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If the mother has not enough milk the same measures will increase tin
quantity, and a cupful or two of milk half-an-hour before suckling will he an
excellent help towards this, as the only way to humanise cow's milk is to pass it
through the mother and not through a machine. In many cases a cupful or
two of liquid food such as cocoa or soup should always he taken shortly before
suckling; even hot water is better than no liquid at all.
The nipples should be cleansed and dried each time after suckling, and the
baby's mouth should be kept clean.
The baby should be suckled every two hours during the first three months,
gradually decreasing to every three hours during the following months. The
baby should be awakened for this purpose, if .necessary. Also twice in tinnight
during the first month, once during the second month, and in the third
month night feeding should be gradually discontinued. As the feeds are
reduced in number the quantity of milk at each feed naturally increases.
Feed the baby slowly : allow fifteen minutes or more for each meal. Do not
rock the baby violently after it is fed. Do not feed the baby when it cries
between meal-times. Never give a " dummy comforter" to the baby.
Weaning.
The usual time for weaning is about the ninth month.
Weaning becomes easier and safer if it is delayed until after the ninth
month, soon after which the breast milk should be altogether stopped. Breast
feeding should not be continued after the 12th month.
Not until the eighth or ninth month, and until the first front teeth are cut,
is a baby able to eat and digest floury foods, such as baked flour, powdered
biscuit, small crumbled bread, and fine oatmeal, and these foods should never
be given to a baby before that time. Never give the baby soothing syrups,
teething powders, patent medicines, patent foods.
On no account should portions of the ordinary food or drink of the mother
when at meals be given to the baby, they may prove injurious and even fatal.
Weaning before Time.
A mother should not wean her baby before the seventh month at the very
earliest, as weaning before time is dangerous to the baby.
Every effort should be made to put of weaning until after the hot weather
has come and gone, as the months of July, August, and September are
particularly fatal to hand-fed babies.
If the health of the suckling mother or of the baby is failing, a Doctor's
advice should be sought with a view to avoiding: weaning.
If the health of the mother or the breast milk cannot be improved and the
Doctor considers that the baby must be weaned or partly hand-fed, then it
should be taken regularly to the Doctor for advice as to the proper food and
feeding.
A hand-fed baby's progress should be very carefully watched, and if it
appears to be ailing or does not thrive medical advice should be immediately
sought, especially if there be any diarrhoea, as illness in a baby develops
rapidly and is soon past remedying.