And this brings us back to the original statement at the head of this chapter: Sound digestion in the family baby stands for many good things—more especially for the safety and comfort of the baby. So it is most important that the mother ask herself: “What is the condition of my baby’s digestion?” The baby whose digestion is in good order gains steadily in weight, has firm flesh, a clear skin, and good color. During the first few months of its life it sleeps two or three hours after nursing; and during the brief periods of wakefulness it is quiet, good-natured, and quite content to lie staring at nothing. It does not demand attention, rocking or walking. It has an excellent appetite, nursing with relish, often greedily. This does not mean whimpering or fretting for food. The baby that tugs nervously at the breast is not properly nourished. The healthy baby may have what is known as regurgitation, which is best described as the overflow when the baby has taken more milk than its little stomach will hold. The milk, uncurdled, practically exactly as it was swallowed, rolls out of the baby’s mouth without any gagging or muscular contraction. This is especially apt to happen when there is an unusually strong flow of mother’s milk; or when the nipple hole is too large for the bottle-fed baby. The healthy baby does not have colic or gas on the stomach. A healthy baby may cry, especially just before it is fed, because crying is its only method of announcing that it is hungry. It may also cry while being bathed or dressed, because it resents being disturbed. Such crying in moderation is healthful, for it is about the only exercise the baby gets. Perhaps the best indication that a baby’s digestion is in good condition is the state of the bowels. The mother should watch this closely. For the first three or four days the movements are black and sticky. There should be not less than two and not more than four in number. From black they are very apt to turn green, and remain so for a week or more, because the flow of mother’s milk is not yet established. As a rule, however, during the second week, the breast milk gains in quality, and the stools turn a light yellow and become more solid, about the consistency of mush. If the mother’s digestion and general health are good, the child will have from two to four movements a day. Neglect to regulate the bowels is one of the most common causes of death among bottle-fed babies. The entire system is poisoned, for the waste matter is not carried off through the bowels. The inexperienced mother will be wise to have her physician watch the stools until the child’s health seems fairly well established. Hundreds of bottle-fed babies, who do not outlive the first month, might be saved if this rule were observed. When a physician is not at hand, the mother must watch the stools with a critical eye.