The Care and Feeding of Children Part 20

_Oat, Wheat, or Rice Jelly._--These are prepared from oatmeal, wheaten grits, and rice grains in the same manner as the barley jelly.

_Barley Jelly from the Flour._--Either Robinson's patent barley or prepared barley flour of the Health Food Company may be used. One rounded tablespoonful of the flour, thoroughly blended with a little cold water, is added, stirring, to one pint of boiling water containing a pinch of salt; cook for twenty minutes in a double boiler, and strain. This makes a jelly of about the consistency of that made from the grains as above. It is essentially the same in composition, and much less trouble to prepare. A thinner gruel (barley water) is made by using half the quant.i.ty of flour.

When this is to be mixed with milk, it is well to add the milk to the barley gruel before removing from the fire, and stir two or three minutes, or until the milk has nearly reached the boiling point, when it should be removed and bottled.

_Oat or Wheat Jelly from the Flour._--These are made from the prepared oat flour of the Health Food Company or Hubbell's prepared wheat flour. They are used like the barley.

_Imperial Granum._--This is prepared and used in precisely the same way as the barley flour above mentioned, the gruel being mixed with milk before it is removed from the fire.

_Alb.u.min Water._--The white of one fresh egg; half a pint of cold water; pinch of salt; teaspoonful of brandy. This should be shaken thoroughly and fed cold either with a spoon or from a bottle. It is useful in cases of vomiting, and can sometimes be retained by a very irritable stomach.

_Lime-water._--One heaping teaspoonful of slaked lime; one quart boiled or distilled water; place in a corked bottle and shake thoroughly two or three times during the first hour. The lime should then be allowed to settle, and after twenty-four hours the upper clear fluid carefully poured or siphoned off for use.

_Dried Bread._--Either stale or fresh bread may be used; it is cut in thin slices and placed in the oven, with the door open, and quickly dried until it is crisp, but not browned. It is in many respects preferable to crackers for little children.

_Coddled Egg._--A fresh egg, sh.e.l.l on, is placed in boiling water which is immediately after removed from the fire. The egg then cooks slowly in the water, which gradually cools, for seven or eight minutes, when the white should be about the consistency of jelly. For a delicate digestion the white only should be given, with salt; it can be easily separated from the yolk.

PART IV

MISCELLANEOUS

THE BOWELS

_How many movements daily should an infant have during the first few weeks of life?_

Usually two or three a day for the first week, and then one or two each day.

_How many after a child is a month old?_

A healthy child should have at least one movement each day; many have two and some more than two; but it is the character of the stools rather than their number which is to be taken as the evidence of perfect digestion.

_What is the appearance of a healthy movement of a child who is taking nothing but milk?_

It is soft, yellow, and smooth, containing no lumps.

_When are the stools dark brown or black?_

While taking bis.m.u.th, iron, and sometimes when taking much meat or beef juice; also while taking many of the prepared foods. They may be dark brown or black from blood. This last is a condition which may indicate serious illness.

_How may a child be trained to be regular in the action of its bowels?_

By endeavouring to have them move at exactly the same time every day.

_At what age may an infant be trained in this way?_

Usually by the second month if training is begun early.

_What is the best method of training?_

A small chamber, about the size of a pint bowl, is placed between the nurse's knees, and upon this the infant is held, its back being against the nurse's chest and its body firmly supported. This should be done twice a day, after the morning and afternoon feedings, and always at the same hour. At first there may be necessary some local irritation, like that produced by tickling the a.n.u.s or introducing just inside the r.e.c.t.u.m a small cone of oiled paper or a piece of soap, as a suggestion of the purpose for which the baby is placed upon the chamber; but in a surprisingly short time the position is all that is required. With most infants, after a few weeks the bowels will move as soon as the infant is placed on the chamber.

_What advantage has such training?_

It forms the habit of having the bowels move regularly at the same hour, which is a matter of great importance in infancy and makes regularity in childhood much easier. It also saves the nurse much trouble and labour.

SLEEP

_Should a child sleep in the same bed with its mother or nurse?_

Under no circ.u.mstances, if this can possibly be avoided. Very young infants have often been smothered by their mothers, by overlying during sleep. If the infant sleeps with the mother, there is always the temptation to frequent nursing at night, which is injurious to both mother and child. Older children also should, if possible, have separate beds; many contagious diseases and bad habits are contracted by children sleeping together.

_How should an infant's bed be prepared?_

The mattress should be firm but soft, the pillow very thin, and the covering not excessive. A baby should not be allowed to sleep always in the same position, but should be changed from side to side. Hair pillows are useful in summer and for children who perspire very much.

_How much sleep is natural for a newly born baby?_

A baby with a good digestion and proper food will usually sleep at this period about nine tenths of the time.

_How much should a baby sleep at six months?_

About two thirds of the time.

_Up to what age should an older child take a nap during the day?_

Always until four years old, and if possible longer.

_At what age may an infant go all night without feeding?_

At five months a child should not be fed or nursed between 10 P.M. and 6 A.M. At two years a child can easily go from 6 P.M. to 6 A.M.

without feeding.

_How should a baby be put to sleep?_

The room should be darkened and quiet, the child's hunger satisfied, and the child made generally comfortable and laid in its crib while awake.

_Is rocking necessary?_

By no means. It is a habit easily acquired, but hard to break, and a very useless and sometimes injurious one. The same may be said of sucking a rubber nipple, or "pacifier," and all other devices for putting children to sleep.

_What are the princ.i.p.al causes of disturbed sleep?_

As quiet peaceful sleep is a sign of perfect health, disorders of sleep may be produced by almost anything which is wrong with the child.