Many doctors feel that all babies, whether breast-fed or on the bottle, require a certain amount of cool boiled water to drink between feedings. A small amount is given at first and gradually increased according to the doctor’s instructions, and it may be given from a bottle, a medicine dropper or poured slowly from the tip of a teaspoon. I feel sure that you have realized, long before this, that the entire question of planning the baby’s food is such an important and complicated matter that it cannot with safety to the baby be undertaken by any one but your doctor. Unexpected situations do arise, however, when the doctor is not within immediate reach and the mother has to plan the baby’s food, temporarily, to the best of her ability. Should you find yourself in such an emergency, you will find help in the milk formulas contained in a pamphlet issued by the American Medical Association, remembering that they are intended for the average, normal baby and are not necessarily suitable for all babies. A large, vigorous baby may need more food and a small, frail baby have to take less than the amounts specified in the following directions:[3] Footnote 3: From “Save The Babies” by Dr. L. Emmet Holt and Dr. H. K. L. Shaw. Copied by courtesy of The American Medical Association. “The simplest plan is to use whole milk (from a shaken bottle) which is to be diluted according to the child’s age and digestion. “Beginning on the third day, the average baby should be given 3 ounces of milk daily, diluted with seven ounces of water. To this should be added one tablespoonful of lime water and 2 level teaspoonfuls of sugar. This should be given in 7 feedings. “At one week, the average child requires 5 ounces of milk daily, which should be diluted with 10 ounces of water. To this should be added 1½ even tablespoonfuls of sugar and one ounce of lime water. This should be given in 7 feedings. “The milk should be increased by ½ ounce about every 4 days. “The water should be increased by ½ ounce about every 8 days. “At 3 months the average child requires 16 ounces of milk daily, which should be diluted with 16 ounces of water. To this should be added 3 tablespoonfuls of sugar and 2 ounces of lime water. This should be given in 6 feedings. “The milk should be increased by ½ ounce about every 6 days. “The water should be reduced by ½ ounce about every 2 weeks. “At 6 months the average child requires 24 ounces of milk daily, which should be diluted with 12 ounces of water. To this should be added 2 ounces of lime water and 3 even tablespoonfuls of sugar. This should be given in 5 feedings. “The amount of milk should be increased by ½ ounce every week. “The milk should be increased only if the child is hungry and digesting his food well. It should not be increased unless he is hungry, nor if he is suffering from indigestion even though he seems hungry.