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121
COUNTY BOROUGH OF CROYDON,
THE FEEDING AND CARE OF INFANTS.
feeding.
1.—The best food for a young infant is its mother's milk.
Every infatit should therefore be suckled, if possible, unless the mother
has medical advice to the contrary.
2.—Suckle once every two hours during the day, and once every
four hours during the night, until baby is about six weeks old, when
every three hours will be often enough As it grows older feed it
less often, until at seven months it should be fed every three-and-a
half hours by day, and once by night. It is important for both
mother and child that the suckling should always be at regular intervals,
and not whenever the child cries. Crying is often a sign of pain
from too frequent feeding.
3.—If the mother has not enough milk to satisfy the child it
should still be suckled, but should in addition have one or more
feeds of milk and barley water as described in Rule 7. There is no
danger in mixing the Milks.
4.—During the suckling period the mother should take plenty
of good, plain, nourishing food, but should avoid beer, wines and
spirits, unless under advice. The mother should wash her nipples
each time before and after suckling, and also wash out the baby's
mouth. By these means, thrush and cracked nipples may be avoided.
weaning.
5.—Select a time when the child is free from any illness. Do
not wean an infant during July, August or September, when there is
so much risk of Diarrhoea.
hand feeding.
the bottle.
6.—Bottles without tubes should be used. Two should be
provided. They should simply be fitted with a large indiarubber
teat, which can be turned inside out for washing. A round
hole should be bored in the teat with a heated needle, the hole
being of such a size that the milk flows out in drops when the
bottle is held upside down. After use the bottle should he rinsed