, and the baby has become too fat without sufficient bone and muscle for support. Do not o-ive potato, unless m very limited quantity. Aro tho motions regular and normal? Keep tlie baoy out as much as possible, and be sure that she is neA r er kept in a warm, stuffj room. ■She should sleep in a room by ■herself with a current of fresh air flowing through it. She should have a cot with plenty of room tor her to idovc about and kick, stimulation oi the skin and muscular exercise ar© very important for bracing and strengthening the limbs, and, indeed, the Avhole system. Cold sponging folloAvod bv a good rubbing is beneficial, and there should be a systematic mas-sao-e twice a day, especially ot tlio lower limbs, until they are strong enough to permit a sufficiency ot aa aik inC?; however, there is probably no reason at the present tune why the babv should not get a fair amount of exercise by kicking and crawling, even if the limbs are still tending to yield and become more bent Lorn standing. Such points can only be determined by a doctor after examination, and you should seek competent advice at the first opportunity. Possibly the -tendency to bend has c ' eas . ed already; but on the other band there may be clear signs, Avluch a.oul be obvious to a doctor, pointing weakness of the bones or mints callinfor specific treatment, in. tlie meantime be guided, by tlie general principles of' treatment indicated above.

Tenth oz. 35 oz. 5 oz. 3 6 Eleventh 30 10 5 5 Twelfth 20 15 7 5 Thirteenth 15 15 10 5 Fifteenth 10 20 10 0 n