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14
ADVICE TO MOTHERS AND OTHERS HAVING THE
CUSTODY OR CARE OF CHILDREN.
1.—Cleanliness.— Wash the infant all over with warm water daily.
2.—Clothing.— Keep the child warm. Let the clothing be of
some warm material such as flannel (not flannelette). The garment
should not fit tightly but should come well up to the neck, and the
sleeves should reach to the wrists. Stockings should cover the knees,
and a flannel belly binder should be worn until the child is able to
wear knickerbockers or flannel drawers. Even in warm summer
weather, infants should not be exposed to chances of chill with bare
arms and necks, etc. During the year 1898, in the Limehouse
District, there were 65 deaths of infants from Bronchitis and Inflammation
of the Lungs, which were probably due to improper or
insufficient clothing.
Nourishment under seven months.— In 1898 in this District
alone, the number of deaths of infants under 1 year of age was 388.
Of these, 145 or nearly one-half were due to diseases of the digestive
organs, so that it is most important to give infants the proper
nourishment.
3.— The mother's milk is the natural and proper food for infants.
She should therefore suckle her child, if she has plenty of milk, and
give it no other food whatever, until it is at least seven months old.
4. It must be suckled every two hours during the first month,
and the interval gradually increased until at the end of three months
the child is suckled every three hours during the day, and every four
hours during the night. Too frequent suckling is a common cause
of vomiting in infants, therefore do not give the child the breast at
odd hours merely for the sake of keeping it quiet.
5.— If the mother has only a little milk, let the child have it,
and in addition, cow's milk, and water as directed in paragraphs 12
and 13. It is a good plan if the mother has only a little breast milk,
for her to drink a cupful of cow's milk half an hour before suckling
the baby.
6.— Except when ordered for special reasons by a doctor, do not
on any account give the child oatmeal, arrowroot, baked flour, corn
flour, nursery biscuits, tops and bottoms, or any so called "infant's
food" before it is seven months old.