The Care and Feeding of Children: A Catechism for the Use of Mothers and Children's NursesHolt, L. Emmett (Luther Emmett)
Science
The Care and Feeding of Children: A Catechism for the Use of Mothers and Children's Nurses
Holt, L. Emmett (Luther Emmett)
Child care; Children -- Nutrition
This depends upon the severity of the symptoms and how long they have
lasted. If the child has made no gain for three or four weeks, or is
losing weight, immediate weaning will probably be necessary; in any
case, other food in addition to the breast milk should be given at
once. One may begin by alternating the nursing and the bottle-feeding
and increase the number of bottle-feedings as may be indicated by the
results.
_Is there any objection to a baby being partly nursed and partly fed?_
None whatever; it is often better from the outset to feed the baby
during the night, in order not to disturb the mother's rest.
_What symptoms indicate that the mother's milk disagrees with the
child?_
The child suffers from almost constant discomfort sleeps; little and
then restlessly, cries a great deal, belches gas from the stomach, and
passes much by the bowels, or if not passed, the gas accumulates and
causes abdominal distention and colicky pain. There may be vomiting,
but more often the trouble is intestinal. Sometimes the bowels are
constipated, but usually the movements are frequent, loose, green,
contain mucus and are passed with much gas.
_What should be done under these circumstances?_
If the symptoms have persisted for two or three weeks and the child is
not gaining in weight, there is little chance of improvement, and the
child should be taken from the breast at once. If there is some gain
in weight, one may try for a little longer, endeavouring to improve
the mother's milk by rest, fresh air, careful diet, etc. However, one
should always realize that the trouble is with the milk, not with the
child.
_What changes should be made if a nursing infant habitually vomits?_
If this occurs soon after nursing, the infant has usually taken too
much and the time of nursing should be shortened, or one breast may be
given instead of two; the nursing should also be interrupted by
occasional rests, so that the milk is not taken too fast.
If the vomiting occurs some time after nursing and is repeated, it is
a sign of indigestion; often because the milk is too rich in fat. The
intervals between nursings should then be lengthened; the breast milk
may be diluted by giving one or two tablespoonfuls of plain boiled
water, lime-water, or barley-water, five or ten minutes before
nursing; the mother should eat less hearty food, especially less meat.
_What should be done if the infant has frequent or habitual colic?_
This is usually because the milk is too rich in proteids; the mother
should take more out-of-door exercise, eat less meat, and seek to
control her emotions; all causes of worry should be removed.
_Can constipation in a nursing infant be controlled through the
mother's milk?_
Only to a limited extent. It is important that the mother's bowels be
regular and her digestion good. An increase in the meat and milk of
her diet is sometimes beneficial.
WEANING
_At what age should the child be weaned from the breast?_
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