The Care and Feeding of Children: A Catechism for the Use of Mothers and Children's Nurses — John Shaqi
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
Fresh air is required to renew and purify the blood, and this is just
as necessary for health and growth as proper food.
_What are the effects produced in infants by fresh air?_
The appetite is improved, the digestion is better, the cheeks become
red, and all signs of health are seen.
_Is there any advantage in having a child take its airing during the
first five or six months in the nurse's arms?_
None whatever. A child can be made much more comfortable in a baby
carriage, and can be equally well protected against exposure by
blankets and the carriage umbrella.
_What are the objections to an infant's sleeping out of doors?_
There are no real objections. It is not true that infants take cold
more easily when asleep than awake, while it is almost invariably the
case that those who sleep out of doors are stronger children and less
prone to take cold than others.
_What can be done for children who take cold upon the slightest
provocation?_
They should be kept in cool rooms, especially when asleep They should
not wear such heavy clothing that they are in a perspiration much of
the time. Every morning the body, particularly the chest and back,
should be sponged with cold water (50 deg. to 60 deg. F.).
_How should this cold sponge bath be given?_
The child should stand in a tub containing a little warm water, and a
large bath sponge filled with cold water should be squeezed two or
three times over the body. This should be followed by a vigorous
rubbing with a towel until the skin is quite red. This may be used at
three years, and often at two years. For infants a little higher
temperature (65 deg. to 70 deg.) may be used.
WEIGHT, GROWTH, AND DEVELOPMENT
_Of what importance is the weight of the child?_
Nothing else tells so accurately how well it is thriving.
During the first year a record of the weight is almost indispensable;
throughout childhood it is of much interest and is the best guide to
the physical condition. It will well repay any mother or nurse to keep
such a record.
_How frequently should a child be weighed?_
Every week during the first six months, and at least once in two weeks
during the last six months of the first year. During the second year a
child should be weighed at least once a month.
_How rapidly should an infant gain in weight during the first year?_
There is usually a loss during the first week of from four to eight
ounces; after this a healthy child should gain from four to eight
ounces a week up to about the sixth month. From six to twelve months
the gain is less, usually from two to four ounces a week.
_Is it to be expected that bottle-fed infants will gain as rapidly as
those who are nursed?_
They seldom do so during the first month; after that time under
favourable circumstances the gain is usually quite as regular, and
during the latter half of the first year it is likely to be more
continuous than in a nursing infant, because the latter usually loses
weight at the time of weaning.
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