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63
APPENDIX D.
PLUMSTEAD VESTRY.
Issued in consequence of the large number of deaths under
one year of age.
How to Feed Baby.
1. With few exceptions, mother's milk is baby's best food till he is nine
months old, but infants must always be weaned before they are a year old.
2. They should have the breast at first about every two hours by day
and every four hours at night, the interval being gradually increased to
three or four hours by day and six to eight hours at night.
3. If mother's milk does not appear to satisfy, do not on any account
give biscuits or other food without medical advice. It may be that the
breast is being given too often and baby overfed.
If the mother is unable to nurse her child entirely, cows' milk prepared
as described below should be given alternately with the breast.
4. The mother should have four good meals a day of plain food, and
perhaps one or two glasses of milk between; but intoxicating drinks, as
spirits and beer, should be avoided. It is a mistake to think that nursing
mothers require stimulants.
5. The baby's mouth and the mother's nipples should be carefully
cleansed after each suckling.
6. When for any reason a baby cannot be nursed at the breast, it must
be fed on milk, and usually fresh cows' milk is the best. This should be
prepared as follows:—Three table-spoonfuls of boiled milk should be
mixed with six table-spoonfuls of barley water and a quarter of a teaspoonful
of white sugar; the mixture when warmed will make a meal for
a child a month old.
At two months of age milk and barley water should be given in equal
quantities, and the proportion of barley water then gradually decreased
till the child is eight or nine months old, when pure milk should be given.