The Care and Feeding of Children | Page 7

cause of most of the other symptoms attributed to
teething?_
Nearly all of them come from indigestion due to bad feeding.



PART II

INFANT FEEDING
What is the best infant food?
Mother's milk.
Of what is mother's milk composed?
Thirteen parts solids and eighty-seven parts water.
What are the solids?
Fat, sugar, proteids, and salts.
What is the fat?
The cream.
What is the sugar?
It is lactose, or milk sugar.
What are the proteids?
The curd of the milk.
Are all these elements necessary?
Yes; we cannot expect to rear a healthy infant unless they are all in his
food.
Of what use is the fat?
It is needed for the growth of the bones, the nerves, the fat of the body,
and the production of heat.
Of what use is the sugar?
It is needed for the production of heat, and to make fat in the body.

Of what use are the proteids?
They are needed for the growth of the cells of the body, such as those
of the blood, the various organs, and the muscles.
Of what use are the salts?
Particularly for the growth of bone.
Of what use is the water?
By means of the water the food is kept in a state of minute subdivision
or in solution, so that the delicate organs of a young infant can digest it.
It is also necessary to enable the body to get rid of its waste.
NURSING
Should all mothers attempt to nurse their children?
As a rule they should do so, but there are many conditions when they
should not.
What are the most important ones?
If the mother has or has had tuberculosis or any other serious chronic
disease, or is herself in very delicate health, she should not try. She is
likely soon to fail in nourishing her child, and the attempt may do
herself much harm as well as injure the child.
_How often should infants be nursed during the first two days of life?_
Usually only four or five times daily, since there is very little milk
secreted at this time.
When does the milk come in abundance?
Usually on the third day, sometimes not until the fourth or fifth day.
_Should the infant be fed anything additional during the first two

days?_
Usually not; if much food were necessary, we may be sure Nature
would have provided it. Water, however, should be given regularly.
How frequently should an infant be nursed during the first week?
After the third day, every two hours during the day and twice during
the night. The frequency during the rest of the first year is given in the
following table:
------------------------------------------------------------------ PERIOD.
Nursings in Interval Night nursings 24 hours. by day. (10 P.M. to 6
A.M.). ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1st and
2d day 4 6 hours. 1 3 days to 6 weeks 10 2 " 2 6 weeks to 3 months 8
2-1/2 " 2 3 to 5 months 7 3 " 1 5 to 12 months 6 3 " 0
------------------------------------------------------------------
How long should the child be kept at the breast for one nursing?
Not over twenty minutes.
Should the child take both breasts at one nursing?
If the milk is very abundant one breast may be sufficient, otherwise
both breasts may be taken.
What are the important things to be attended to in nursing?
First, regularity; it is just as important as in the case of bottle-feeding.
Secondly, the nipples should be kept clean by being washed after every
nursing.
What should be the diet of a nursing mother?
She should have a simple but generous diet with plenty of fluids; three
regular meals may be given and gruel, milk, or cocoa at bed-time and
sometimes between meals. She may take eggs, cereals, most soups, and
nearly all vegetables, avoiding sour fruits, salads, pastry, and most

desserts. Meat should not be taken more than twice daily, and in many
cases but once. She should take but little tea or coffee, and ordinarily
no wine or beer.
Are fruits likely to disturb a nursing infant?
Sour fruits in some cases may do so, but sweet fruits and most cooked
fruits are useful.
What else is important in the life of the nursing mother?
She should lead a simple natural life; should have regular out-of-door
exercise, preferably walking or driving, as soon after her confinement
as her condition will permit. She should have regular movements from
the bowels daily. She should be as free as possible from unnecessary
cares and worry; her rest at night should be disturbed as little as
possible; she should lie down for at least one hour in the middle of the
day.
Does the nervous condition of the mother affect the milk?
Very much more than her diet; worry, anxiety, fatigue, loss