THE FIRST BABY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2390, 4 January 1909, Page 7

THE FIRST BABY.

A YOUNG MOTHER’S EXPERIENCE.

Of course we were very proud of - her, as we had every reason to be, for she was a fine baby, perfectly formed ,and a- bright wee girl from the first, so when the opportunity came to take her away from the terrible heat to a more temperate climate I started with a light heart, and dreamed fond dreams of admiring friends and relations gathering round and worshipping at baby’s shrine. It was a long trip, and when wo reached Sydney baby was tired and fretful, and then, alas! my troubles began. She was only six weeks old, . but “What a feeble voice she has,” 17they said. I had thought she had a most vogorious cry, but the. house baby was twelve months old, and certainly my baby’s voice did sound weak in My heart began to sink, and I wondered if anything were the matter with her. We rested a day, and "then started off, baby and I, to visit a friend. Her baby was six months old, and an enormous boy, and I had been in the bouse about tw'o minutes when my friend said : “Isn’t she thin, the poor little pet! You ought to feed her ofteher; ~ 1 feed my boy whenever be wants it, —7* and look at him.” Poor me! I had . been trying to bring Up my baby scientifically, and feeding _ her every two hours, but that was evidently the wrong way. Sydney we took a trip to the mountains, where baby used to be very hungry. A maiden aunt advised giving her baked flour, and' when I meekly protested that she was too young all indignant tirade was hurled at my defenceless head to the effect that she ought to know, when her sister brought up .all her children on it, gave it to them when they wore a, -—-.few days old, and n finer men than they are I defy you to find.” I could not deny the truth of this statement, but my instinct, tells me that milx and- water will suit baby best, and that I accordingly gave her, though another lady, the mother of two fine boys, holds up her hands in horror, and says, “Don’t give her milk what ever you do.” And so the torrents of advice fall; baby should have cornflour, sago, anything but milk, till roykjjoor brain whirls. Naturally, i oa laAot help feeling worried and l disturbed as to what is really .best, and - then these good people kindly tell me that I not worry, as that is the worst thing possible for baby. I am home at last, and, oh how glad I am to be away from it all, and where I can do as I like for baby. The family doctor (sensible man) says to give Tier good,, pure milk, properiy prepared, of course; she needs nothing else, and baby has and her merry’ little laugh and rosy dimpled face testify to the wealth or health within.