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24
At present, by the courtesy of the Registrar of Births, I am
supplied with a list of births of all children registered ; the houses
are visited and hand-bills giving advice on the feeding of babies and
a warning as to Summer Diarrhoea are given to the mothers, but I
fear that these steps do not carry us very far towards the solution
of the trouble.
URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL OF ENFIELD.
ADVICE TO MOTHERS.
Keep yourself in good health.
Take good and wholesome food at regular meals only. Do not
take spirits, beer, stout, or much tea, but rather milk or cocoa.
Keep your windows open night and day.
Feed your baby regularly.
Breast Feeding.—Mother's Milk is the best, cheapest, and
safest food for infants.
Keep the child at the breast about ¼-hour at each feed.
Do not feed more often than every two hours during the day,
and once between 11 at night and 6 in the morning. Never let the
baby feed too fast. Wake the baby if asleep at feeding times.
The time between feeds should be gradually increased until by
the beginning of the third month the breast is given every three
hours, and at the age of six months, five times in the day and not at
all between 11 at night and 6 in the morning. The best times are
6 a.m., 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Weaning.— Keep the baby on the breast entirely for 9 months
if possible. Never wean during July, August, or September, if you
can help it.
Rules for Daily Use.—Let the Baby sleep in its own
cot, and lie in it during the day. A banana crate, box, basket, or
drawer serves equally well. If the child cries see if the napkin
wants changing, or if the Baby is cold and not properly covered up.
Clothing.—Give the baby a warm woollen vest with long
sleeves, a soft knitted or flannel binder, a long flannel nightdress,
and an outer dress. Do not use a tight or stiff binder. Never use
flannelette. "Shorten" at 2.3 months old. Keep to the vest and
one flannel petticoat and dress, but now put on warm stockings
instead of socks.
Bath the baby once a day, and wash it once a day as well,
using very little soap. Dry thoroughly, especially in ears and all
folds of skin.